The Azcapotzalco borough concentrates the personal and artistic memory of José José through an official tourist circuit aboard a tram, as well as celebrations promoted by his fans “every April 20” and commemorative acts on the anniversary of his death. These three aspects transform the streets and public parks of the Clavería neighborhood into an open-air biographical and musical museum.
The base experience is the “La nave del olvido” tour, organized aboard the Hormibús -a local tourist tram-. The route’s layout starts in the bay in front of the traditional cantina El Dux de Venecia and delves into the center of Azcapotzalco, making pauses at seven emblematic points. The circuit includes stops at the Parque de la China, where his bronze statue is erected, and the Parque de los Vagos, the exact site where the artist gathered with his youthful friends to organize serenades. The vehicle moves along Tebas street to observe the facade of the house where he grew up, pauses at the Azcapotzalco Market (location of the “Grandeza Mexicana” video), and stops at the El Fogón de los Chintololos taqueria, which displays one of the singer’s original suits on its walls.
The bond between the neighborhood and the artist concentrates strong citizen activity during International José José Day, celebrated every April 20th. This commemorative date does not correspond to his birth or his death, but to the initial verse of his song “Me vas a echar de menos” (released in 1985 and composed by Rafael Pérez Botija) which dictates: “Y me estarás llamando cada 20 de abril…” (And you’ll be calling me every April 20th…). The tradition was born spontaneously on social media around 2020 and turned the Parque de la China into the destination for the celebration. On that day, dozens of fans gather around the bronze statue carrying photographs and imitating his formal suit attire to organize karaoke marathons singing “El Triste,” “Almohada,” or “Anda y ve.”
The interpreter’s memory dominates the streets again during the anniversary of his death, commemorated every September 28th. During this day, hundreds of people gather once more in the Parque de la China to participate in collective singing at the top of their lungs. The community installs commemorative tarps that function as memory walls to write messages of gratitude, while the borough organizes free musical festivals and tributes with impersonators and local artists to frame the homage to the “Prince of Song.”
Securing a seat on the Hormibús requires planning. Being a completely free official program, the tram’s capacity is limited and requires registration at the borough’s Tourism Office, located inside the Casa de las Bombas in Jardín Hidalgo. Departures occur on Saturday afternoons, allowing visitors to link the biographical tour with the start of nightlife in the surrounding cantinas.
