January 29, 2008

By By Teresa Aguilera, Mexico City & Leila Cobo, Miami

Another member of the regional Mexican music community has been assassinated.

Concert promoter Marco Antonio Abdal? was found dead from three gunshot wounds on Jan. 25. Abdal?, who served as promoter for artists such as Banda El Recodo, was kidnapped Jan. 25. The same day, according to Mexico's Special Anti Kidnapping Unit (UEA), his family paid $55,000 in ransom, but Abdal?'s body was found that same afternoon. Two men, Jes?s Bernal and Luis Cesar Ramirez, were initially arrested. On Jan. 27, two more, Rub?n C?rdova and Salvador Mart?nez, were also arrested after members of UEA found them with Abdal?'s belongings and the ransom money.

The mayor of Mazatl?n, Jorge Abel L?pez, says Abdal?'s murder is unrelated to the wave of violence and murder that has hit the regional Meixcan music community in the past months. In December, several grupero artists were murdered, most notably Sergio G?mez, lead singer of chart-topping group K-Paz de la Sierra.

Following Abdal?'s murder, Banda El Recodo canceled its performance at the traditional "Lunes De Carnaval," a festival in Mazatl?n that was promoted by Abdal? and set to take place Feb. 4. The members of El Recodo said their cancelation was out of respect to Abdal?, their longtime friend and promoter.

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