
Their next albums, Jugo a la vida (2002) and Imperio (2003), were nominated for the Grammy Awards (in the category of Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album) and the Latin Grammy Awards (for Best Norteño Album). The band began the 2000s with nominations to Lo Nuestro and Latin Grammy Awards for the album Al por mayor and with the release of the album Me gusta vivir de noche, nominated for the 2002 ALMA Awards. During his career, Quintero has won more than thirty BMI awards as a composer. A year later he was recognized as composer of the year at the same event, along with other artists such as Kike Santander, Robi Draco Rosa and Shakira. In 1999, Mario Quintero received his first four BMI awards for the songs "Es verdad", "El tucanazo", "Secuestro de amor" and "Hacemos bonita pareja".

After recording several albums with the label Alacrán Records, in the middle of the decade they obtained a recording contract with Emi Latin. Between 19 they managed to place six titles simultaneously on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart, becoming the only band to do so to date. During the 1990s, the group recorded around twenty albums, including Me robaste el corazón (1994), Mundo de amor (1995) and Amor platónico (1998). The band began to enjoy recognition both in their native Mexico and in the United States, where they settled. Initially they played in small venues or family parties, until they decided to move to Los Angeles to play in the Latin club circuit. The group was formed in 1983 and formalized in 1987 in Tijuana, Baja California by musicians Mario Quintero Lara, Mario Moreno, Joel Higuera and David Servín Raya, who came from Sinaloa and settled in Baja California to pursue a musical career.

Los Tucanes De Tijuana (English: The Toucans of Tijuana) are a Mexican norteño band led by Mario Quintero Lara. Gustavo Labrada Valenzuela (2002-present)
