The world of Regional Mexican Music has suffered a tragic loss with the death of young singer Chuy Montana, also known as Jesus Cardenas. The 25-year-old Tijuana, Mexico-born singer was found dead on February 7 on the side of the road, handcuffed and with signs of violence. A fan of the corrido tumbado genre, Montana was a rising star in the regional Mexican music scene, with his music being popular across digital and streaming platforms such as Spotify.
But the tragedy took an even darker turn when the body of his friend and driver Miguel Pavón García was also discovered the following day. Pavón was found bound and with signs of strangulation. Both men are believed to have been killed by members of the Arellano Felix Cartel, a notorious criminal organization in Mexico.
The singer was part of the record label Street Mob Records, led by Jesus Ortiz Paz (JOP) of the band Fuerza Regida. His music excelled in the subgenres of corridos tumbados and belikeada, popular among Mexico’s youth. However, Montana’s life ended tragically at the hands of the violence that plagues his country.
The Baja California District Attorney’s Office issued an information card reporting the circumstances of his death, stating that Montana had been the victim of gunshot wounds to the head and arms. They also say it appears that Montana jumped out of the car where he was being held to avoid being tortured. There is no record of a warning prior to the killings.
The deaths of Montana and Garcia have put the spotlight back on the violent situation in Mexico, particularly in cities like Tijuana, known to be the center of drug trafficking. In an attempt to combat this problem, the city council has approved a reform to ban “narcocorridos” in public performances, with fines for those who promote violence and glorify crime in music and entertainment.
With information from Billboard