The Mexican American Experience, a radio program produced by the Longhorn Radio Network, includes interviews, music, and informational programs related to the Mexican American community and their concerns. Program summary: Linda Fregoso discusses the life and careers of Conjunto musicians, Tony de la Rosa, Flaco Jimenez, and Esteban Jordan. Fregoso first speaks with Tony de la Rosa. She explains that de la Rosa taught himself how to play the accordion and got his start playing in cantinas. He then discusses the development of conjunto music and the efforts of the recording industry to build is audience. Fregoso next speaks with Jimenez, who learned to play the accordion from his father. He started his own band when he was 15 and starting recording songs. Jimenez explains that while his early songs were very popular, they only sold a small number of records because at that time the recording industry was hesitant to promote conjunto music, which they associated with the lower classes. Since then, however, conjunto music has become very popular, and Jimenez has played with several famous mainstream musicians like Bob Dylan and Ry Cooder, and he talks about his experiences touring with the latter. Fregoso then interviews Jordan, who is famous for his unique performances and dedication to the Chicano Movement. Jordan is particularly committed to the cause of farm workers because he was one. In fact, he learned to play music in the fields and he talks a little bit about the effects these early experiences have had on his music. Jordan criticizes the recording industry for stifling creativity and discusses his interest in blending different musical sounds. Keywords: Accordion, Barrio Life, Bars, Bass Guitar, Bob Dylan, Burritos, Cantinas, Chicano Movement, Chicano Music, Chicken Skin, Conjunto Music, Country Western Music, Cross-Over Music, De la Rosa y Juarez, Esteban Jordan, Farm Workers, Flaco Jimenez, Flaco Jimenez y su conjunto, Hasta la Vista, Henry Zimmerle, Julian Juarez, Lawrence Welk, Leonardo "Flaco" Jimenez, Leonardo Jimenez y Los Caporales, Mariachi, music, Narciso Rodriguez, Norteño Music, Orquesta, Peter Rowan, Polka, Radio, Recording Industry, Rock Music, Ry Cooder, San Juan, Texas, Santiago Flaco Jimenez, Saturday Night Live, Sir Douglas Quintet, South Texas, Tejano Music, Tony de la Rosa, Valerio Longoria, Washington, D.C., Working Class. Broadcast date: 1982-04-22.
Creator/Contributor:
Longhorn Radio Network (creator), Fregoso, Rosa Linda. (host), de la Rosa, Tony (interviewee), Jiménez, Flaco (interviewee), and Jordan, Steve, 1939-2010 (interviewee)
Date Created/Date Issued:
1981
Owning Repository:
Benson Latin American Collection, LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections, The University of Texas at Austin
sound recordings, grabaciones sonoras, radio programs, programas de radio, and Audio
Extent:
25 minutes, 9 seconds
Rights - Use and Reproduction:
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Language:
English
Place of Publication:
Austin (Tex.)
Topic:
Agricultural laborers, Mexican American musicians, Conjunto music, Música norteña, Trabajadores agrícolas, Sound recording industry, Accordion, and Acordeones