Julion Alvarez

Julio César Álvarez Montelongo, known professionally as Julión Álvarez, was born on April 11, 1983, in La Concordia, Chiapas, Mexico. His career in regional Mexican music began in 2003 when he joined the band “Banda MS.” He performed with Banda MS until 2006, after which he embarked on a solo career, forming Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda. His early years established him as a significant figure in the genre, characterized by his distinctive vocal style and engaging stage presence.

Throughout his career, Álvarez has achieved various milestones reflecting his impact on regional Mexican music. In 2011, he married Nathaly Fernández. A notable career moment occurred in 2014 when he was selected as a coach for the fourth season of the Mexican talent show, “La Voz… Mexico,” where he led his pupil, Guido Rochin, to victory. His album “El Aferrado” received nominations at the 16th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in 2015 for Best Banda Album, with his song “El Amor de Su Vida” also nominated for Best Regional Mexican Song. In May 2016, Álvarez announced a 22-Foot Arena Tour in the United States, a significant achievement as the first regional Mexican act to undertake such a tour.

Álvarez’s career experienced challenges and triumphs. In August 2017, the United States Department of the Treasury froze his assets and prohibited U.S. entities from doing business with him due to alleged violations of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. This led to the cancellation of his U.S. tour. Álvarez consistently denied the allegations and expressed willingness to cooperate with authorities. In November 2017, despite the sanctions, his album “Ni Diablo, Ni Santo” was nominated for Best Regional Mexican Music Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. After five years of collaboration with authorities, the allegations were removed in June 2022, allowing him to resume performing and conducting business in the United States. He made a celebrated return to the U.S. stage in mid-April 2025, performing three sold-out shows at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. However, in May 2025, his U.S. visa was revoked, leading to the postponement of a sold-out concert in Arlington, Texas, which was part of his 42 18 Tour.