Banda artist Mariano Barba began making serious waves in the regional Mexican music world in 2006 with the release of his hit single "Aliado del Tiempo," which transformed Barba from one of the genre's many up-and-coming talents to its most notable new voice. His first release, Me Gusta la Banda, did poorly, but served as a primer for subsequent releases and secured him a contract with Three Sounds Records. Barba's third release, Una Noche Mas Contigo, achieved gold record status. Having sold over 50,000 records in Mexico, Barba has achieved respect and a number of awards, including Song of the Year from Artista Revelacion 2005 for "Una Noche Mas Contigo." ~ Evan C. Gutierrez