The band was formed in Roswell, New Mexico by former Los Rieleros vocalist Polo Urias in 1994, with sax player Keith Nieto, percussionist Erick Urias, accordionist/keyboardist Jimmy Torres, and drummer Aarón Urias. The group signed up to Fonovisa that same year, debuting with the release of Polo Urias y Su Máquina Norteña. The sound of the band is often compared to Los Rieleros, in that it is hardcore norteño -- raw, romantic, and unmitigated by the sheen of Latin pop production. In 2006, Nieto split with Urias and formed his own version of La Maquinaria Norteña with his brothers Rory on accordion and Tony on drums, Sergio "Fly" Soto on vocals (formerly of Los Braveros de Peñas), Ivan Gutierrez on bass, and Randy Perez on electric guitar. Their self-titled debut album appeared on Fonovisa in 2007, followed by No Existen Barreras in 2008, and La Nueva Era in 2009. After extensive touring and a bus accident that nearly claimed their lives, the group took a rest and even briefly reunited with Urias. Vive en Mi, their fourth album, was issued in late 2013, and was their highest charting set to date, entering the regional Mexican chart in the Top Ten. El Fenómeno was a released the following year, featuring even better production standards. The recording further expanded the band's reputation as a touring act, earning them places on stages with Rene Camacho's La Arrolladora Banda El Limón and many others; the set even charted outside their traditional Mexican Regional genre for the first time.

In the summer of 2015, La Maquinaria Norteña issued the single "Para Que Amarte," which placed well inside the Mexican Regional Top Ten. It was followed quickly by "Corazón Herido," "Qué Haré Sin Ti," and "Qué Tiene Él." The album, Ya Dime Adiós, was released in the fall. ~ Thom Jurek