Monthly Archives: August 2011
Sunny Ozuna Withstands the Test of Time
Historically, Little Joe joined David Coronado and his Latinaires in late 1954; and in September 1956, Sunny and three classmates formed The Sequins, a street corner doo wop group. Four months later, they changed their name to The Galaxies and it was not until May 1957 that Sunny and Rudy Guerra formed Sunny and the Sun-Glows.
Little Joe recorded his first 45 rpm single as a guitarist in 1958, the same year that Sunny wrote and recorded “Just A Moment.” Since then, the two Grammy Award winners have been the two constants in Tejano music.
Ruco Villarreal
Ruco Villarreal accomplished and achieved much during the late 1950s and up to the early ‘70s. However, he is just another of many unrecognized vocalists.
“Back then, no one wrote about Latin musicians,” the 75-year-old pioneer said referring to the lack of exposure for local and regional Hispanic artists in the San Antonio Express-News and San Antonio Light.
“Therefore the main reason for not getting any respect and no one being aware of what I did in my era is because there is no documentation of our genre – that is until you came along in the early 1980s.”
Rico Del Barrio Rises from the Shadows of the Legends
Rico De Barrio seems to have risen from the ashes of Tejano old school vocalists who recently passed on and were reincarnated by him.
The 34-year-old truck driver never dreamt of being a singer. In fact, he didn’t even know he could sing, but it seems he was destined to carry on the “Westside Sound” torch. And his personal image fits the music to a tee.
It all started after he befriended his childhood music idols, Dimas Garza and the Royal Jesters.
Wally González is Conjunto Music’s Iconic Stand-up Comic
When it comes to musical parodies in Tejano music, the first name to pop up is Wally González, yet he is another of Tejano music’s pioneers long overdue for recognition.
He is important because he influenced Nick Villarreal and other novelty singer/songwriters to follow the same music vein. However, the 71-year-old living legend’s roots were in hard core música de acordeon.
González, who was four, when he used to spend all his nickels on the jukebox, says his father played harmonica and that, accompanied by Arturo Garza on guitar, he started playing accordion at school assemblies at twelve.
Jazz Poet Society
Photos and story by Joseph Martinez
“The Jazz Poet Society”. A collection of poetry lovers, Eduardo Garza Heads the group to share thoughts and ideas every Tuesday at the GIG on 2803 n St Marys street.
The pace was quick and non-stop. As soon as one person was finish there was another starting.
Back ground music was provided by the Jazz Poetry Band, featuring T-Bow.
Eionifer-Skyhawk, wearing a plaid kilt, came to the microphone with a free form style of poetry. Feeding off the audience’s spoke of buses, transfers and how life doesn’t always goes the right way.