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Part 1:
Rancho Alegre Radio (RAR): Greetings, friends, I’m Baldomero Cuellar with Rancho Alegre Radio, here with the famous legend, La Paloma Del Norte, Beatriz –
Beatriz Llamas (BL): Don’t say “of the South,” I’m from the North.
RAR: (laughter) Beatriz Llamas. Beatriz, thank you so much for having us here in your house.
(air date: 6/8/15)
On today's edition of Rancho Alegre on KOOP, Piper talked with Austin's own Marcelo Gauna. The versatile accordionist discussed highlights from his decades-long career as a conjunto, norteño, tejano and rock musician, where he came from, who he's played with, and where he's going next.
On Monday, June 1 on Rancho Alegre on KOOP, we broadcast a previously recorded special interview with conjunto legend Ruben Garza and his new group, Ruben Garza y La Nueva Era Musical.
By now, Conjunto fans all over the world know that Gilberto Garcia and his former Los Dos Gilbertos bandmates have parted ways.
Felipe Borrero and Fred Soto of Austin's own Big Band Tejano live on Rancho Alegre on KOOP 91.7FM with Piper LeMoine. We discussed the band and the state and history of Orquesta and Tejano music, played their new singles along with a couple classic Orquesta recordings.
Last summer, Rancho Alegre headed out to the Texas panhandle on business. While we were out there, we thought we would touch base with one of the region's most popular groups: Los Arcos Hermanos Peña.
Freddie Martinez, or simply Freddie, is one of the most influential men in Tejano music history. Since beginning his professional career in the 1950s, Martinez has seen both sides of the business. He built a record company from scratch in the 1970s, which became successful enough for him to retire from being a working musician.
Recorded in September 2011 at El Torreón Restaurant in San Antonio.
Conjunto legend Nick Villarreal, or “Nicky Snick,” if you prefer, is a character larger than life itself. He is a man with charisma so strong, it’s almost radioactive. From his jokes to his laugh, to that big booming voice, he’s just FUN.
Much has been made of the decline of Tejano, and more than a few groups that made it big back in the 80s and 90s have either broken up quietly, faded into obscurity, limited their activity, melted down publicly, or have struggled to remain on the radar in a post-terrestrial radio world.
If you ask any Tejano music fan to list some of the most popular performers in the industry, Ram Herrera will be near the top of the list.
He hardly has to use his last name anymore, “Ram” is usually enough. He’s also known as the “Most Wanted Man” and the “Man of 1,000 Roses.”
Crystal N Crew is one of the youngest groups in conjunto today. With all members under the age of 17, the family band from Pasadena includes Crystal Garcia on bajo sexto, Jose Garcia on accordion, and Lily Garcia on drums. They’ve had a couple of bass players, including Anthony Diaz (included in this interview) and current bassist Isaiah Tellez.