HUMBERTO "CAPIRUCHA" LÓPEZ LOZANO
López Lozano was born in Robstown,
Texas and by his late teens, he was doing radio with
Dr. Héctor Garcia, founder of the American G.I. Forum.
Then he went to San Antonio where he made his mark at
KCOR radio as Capirucha. The character he created was
a little 10-year-old shoe shine kid who sold
newspapers and he made it very popular.
Later López Lozano formed Magda
Records and waxed Ramón Ayala and Cornelio Reyna, than
known as Los Relampagos del Norte plus Placido
Salazar. A hands-on label, he was also the company’s
recording engineer.
Shortly after Manuel Dávila Sr.
founded KEDA, the Robstown native joined Radio
Jalapeño. By 2000, he owned KMIQ, KXTM, which
transmited to the Alice area, later here and now on
hiatus; KHMC, Majic 95 in Víctoria; and KLMO, whose
antenna in Pearsall covered the Alamo City.
His latest accomplishment was
forming the Tejano Music Video Network. López Lozano
is survived by his wife, Minerva; eight sons, most of
them in radio; four daughters plus numerous
grandchildren and great grandchildren.
RAMIRO "SNOWBALL" DE LA CRUZ
Snowball, also known as "Güero
Polvos," was given his first guitar in 1960. He named
it "Rusty" and once he mastered the instrument, he
joined The Personalities.
In 1963, he joined Óscar Hernández
y Los Alegres del Valle when the established group
included Carlos Guzmán on lead vocals and Balde Muñoz
on drums. A year later, Mel Villarreal replaced
Hernández on accordion, Armando Hinojosa was added and
they became Carlos Guzmán y Su Conjunto.
In 1965, they changed their name to
Carlos Guzmán y Los Fabulosos 4. By now Snowball had
become a guitarist of superstar status. Then, although
the band bore the lead singer’s name, he went solo in
1967, Muñoz was drafted and Cha Cha Jiménez was
brought in as lead vocalist.
Years after, he was among the
founding members of Los Unicos, who formed Uniko
Records, their own label. After they disbanded in
1975, he formed Snowball and Company featuring Laura
Canales on lead vocals. Then he founded Fireball
Records and their recording made Billboard’s Latin
Hits charts. Fandango followed and most recently,
Snowball was singing, playing guitar and recording
with Los Mensajeros de Cristo.
Both the McAllen, Texas-native and
Capirucha were Tejano Roots Hall of Fame inductees.
Snowball is survived by his wife Felicitas, two sons,
Ramiro Jr. and Ramiro II; two stepsons, Leo Gómez and
José Luis Aguilar Jr.; three daughters, Clarissa,
Patricia and Crystal; an ex-wife (Esmeralda) and
several grandchildren.
JUAN IGNACIO "EL AMABLE" MURILLO
Murillo, who started out with Siglo
21 and Brown Express was one of the original founding
members of Mazz featuring Joe López and Jimmy González.
Following a falling out among the
Brownsville, Texas-based Mazz members, in 1982, the
bass player, Adolfo Pintor Cristo García, Noé García
and Héctor Augusto Flores formed The Force. They also
recruited Roy García Jr. on guitar and Gary Hobbs, who
at that time was often physically confused with Joe
López, was brought in as lead vocalist.
By 1984, they made Billboard’s
Latin Music charts and in the Tejano Music Awards, the
Freddie Records artists were nominated as "Most
Promising Band." "Vete Con El" was nominated Album of
the Year" and "La Ultima Vez" was nominated "Single of
the Year."
A years after their most successful
period, they broke up. Ten years later, they reunited
to record one compact disc for Hacienda Records.
Murillo is survived by Marta, his
wife of 39 years, two sons, Juan Ignacio Jr. and César
Israel; his daughter Lisa Marie and four
grandchildren.
This writer had the honor of
knowing, photographing, interviewing and spending many
hours with these three Tejano music icons. May they
rest in peace.
