Famous Mexican music artists

Jenni Rivera, Gerardo Ortiz

Happy Cinco de Mayo! To celebrate, we went back five years (get it?) on our Regional Mexican Albums and Regional Mexican Airplay charts — from May 2, 2009 through May 3, 2014 — and ranked the top 10 artists, based on a formula incorporating accumulated radio and sales for the period. So, sip your margaritas to the beat of some of the best norteño, banda and mariachi around!

1. Jenni Rivera

   Jenni Rivera would have been tickled to top our celebration list. And no surprise there. Rivera placed six No. 1s on the Regional Mexican Albums chart, including the last album recorded before her death, "La Misma Gran Señora, " which spent 16 weeks at the top beginning in 2012. Although Rivera—who sang ranchero and banda with equal ease—had just one No. 1 single on the Airplay chart ("De Contrabando") for a real look at what this diva was like, check out "Porqué no le calas?" (Why Don't You Check It Out?). The video shows Rivera in her prime, being a diva, decked in a sumptuous gown, singing mariachi and playing a heck of a woman who will not be scorned.

2. Gerardo Ortiz

   So young, so hip, so versatile. At 24 years old, the singer/songwriter has veered from edgy corridos to romantic ballads, notching five No. 1s on the regional Mexican albums chart (of which the last four have been consecutive) and three No. 1s on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart. While the romantic "Solo Vine a Despedirme" spent 12 weeks on the top, the you can't fully appreciate Ortiz without listening to his narco-corridos, including "Dámaso, " which touts the high-life of a guy on the edge of the law.

3. La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de Rene Camacho

   They may play tubas and horns, but these guys are rock stars. For a nice dose of big, chunky, banda sound, check out the addictive "Llamada de MI Ex" (Call From My Ex), with its unforgettable line: "What the hell do you want? What part of no don't you get?" The track spent 19 weeks at No. 1 on the regional Mexican Airplay chart.

4. El Trono de Mexico

   Relax, order a margarita and chill with El Trono de Mexico. After all, they gave four No. 1s on Regional Mexican Albums, with "A Corazon Abierto" being their most recent No. 1. The group also has six top 10s on Regional Mexican Airplay – "Almas Gemelas, " which reached No. 2 on in May of 2009.

5. Espinoza Paz

   Check out Espinoza Paz's cinematic ways. Paz has had four No. 1s on Regional Mexican Albums including "Del Rancho Para El Mundo, " which spent eight weeks at No. 1 (8/28/10). His two No. 1s on Regional Mexican Airplay "Lo Intentamos" spent 12 weeks at No. 1 in July of 2009.

6. Larry Hernandez

   The Mexican singer/songwriter has had two No. 1s on Regional Mexican Albums – "En Vivo Desde Culiacan" and "Larrymania." The regional Mexican entertainer also has four Top 10s on Regional Mexican Airplay including "Arrastrando Las Patas, " which peaked at No. 2 in January of 2011.

7. Banda el Recodo de Cruz Lizarraga

   Viva la tuba! Banda el Recodo de Cruz Lizarraga was founded 76 years ago and the group is still as strong as ever. They have five No. 1s on Regional Mexican Albums, "Lo Mejor De Mi Vida" spent nine weeks at the top in November of 1999. The band also has 13 No. 1s on Regional Mexican Airplay including "Yo Se Que Te Acordaras, " which spent 19 weeks at No. 1 in May of 2000.

8. Intocable

   The band from Zapata, Texas has indeed been "untouchable" when it comes to the Regional Mexican charts. Intocable is tied for most career No. 1s with Conjunto Primavera, with 16 song topping Regional Mexican Airplay. The group's Tex-Mex fusion has also earned 13 No. 1s on Regional Mexican Albums.

9. Julion Alvarez y Su Norteño Banda

   Sexy Julion Alvarez is one of a new wave of young Mexican singers who have transcended borders, thanks to the ladies, and brought Regional Mexican music to a new generation. Alvarez is best known for his hit "Ni Lo Intentes, " and a seductive video for the song, which spent 12 weeks in the No. 1 spot on Regional Mexican Airplay.

10. 10

    Voz De Mando

    More than a music video, the mini telenovela for Voz de Mando's song "Y Ahora Resulta" has almost 20 million Youtube views. The comic track, which tells the story of a dupe who pays for his girlfriend's jewels and prominent new physical attributes only to watch her run off with a cowboy with more cash. While the song — which spent seven weeks on the top of the Regional Mexican Airplay chart - is a classic revenge anthem for disappointed boyfriends everywhere, the video proves that there may be nothing hotter than a guy playing accordion.