Playing 'La Bamba' for an hour? Must be a Mexican fandango!

VERACRUZ, Mexico — The historic city of Veracruz, facing the Gulf of Mexico, is so proud of its musical heritage that every hour on the hour, the bells in the clock tower in the central plaza play "La Bamba." It's not Ritchie Valens' rock 'n' roll hit from 1958. The original "La Bamba" has been played in this sultry, moldering port city for centuries.

"It's our hymn," said one longtime musician.

"La Bamba" is the most famous song of a regional genre called son jarocho, which means the music of Veracruz. It is played at joyous community fiestas called fandangos that have nothing to do with the online movie-streaming service. The fandango emerged from the multiethnic population that evolved along the Gulf Coast after conquistador Hernán Cortés dropped anchor and established Veracruz as Mexico's first port in the early 1500s.