IDOLOS DEL BARRIO AWARDS RECIPIENTS

 

RUBEN RAMOS & THE TEXAS REVOLUTION

Ruben Ramos has evolved from a sideman-drummer to a vocalist-bandleader.  His contributions to Austin, Texas and the Tejano music scene are immeasurable.  His fame is international and his band, the Texas Revolution, is a dynamic award-winning orchestra, capable of combining a variety of musical styles to please all audiences.  From the many recordings, TV shows, live performances, Ruben Ramos & the Texas Revolution continue to bring much respect and acclaim to Austin, Texas.  Ruben Ramos, as a member of Los Super Seven, is a grammy award winner. In 1998, he and the band were inducted into the Pura Vida Hall of Fame and the Tejano Music Awards Hall of Fame.  In 1999, Ruben Ramos & the Texas Revolution received the Best Male Vocalist and Video of the Year awards at the Tejano Music Awards.

ALFONSO RAMOS Y SU ORQUESTA

Alfonso Ramos gained much musical experience at an early age.  Being an excellent saxophone player and an outstanding vocalist, he quickly rose from the ranks of a sideman to the leader of his own orchestra.  Alfonso Ramos’ brothers were members of the band and the group went on to become one of the top bands not only in Austin but also in all of Texas.  Eventually, Alfonso Ramos y su Orquesta toured many other states.  Several members of his band, including brother Ruben and Roy Montelongo, went on to gain prominence of their own.  The many concerts, recordings, and TV and radio shows in which he participated make Alfonso Ramos a top draw even today.

RUBEN PEREZ Y SU ORQUESTA

Ruben Perez finished his tour of duty in the Army in 1943 and joined the Justin Perez & the Ex-G.I.’s Band.  Ruben Perez was a band leader from approximately 1947 to 1959.  His band played different styles of music, mostly Latin, especially boleros, polkas and cumbias.  Prominent band leaders like Alfonso Ramos and Manuel Donley played with Ruben Perez y su Orquesta early in their careers.  His contemporaries were Matt Velasquez, Nash Hernandez, E.R. Flores, Rudy Sanchez, etc. Mr. Perez says he derived the most joy from meeting all the many people that hired his band, especially during rough economic times.

MATT VELASQUEZ & THE LATINAIRES

Matt Velasquez’ Latinaires, that pre-dated Little Joe’s Latinaire’s by several years, performed from approximately 1946 to 1959.  Vocalist-guitarist Matt Velasquez was a member of several ballroom bands including “Big Poppa’s Band,” the group with which he started playing when he was 14 years old.  After returning from the service in 1946, he formed his own band, playing sorority parties, debutante balls and major parties. He also donated services to all Catholic churches.  Matt Velasquez and his band played for the grand opening of Palmer Auditorium in 1959.  He worked with Eduardo Martinez and Emilio Caceres.  His brother, James Velasquez, played drums.

MANUEL DONLEY Y LAS ESTRELLAS

Manuel Donley, who formed his orquesta in 1949, is considered a pioneer of Tejano music.  An accomplished musician, arranger and composer, Manuel Donley is well respected by his musical peers.  In addition to fronting a Tejano orquesta, he also performs in traditional “Trio” and “Mariachi” ensembles.  Mr. Donley has taught guitar lessons at Huston-Tillotson College and still gives lessons at his home.  His orquesta, Las Estrellas, is famous for its tight horn section as well as for the many different styles of music they played such as boleros, rancheras, polkas, rock-n-roll, rhythm-and-blues, big band-swing, etc.  Manuel Donley was inducted into the Tejano Music Hall of Fame in 1986.

THE NASH HERNANDEZ ORCHESTRA

The Nash Hernandez Orchestra, Austin’s longest running big band, has been playing big band, swing and Latino styles of music for generations of fans throughout Central Texas.  Nash Hernandez fell in love with the big band style while in the Army during World War II.  When he returned to Austin, he worked with Matt Velasquez before starting his own band in 1949.  In 1975, Nash Hernandez was named Ambassador of Goodwill by Governor Dolph Brisco for whom he had performed in 1973 at the Governor’s Inaugural Ball.  He was also recognized for his musical contributions by the City of Austin in 1975 and 1993, by the Texas Senate in 1993 and by Vice President Al Gore in 1994.  Nash Hernandez passed away on June 26, 1994, but the band continues to perform under the direction of Nash’s son, drummer Ruben Hernandez, who began playing with the group at the age of eleven.

ROY MONTELONGO Y SU ORQUESTA

Roy Montelongo is an original Tejano legend who started playing in his teens with the legendary orquesta of Beto Villa.  He then went on to play with the orquestas of Isidro Lopez and Alfonso Ramos before forming his own band.  One of his first picks for a sideman was Agustine Ramirez.  Roy Montelongo recorded many hits and toured nationally.  His unique singing style and his accomplishments as a saxophonist and arranger brought him much acclaim.  Roy Montelongo recorded over 20 albums and was selected to be an original member of “The Legends” of Tejano music along with the likes of Carlos Guzman, Joe Bravo and Sunny Ozuna.  Eventually, he settled on broadcasting as a career and for many years was heard on the Austin airwaves.  Roy Montelongo passed on earlier this year.

LALO CAMPOS

Retired broadcster-promoter Lalo Campos was one of the first individuals to host a Latino radio show in Austin, beginning approximately in 1947 on KOKE radio.  Through his show, he helped many bands get exposure.  Lalo Campos became a promoter when he started holding dances at the Avalon Club on Lamar Street.  The fact that he was a college graduate helped him climb to management level positions in radio broadcasting, eventually becoming General Manager for KOKE and then moving on to the position of Sales Executive for KVET/KASE.  Lalo Campos was one of the first and one of just a very small number of Latinos to reach that level of success in broadcasting.

LOS AGUILILLAS DE JESSE Y BETO DURAN

Los Aguilillas have been delighting audiences in central Texas with their unique accordion sound since the 1960’s.  Brothers, Jesse & Beto Duran, head up Los Aguilillas.  They have recorded for “Discos Aguililla” and “Discos Mayo.”  They have also performed on radio and television.  Through good times and bad, Los Aguilillas have been successful in keeping their group alive.  They will be receiving the Idolos del Barrio Award today.

JOHNNY DEGOLLADO Y SU CONJUNTO

Johnny is the premier conjunto accordionist, band leader, and song writer in Austin and the surrounding areas. In 1952, at the age of 15, he started his own conjunto along with his neighbor, Vicente Alonzo, who still is a member of the conjunto. Johnny is the event coordinator for Austin’s conjunto festival that has been held in May for the last 20 years.  He was inducted into the Tejano Music Hall of Fame in 1986 and will be receiving the Idolos del Barrio Award today.

INOCENCIO “CHENCHO” FLORES

Chencho began his career in 1946, playing in a trio along with Domingo Villareal and Manuel Donley.  Chencho also played and/or recorded with Conjunto Cielito, Ben Garza y Los Gavilanes, Roy Montelongo, Frank Flores y su Conjunto and the Valmon Brothers.  For several years now, he has played with Los Pinkys.

ISIDRO SAMILPA

Isidro plays not only accordion, but bajo sexto and bass guitar as well.  Early in his career, he played with Chente Ybarra at the Bolero Club on Sixth Street.  Isidro also played and/or recorded with Los Sandovales, Conjunto Corona, Julio Moreno, Shorty and the Corvettes, Domingo Zapata, Joe Palacios y Los Diamantes, Rey Zavala y Los Reyes and Johnny Salazar.  He was the band leader of his own conjunto for many years before joining Los Pinkys in 1990.

CAMILO CANTU

In the Central Texas area, Camilo was the great accordion player of the 1930’s and 1940’s.  For many years he played at “La Polkita” in Del Valle, Texas.  He drew big crowds every Saturday night.   It was during this time that Camilo became dubbed, “El Azote de Austin.”  He had a distinct sound due to the unique way that he tuned his accordion.  Camilo never recorded.  Johnny Degollado, his student, has recorded some of his music.  Camilo died at the age of 91 in 1993.

BERT RIVERA AND THE RAMBLERS 

Bert Rivera is an Austin Native who began playing professionally at the age of 15 in local clubs.  In 1961, he joined Hank Thompson & the Brazos Valley Boys with whom he toured worldwide and appeared on many network television programs.  In 1971, Bert returned to Austin where he has played with many notable local bands as well as leading The Nightriders (1973-1984) and The Ramblers (1997 to the present).  In 1998, The Texas Steel Guitar Association inducted Bert into the Texas Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.  On May 19, 2001, Bert was inducted into the Texas Swing Hall of Fame.

MOSES VASQUEZ

Moses Vasquez is a singer and a drummer who toured with Beto Villa in the 1960’s.  Beto Villa is of course one of the pioneers of Tejano orquestra music.  Moses also played with Juan Coronado, Ruben Ramos, Shorty and the Corvettes, and Little Lou Fowler.  He also may have sang a song or two with Bert Rivera.  Moses is not stranger to the Broken Spoke.  Moses singing style has often been likened to that of Ray Price.  In fact, one evening when Moses went to see Ray Price, Ray didn’t show up.  The fiddle player knew Moses and knew that he sang in the same key.  So he did the show instead of Ray Price.  The band leader told him that I sounded so much like Ray, that they called me “Half-Price.”  Moses also owned several clubs, including Little Lou’s Lounge on I-35 and East 38th Street, a second club on South Congress Ave. and the 281 Club in Round Mountain.

GEORGE RUIZ

George Ruiz started playing Country Music in the early 60’s, before it was fashionable for a Latino to do so.  He started playing rhythm guitar until one night at Gil’s Club the bass man did not show up, so the bandleader handed him a bass guitar and said “Here, you are playing bass tonight!”  Throughout the rest of his musical career he played bass behind such musicians as Jim Brown, Jimmy Grabowski, Allan Talley, Ray Tesmer, Bob Mabry and the legendary Cotton Collins.  George also played with bandleaders Roger Beck, Ben Buchanan, Isidoro Lopez and others.  He considers a highlight of his career having played with Ben and the Gents at the Broken Spoke as the back-up band for Bob Wills and guitarist Tag Lambert.  Although George retired from playing music in 1990, he continued to sit in with bands around the Spicewood area and played with the Troubadillos for the tribute to his son, Deputy Keith Ruiz, at the Backyard in 2001

TOMAS RAMIREZ

Tomas Ramirez was born in Falfurrias, Texas and grew up in Premont, Texas.  He learned how to play the saxophone from his uncle, Wally Armendariz who played with the popular Beto Villa in the 1950’s and went on to lead his own danceband.  Tomas joined his uncle’s band at the age of 12.  In high school, he played in the marching, symphonic and jazz bands.  Tomas majored in Music Education at Del Mar College and moved to Austin to study music at the University of Texas.  Tomas is often referred to as the Jazzmanian Devil, a name that refers to a band he formed in 1976.  Tomas has toured, performed and/or recorded with such notables as Jerry Jeff Walker, Christopher Cross, Carole King, the Lost Gonzos, the Electromagnets, and the Texana Dames.  Tomas returned to the Valley a few years ago and can be heard playing with various jazz bands.  His latest CD is entitled “No Mas Tomas.”

ERNESTO SALDANA “ERNIE” DURAWA

Ernie Durawa began playing drums at age 10 in San Antonio. He met Doug Sahm in high school and joined him on the rock and roll circuit. A few years later he discovered Gene Kruppa and jazz, and by the end of his high school days as an accomplished jazz musician. During the late 60's he performed with John Lee Hooker, the Les Elgart Orchestra, George Gobel, Myron Cohen, Jack Carter, Tiny Tim, and Gatemouth Brown, among many others.  He moved to Chicago in 1970.  He studied with the world famous drumset instructor Roy C. Knapp and performed with Chicago's best Jazz musicians.  Ernie moved to Austin in 1975 and spent several years touring with the Texas R & B artist Delbert McClinton.  In 1990 he joined the Grammy winning Texas Tornados for a nine-year stint of touring and recording.  Ernie has also performed with Gene Ramey, Clark Terry, Herb Ellis, Charlie Byrd, Pat Martino, Jackie King and Larry Coryell.  Ernie currently heads his own group, "Los Jazz Vatos" and has just finished recording an album with a new group called “The Monstas.”

TONY “HAM” GUERRERO

Tony was born in San Angelo, Texas.  When he was 8 years old, his grandparents bought him a cornet and started him on private lessons.  He took lessons from his “tio” Pablo Martinez, Luis Gasca and Larry Martinez.  At age 16 he was invited to play with a local dance band.  A year later he was getting an education on jazz standards with Johnny “El Cabezon” Ornelas and Tony Garcia.  When he was only 18, he traveled all over the U.S. and Canada with Johnny Long and his Orchestra from New York.  Tony returned to San Angelo to graduate from High School and was offered a scholarship to the Berklee School of Jazz.  While in San Francisco he played Salsa music while he studied jazz.  In 1968 he joined Little Joe and the Latinaires, soon becoming the musical director.   In the 1970’s, he recorded 20 albums with Tortilla Factory, performing all over the country.  Tony moved to Austin in 1987 where he has been playing Latin Jazz and Salsa with “The New Generation,” a band that includes his son and two daughters.  Tony has re-formed the 16-piece Tortilla Factory that performed earlier in May 2007 at the Old Pecan Street Festival.