Blogs, etc.

  • ‘Selena: The Series’ Causes Unprecedented Increase in Google Searches for Fellow Artists and Tejano Music
    The entertainment world has been abuzz for months, anxiously awaiting the December 4th debut of Selena: The Series, the new Netflix Original series that takes a deeper dive into the early years of Selena y Los Dinos and the dynamics of the Quintanilla family during the band’s rise
  • Tejano Nation: COVID survivors Maria y Cien Grados release new cumbia “Vamos a Bailar”
    While members of the Austin-based band are recovering from COVID-19, the latest single from their upcoming debut album has been released. “Vamos a Bailar” is the latest single from up and coming Austin-based group Maria y Cien Grados. Since their beginning back in 2016, listeners and
  • Tejano Nation: J.R. Gomez releases new Tejano single, “He Tratado De Olvidarte”
    “He Tratado De Olvidarte” is the brand new single from multi-talented Grammy Award winner J.R. Gomez. Taking a quick break from his massively popular Conjunto Bandits, Gomez ventures back into familiar territory with this classic-sounding Tejano ranchera. Produced by the extraordinary Mario Ortiz (musical director for Jay Perez)
  • Tejano Nation: Accordionist Brenda Martinez Releases Debut Conjunto Album “Favoritas De Mis Padres”
    San Antonio-based Conjunto accordionist Brenda Martinez released her debut album, “Favoritas De Mis Padres,” on Tuesday, December 17, 2019. In addition to the standard availability on all digital platforms and CD, the album is also available as a vinyl LP, a first for Conjunto for several decades. “Favoritas
  • Tejano Nation: Daughter Digitizes Release for Rebirth of Rosina Records and Sixto Sanchez 52 Years After Tragedy
    San Marcos, Texas — In the 1960s and 70s, Rosina Records was an independently-owned record label based in San Marcos. Its catalog included Chicano Soul and early recordings of Tejano music legends, as well as those of a rising star named Sixto Sanchez, who died in an
  • Liner Notes: Aye Que Tan Bonita – Los Texas Wranglers
    When Julian Fernandez of Los Texas Wranglers asked me to write the liner notes for Aye, Que Tan Bonita, the guys’ most recent album full of original material, I was honored and I jumped at the chance. Here’s what I wrote: For over a decade, Austin’s own Los
  • Rancho Alegre Talks Tejano and Conjunto in The Guardian
    When one of the most respected newspapers in the entire world, based in London, England, contacted us and asked us to write about Tejano and Conjunto music for an upcoming Travel piece about the American Southwest, we immediately said yes. Read Piper’s article and listen to Frank’s
  • Señorita Cantinera – Heartbreak and the Beat
    An interesting characteristic of all “roots” music like Conjunto, Blues and Traditional Country is the contrast of lyrics that describe heartbreak and despair set to upbeat music. For example: Señorita Cantinera. Covered by countless artists including Ruben Naranjo and Roberto Pulido, it is from the
  • Latin Music Festivals – Why Not Tejano?
    As the latino population increases all over the country, latin music festivals are on the rise as well. The lineups usually include a wide variety of genres from all latin cultures, from alt-rock and hip-hop to tribal and duranguense to samba, salsa, and jazz. For
  • Events Are For Everyone – Including the Disabled
    Tejano Gold Radio the Magazine May 2013 Recently a listener wrote to us and mentioned how she is disabled and is unable to attend most of the great Tejano and Conjunto events where her favorite artists are scheduled to perform. She’s not alone, and numbers
  • D’oh! Liner notes would have been helpful…
    When we first started blogging a few years ago over at ranchoalegretexas.com, I wrote what I thought was a brilliant analysis of Ruben Naranjo’s cover of the Sir Douglas Quintet’s hit, “She’s About a Mover.” I went on and on about how there was no
  • The Road to Rancho Alegre
    It’s 7:30 a.m, at a Days Inn in Corpus Christi, Texas. I’m shuffling down the hallway to the breakfast area in search of hot biscuits and gravy. My partner, Frank Cuellar, is making a waffle. “So, what time do we need to be in Laredo?”