Puro Conjunto

Conjunto of South Texas Magazine the stories, the pictures, the music. Fall 2011

Music Review and News

14th Annual COY Next? Where? When? Plans in the works

The South Texas Conjunto Association congratulates Ruben de la Cruz Y Su Conjunto, Elsa, Texas, STCA Conjunto of the Year. We also want to thank all those who participated and cooperated with us in this yearly endeavor. The show already aired on KMBH TV in the Valley with copies of the show to be made available soon. Also plans are already underway th for the 14 Annual COY. Place, date, time, and location TBA. Go to www.conjunto.org for survey on where or why we should have awards show again next year.

Two Time Female Vocalist for the South Texas Conjunto Association
The conjunto world has very few female vocalists that we can name in this column. However, one name that comes up everytime when we say, Conjunto girl? Who is it? The one and only one that has been the most consistent female conjunto participant in all these years Linda Escobar from Corpus Christi, Texas. Linda, (photo on the right) has been known by conjunto ever since she was a little girl. Congratulations, again, Linda.

We heard some commentary about the way we (STCA) goes about in selecting the winners. Anyone interested in finding out, we invite them to participate in our decision making process by becoming involved in all our volunteer work throughout the year. Want to learn how we select winners? Join us in our work. We will gladly have you work with us. Contact us at our MESSAGE BOARD on www.conjunto.org. -Lupe Saenz, Jr. Editor, Publisher. lupesnz@yahoo.com

The legend continues to make the hits. Gilberto Perez Y Sus compadres earn STCA Single of the Year Awards.

Ricardo Guzman, Jr named STCA Vocalist of the Year at 13 Annual Conjunto of the Year Awards in Mercedes, Tx.

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Polka Dawgs Invade Cotton Field Next Gilberto Perezs Rancho the Day After Awards Show
Mercedes, Texas - A bus load of polka dawgs arrived and parked along the highway FM 491 just in front of Gilberto Perezs house. Slowly they started to step down the bus steps into awaiting welcome by Gilberto, his wife, Amelia, and son Javier as they lined the entrance from the bus all the way to the back of the and into the Gilberto Perez Showroom. Its July and cotton season is in full swing in the Rio Grande Valley. Perezs property is surrounded by large cotton field in full bloom. Taking advantage, some of the San Antonio visitors invade the cotton field to take pictures and to reminisce about the days when they were cotton pickers themselves.
Gilberto Perez, Jr, takes over the conjunto and is now called, Gilberto Perez, Jr, Y Sus Compadres The new conjunto is currently planning to record a new CD soon.

Alfredo de la Rosas New CD Just Released 15 Hits on Hacienda Records Now playing.

Califas Releases OVERDUE cd album Literally

Conjunto Califas, Visalia, California, has recently released a brand new album appropriately titled, OVERDUE. Staying with the latest trends, the album includes the cumbia, Put it on Facebook, written and sung by Alfredo Saenz, Jr, bajo player, and vocalist of the group. In addition, the other songs included in the new cd are: Lamento de Un Prisionero, Por Jugarme Traicion, Regalame Un Besito, Mienteme Mas, La Historia de un Amor, Califas Mix, Soy de Tejas Vencido, Daddys Home, and a special accordion duet with Martin Hernandez and James Moreno, Mr. Sandman. The rest of the band members include Alfredo M. Saenz, bajo sexton; Jaime Moreno, accordion; Steven Martinez, bass; Jimmy Papa Moreno, road crew and special guest: Martine Hernandez on accordion in Mr. Sandman. The band, one of few Texas conjunto style artists in the San Joaquin Valley, California, continues to play and perform throughout the west and the USA. Recently, Califas performed at the annual Guadalupe Cultural Arts conjunto festival in San Antonio where they charmed the audience and blasted some of the best conjunto licks ever. And, Freddie, yes, you were overdue on this one. A great recording. Congratulations, from the South Texas Conjunto Association, Rio Grande Valley. Conjunto Califas can be contacted on conjuntocalifas@gmail.com. Facebook.com/pages/califas.

Lupe Saenz, Jr, Acordeones de Tejas TV Show interviews Roberto Pulido of the Tejano band, Los Clasicos during the taping of show at a special reception held at San Benitos Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center.

Conjunto Girls Performing in Austin, Texas, state Capitol

It's a Women;s conjunto world in Latin Music Showcase at Austins Jovita's Restaurant. Joanna Ramirez con Larry Lange and his Lonely Knights, Gina Chavez, Mary Welch y Los Curanderos and Susan Torres y Conjunto Clemencia. These are conjunto girls at the State Capital of Austin, Texas.

Rick Garcia, Hacienda Records, Mcd the COY Awards.

Chano Cadenas 56th Anniversary Dance on Canasta Records

Canasta Records, Kingsville, Texas, released The Best of the Chano Cadena 56th Year Anniversary Dance, April 24, 2010 Manru Country Dance Hall live recordings albujm. The album includes music by Los D Boys, Ruben Rivera Y RA, Linda Escobar, Mickey Y Sus Carnales, and Chano Cadena Y Su Conjunto. The event has also been featured in a special edition of the program, Acordeones de Tejas TV Show on Public Television in the Rio Grande Valley.

PURO CONJUNTO MUSIC REVIEW On LINE, written, edited, and published by Lupe Saenz, Jr., 308 Weslaco, Texas 78596. Permission to download and print is hereby given to anyone who wants to have a hard copy of this publication. Send your conjunto articles and pictures to lupesnz@yahoo.com for the next issue which will be out in about two week.s www.conjunto.org is the website to clik.