U.S. #5703-07
2022 60¢ Mariachi
Issue Date: July 15, 2022
First Day City: Albuquerque, NM
Type of Stamp: Commemorative
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Pane of 20
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 18,000,000
Mariachi music is an iconic piece of Mexican culture. In fact, in 2011, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) classified it as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. In 2022, the United States Postal Service recognized mariachi music and its importance to Mexican Americans with five Forever stamps. The designs were created by stamp artist Rafael López who also produced the designs for the Latin Music Legends, Lets Dance: Merengue, and Mendez v. Westminster School District USPS stamps.
While mariachi music originated in the Mexican countryside, its popularity in the US began to grow in the late 1970s. This led to mariachi programs in schools and churches, plus concerts, festivals, and more.
In 1990, MARIACHI USA was established. It is an annual mariachi festival held in Los Angeles. According to th event's website, "MARIACHI USA will celebrate the rich tradition in which so many Mexicans and Mexican-Americans take pride, and which has secured its place as one of the most beloved music genres in world music." In 2022, event tickets completely sold out, which goes to show how passionate mariachi fans are about their music.