There is no doubt that the Chumash know how to hit it on the button. They know what Mexicans like and they comply, which is the reason for bringing the successful Texan Norteno band “Intocable” to the Casino to perform live on July 13.

Since they first made a name for themselves in 1994 with their debut album “Fuego Eterno,” Intocable has sold more than six million records.

In addition, they sold out three consecutive days at Mexico City’s National Auditorium, with more than 400,000 in attendance, and at the Monterrey Arena, also in Mexico, on two consecutive days, witnessed by more than 20,000 persons. And they drew 65,000 fans at the Houston Astrodome.

In addition, their album “Intimamente (Intimately)” garnered them a Grammy in 2005, though they had already been nominated twice previously for “Nuestro destino estaba escrito,” in 2004, and “Suena,” in 2003.

So who are these six musicians with thousands of fans both sides of the border?

Hailing from Zapata, Texas, Ricky Munoz (producer, accordion and lead vocals) and Rene Mart’nez (producer and drummer) started up the group in the 90’s and have achieved a melodious fusion of Texan polka and Norteno rhythms.

Romantics to the bone, Intocable executes a soft conjugation of cords and vocals en their contagious ballads that exalt the love of a woman and fill the world with hope and happiness, with a gusto for life.

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But it hasn’t always been a rose garden for the group, because in the initial years after they were formed, they went unnoticed until “Fuego eterno (Eternal flame).” In 1999, they suffered the devastating loss of two of their members, Jose Angel Farias and Silvestre Rodriguez, as well as of their manager, Jose Angel Gonzalez, in an automobile accident on their way to Monterrey, M/xico.

But through it all, the group has come out on top and continues to find the right combination of lyrics and music which connects, intrigues, and impacts their audience.

Recently, Intocable won the Latino competition Premio Lo Nuestro in the Regional Mexican genre, in the categories of Album of the Year for “Diez;” Best Group and Song, for “Aire,” and for Best Norteno Artist.

Their album “Diez” was one of the bestsellers in 2005, and their popularity grew with the single, “Contra Viento y Marea,” the theme song for a soap opera with the same name, which was aired in the United States on Univision.

Last September, Intocable opened at the same arena which Ranchero music star Vicente Fernandez had built at his ranch, “Los Tres Potrillos,” near Guadalajara, and which is used as a performing center and Mexican-style rodeo.

Intocable will be performing next Thursday July 13 at Samala Hall inside the Chumash Casino, at 8 p. m. Tickets are $75, $85, $95, $110 and $125, and can be purchased at the ticket counter or on their website: www.chumashcasino.com or call 800-585-3737.

Marcela Toledo can be reached at 347-4599 or at mtoledo@santamariatimes.com