Three of the founding members were living and studying in the area. They had played at area parties and festivals, and soon found themselves playing almost full-time. The three founders decided to incorporate two more musicians to fill out their sound and take the project to a professional level. The invitations continued to poor in, as did the demand for a recording. Con Todo el Corazon was recorded in the city of Durango and met with great success, establishing Conjunto Atardecer as a regional favorite. A short ten months later their second record was released, entitled Cantan Corridos. Their regional success offered up opportunities to tour stateside. Their U.S. exposure garnered them a contract with the Benara Corporation in 2002. Mi Eterno Amor Secreto was soon released on the powerhouse label Universal Latino. Heavy radio play and chart success were soon to follow. Conjunto Atardecer toured throughout 2003, performing all over the South and Midwest. With hit records in 2004 (Los Número Uno del Pasito Duranguense), 2005 (Desde la Sierra de Durango), and 2006 (El Decimo), Conjunto Atardecer became front-runners on the charts and in the duranguense genre as a whole. Tragedy struck the band on March 23, 2009 when drummer Rob Villa was ambushed while driving his van and murdered along with four of his friends. The bands 2009 album Contigo Para Siempre featured a tribute to Villa, the song "El Compa Beto"." ~ Evan C. Gutierrez