La Banda el Recodo is not only one of Mexico's most successful banda, but one of the most eclectic. Over the past four decades, the group has performed a mixture of Latin dance tunes, jazz swing, and classical music. The first banda to be recorded, La Banda el Recodo has recorded more than 178 records and has brought its music from the barrios of Mexico to the international stage.
Formed in 1951, La Banda el Recodo was conceived by self-taught clarinet player Don Cruz Lizárraga (born July 1, 1918; died June 17, 1995). Although his formal education ended after his first year of junior high school, Lizárraga was a master as a musician and bandleader.