Banda Cuisillos was formed in 1987 when a teenage clarinetist named Arturo Macías made a public invitation to form a new musical organization, adopting the name Cuisillos as homage to the city where it all began. In Cuisillos, the “cu” comes from the Mayan expression “ku” which means “sacred place”, hence “Cuisillos” is diminutive meaning “little sacred place”. Cuisillos’ style is widely known for their romanticism as well as their way of playing cumbias within the banda genre. Although in the late ninety’s their large success with the baladas song style led them to focus more on ballads and less on cumbias.

Cuisillos deliver humanitarian messages in their songs like anti-drug slogans, environment awareness, unity, and support for single moms, immigration and other issues. They are also well-known for wearing Native American costumes as a tribute to their ethnic heritage and have even adopted Native American names like Corazón Valiente (Brave Heart), Voz de Trueno (Thunder Voice), Caballo Salvaje (Wild Horse), Pluma Roja (Red Feather) and others equally significant.

Cuisillos’ account for nearly 20 years of musical history, 19 albums, 10 band members, numerous Gold and Platinum Records due to sales, videos and successful international tours. In 2002 they won a Latin Grammy for their album Puras Rancheras. Cuisillos’ musical style is completely recognized and often imitated, not only by their voices but also by their arrangements, choreography and stage presence.