John B. Soto is a songwriter from Torreón, Coahuila, who migrated to the United States at the age of 20. He has lived in the San Joaquin Valley for decades, where he worked in agriculture and later in cemetery maintenance. Alongside his labor, he cultivated a lifelong interest in writing songs, drawing inspiration from his personal journey, family life, and the communities around him.

John’s songwriting is deeply rooted in personal experience and a sense of place. His corrido, Valle de San Joaquín, recounts his migration journey and the life he built in the Valley after arriving without knowing English. He was immediately introduced to agricultural labor—work that shaped his livelihood and his perspective and voice as a songwriter. The piece reflects themes of hardship, family responsibility, and profound gratitude for the region that welcomed him and gave him a future. He describes the Valley as a place that embraced him fully, one he feels privileged to call home.

Although he has written approximately 150 songs in various styles—including norteñas, boleros, and mariachi—most remain unpublished. For years, work obligations left him little time to dedicate to music. Only after retirement did he begin pursuing his passion more fully, describing this stage of life as the moment when he could finally do what he truly loves.

John B. Soto composes not for fame, but out of gratitude and reflection. He considers the San Joaquin Valley "the basket of the world," seeing songwriting as a way to honor the land, labor, and people that shaped him. His work offers a testament to working-class resilience and the emotional richness of everyday migrant life.