“What B.B. King is to the blues, or George Jones is to traditional country, Grammy-winning accordionist Flaco Jimenez is to the world of Tex-Mex Conjunto. Jimenez was universally recognized as a leading exponent of the authentic South Texas Conjunto. While there are many masters of the accordion along the Texas-Mexican border, none have toured Europe, Japan and other points overseas or recorded with as many pop, rock and country artists as Jimenez. By all accounts, Jimenez was an international icon for the accordion-fueled Conjunto genre.â€Flaco Jimenez, the pioneering icon of Conjunto and Tejano music, was destined to be a great musician. He grew up in the barrios of San Antonio listening and learning his famous father’s trade.At age seven, Flaco was already performing with his father on stage in front of live audiences. He had acquired a love for the music and would make a career out of it.By the time he was 15, he was in the studios making records as a member of the group Los Caporales and soon thereafter was given his father’s nickname of “Flacoâ€, which means skinny or thin. After playing the local saloons and dance halls in San Antonio for years, he acquired a solid reputation as a unique musician and stylist. In the 1960’s he teamed up with a fellow musician Douglas Sahm, the founding member of the famous rock band The Sir Douglas Quintet, and then went on to New York to jam with Bob Dylan and Dr. John. From there, he played for mostly Anglo audiences with Peter Rowan and then traveled the world with Ry Cooder and David Lindsey, receiving international acclaim for his contributions to Cooder’s landmark album, Chicken Skin Music.His performances had taken him worldwide, from the barrios of the Southside of San Antonio to the elegant inaugural halls of the White House; from the gardens of the orient in Japan to the gardens of Central Park in New York City; from the yodel country of the Swiss to the country of Mariachi land of Mexico; and from Gay ParÃs to Happy Hollow. Even though his lyrics may not be understood by some, his music is loved by all. It establishes an international bond of all languages. Flaco’s Conjunto style music is derived from many cultural backgrounds: from its original Tex-Mex style to Honky-Tonk Country and Rock and Roll, to the ever-present Tejano music. His unique style of music has earned him five Grammys, and he is just getting better. He conceived the idea of amending the traditional Tex-Mex and Tejano style music by adding the saxophone to the Rock and Roll guitar with a country flair. This, together with his talking accordion, creates a new sound of music.He has been requested by the talents of the most famous such as the likes of Dwight Yoakam, Buck Owens, Ry Cooder, Linda Ronstadt, Emmy Lou Harris, Los Lobos, The Mavericks, John Hiatt, Bryan Ferry, The Clash, Stephen Hill and the Rolling Stones, Carlos Santana, The Chieftains, Jimmy Sturr. Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan,Ray Benson, Asleep at The Wheel, Alan Jackson, Abrahim Ferrer (Buena Vista Social Club), the famous Celso Piña, the very popular Rowwen Heze from Europe, and the famous Jaguares from Mexico.Flaco is described by People Magazine as “a heavy weight in Texas Chicano (or Tejano) music.†He won his first Grammy Award in 1986 for the re-make of his father’s song, “Ay Te Dejo En San Antonioâ€. He then teamed up with his buddies Freddy Fender, Doug Sahm and with Augie Meyers to form the Tex-Mex super group The Texas Tornadoes, thereby winning another Grammy award for their debut release in 1990. In 1996, he won yet another Grammy award for the “Best Mexican-American Performanceâ€, for his Artists Records solo performance entitled “Flaco Jimenezâ€.In 1999, Flaco added two more Grammys to his collection. One came out of the category of “Best Tejano Performance†for his solo release, Said and Done, released by Barb Wire Records and distributed by Virgin Records. The second Grammy Award in 1999 came from the “Best Mexican-American Performance†category in which he re-teamed with Freddy Fender for the recording of the group and album, Los Super Seven (RCA). The Mexican-American all-star band also includes David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos, Joe Ely, Freddy Fender, Rick Treviño and Ruben Ramos. Flaco simply describes the experience of performing with this group as a “family reunionâ€.The five-time Grammy Award winner’s career spans over four decades, and his famous accordion is featured in more than 100 albums. Most recently, Flaco was presented a Double Platinum Album Award by Virgin Records for his participation on the Rolling Stones’ Voodoo Lounge album which sold in excess of two million copies, just like the ever famous "Streets of Bakersfield" with his good friends, Buck Owens and Dwight Yoakam, also receive the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from Billboard Latin Magazine.
Performance with the late Oscar Tellez & Freddy Fender & legend Willie Nelson
Flaco as a Texas Tornado
Flaco with Mr. Roberto Pulido
Flaco with Little Joe
Flaco with Willie Nelson Summer 2008
