Ramón Ayala, affectionately known as the King of the Accordion, announced the end of his remarkable 60-year career with the El Principio De Un Final (The Beginning of an End) tour on Tuesday (February 27).
With more than 50 shows in arenas and auditoriums on both sides of the US-Mexico border, the tour is set to kick off at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on March 9 and conclude at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on November 30, according to Press release. The Monterey musician will also perform in US cities such as Atlanta, Chicago and Las Vegas.
Alongside his latest tour, he is set to release a new single titled “El Retén” on March 8th.
Ayala's journey from his early days with Los Relámpagos del Norte to the zenith of his career with Ramón Ayala y sus Bravos del Norte helped reshape the norteño musical landscape, fueled by his captivating and virtuosic accordion skills. He is widely recognized for creating timeless norteño classics such as 'Mi Piquito De Oro', 'Que Casualidad' and 'Tragos Amargos'.
During his career, Ayala has influenced great artists such as Grupo Frontera and Intocable. “The first song that made me fall in love with the accordion was Ramón Ayala's 'Mi Piquito de Oro'. I was sold,” said Ricky Muñoz, leader and accordionist of Intocable Billboard Español earlier in February.
His albums Antología De Un Rey (2004) and Arriba El Norte (1991) have reached No. 1 on the Regional Mexican Albums chart, and 12 of his songs have entered the Hot Latin Songs tally, including “Del Otro Lado Del Portón” at No. 12 and “Quémame Los Ojos” at No. 19.
As the four-time Grammy Award-winning artist prepares for his swan song, his partnership with Fundación Hermes Music through the Guitarras Por La Paz (Guitars for Peace) campaign will continue to highlight the Monterrey artist's dedication to harnessing music as a vehicle for peace. This initiative involves the distribution of guitars and educational materials to various charities, ensuring that its impact extends beyond the stage.
Check out his Instagram announcement below:
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/ramon-ayala-announces-retirement-farewell-tour-1235617249/
