Raza Obrera, a regional Mexican band from Aguililla, Michoacán, Mexico, was formed in 1996. The group, known for their unique blend of rough Pacific-style Norteño and Big Harp Conjunto, as well as corridos addressing controversial issues related to the Mexican working class, initially consisted of José Luis Arroyo (drums, vocals), José Luis Horta (accordion, vocals), Roberto González (charango), Simón Rivera (harp), and Rigoberto Peña (bass, vocals). Their debut album, El Aguila González, was released in 1996 under Ego Records, marking their entry into the U.S. Regional Mexican scene. Throughout their career, Raza Obrera released numerous albums, including Corridazos prohíbidos (2001), Arpacumbiando: Caliente, caliente (2001), and Ritmo, amor y pueblo (2004). Their 2002 album Arpacumbiando, vol. 2, released under Fonovisa, notably reached number 72 on the Billboard charts. Simón Rivera passed away in 2025.
