Tejano Music

If you are a fan of Wikipedia you might be slightly confused on the actual history of Tejano Music and how it was actually established.  Since it is edited by various sources and can be manipulated or altered by anyone and everyone, even non-historians it’s material is sometimes incorrect or confused.

Just to give you a basic example Tejano Music didn’t just magically become named “Tejano Music” and it wasn’t first named Tex-Mex in the 50′s.

Tejano Music as we know it today started off under two different, yet distinct classifications on one side you had the “Conjunto” Tradition music and on the other side you had the American/Mexican Influence of the Orquestra.  To be sure that you fully understand “Tejano Music” you have to trace the history of both of these types of music and follow them to their merger point.  Even though you can still find the seperation between the styles it has become more accepting to unite the two in the music we know today.  To understand our music in a whole you have to look at it as almost a triangle or even a square, you have Narciso Martinez considered to be “The Father of the Texas-Mexican Conjunto”, Beto Villa considered to be “The Father of Orquesta Tejana”, Isidro Lopez considered to be “The Father of Tejano Music”, and some have also been known to throw in Balde Gonzalez considered to be “A Revolutionary Leader in Orquesta Tejana”.

If it wasn’t for the distinction of these men, we wouldn’t have the music that we so love today.  Our history spans a very long history from the history of the Accordion, to the history of the Brass section and the guitar and bajo.

The funny thing about all of this, is the arguements over a name.  Did you realize that the names were never truly important.  And the name has changed over the years and evolved with the music.  Also, did you know that the name changes were usually placed on the genre by leading DJ’s across the great state of Texas.

Below is a list containing some of the names in which Tejano Music was called:

Conjunto
Orquestra Tejana (Orquesta)
La Onda
La Onda Chicana
Chicano Music
Tex-Mex
Tejano Music

We could jump further in to the rabbit hole, but for today we will leave it at this and let you contemplate the implications.  Just because you may consider yourself well versed in Tejano Music Culture, History, and Fact doesn’t always mean that you are always right.  I challenge you to view the side of the coin from both sides and look at the possibilities.

If it wasn’t for radical changes, evolution, and unique twists we wouldn’t have the music we so love today.

I personally don’t claim to be the expert, but having grown up surrounded by legends, pioneers, and historic figures I believe it’s my duty to provide as much information as I have gathered, be it right, wrong, or already known fact.

Find more posts about this:

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2. This Week In Texas Music History: Randy Garibay
3. Music memorial inductee mastered American, Mexican and German genres – Austin American
4. Austin Museum introduces new Latino Music Exhibit
5. Tejano Music Capital of the World! Here We Come!