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Flaco Jimenez: a legend of Tejano music
Flaco Jimenez, a name that resonates strongly in the heart of Texas and beyond its borders, is an icon of Tejano music and border music. Born to Mexican immigrants in San Antonio, Texas, in 1939, Leonardo "Flaco" Jimenez grew up in an environment steeped in music and became a true virtuoso of the accordion. He passed away on July 31, 2025, but he leaves behind an immense legacy.
Flaco Jimenez: a legend of Tejano music
Flaco Jimenez, a name that resonates strongly in the heart of Texas and beyond its borders, is an icon of Tejano music and border music. Born to Mexican immigrants in San Antonio, Texas, in 1939, Leonardo "Flaco" Jimenez grew up in an environment steeped in music and became a true virtuoso of the accordion. He passed away on July 31, 2025, but he leaves behind an immense legacy.
Musical talent was a hallmark of the Jimenez family for generations. Flaco’s grandfather, Patricio Jimenez, was an accordionist. His father, Santiago Jimenez, was a pioneer of the accordion in Tejano music, as well as a vocalist and composer. Over a musical career spanning more than 70 years, Flaco was honored with numerous awards, including five Grammy Awards in various categories and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He has also received accolades from the Americana Music Awards, Tejano Music Awards and Billboard magazine.
At Reliant, we believe in contributing to the communities where we live and work, and that's why we are pleased to honor the contributions and the legacy of cultural icons like Flaco Jimenez.
From an early age, Flaco showed an exceptional passion and talent for music. Although his first instrument was the bajo sexto, a type of 12-string guitar that originated in Mexico, he later chose the accordion, influenced by his father, Santiago, and zydeco musician Clifton Chenier. By the age of 7, without any formal training, he was already skilled at playing the accordion and performed with his father. At 15, he had recorded his first album with Los Caporales.
His musical roots were always in the Tex-Mex conjunto music he inherited from his father and grandfather. This genre is a Texas tradition that originated in the nineteenth century, influenced by German, Polish and Czech settlers who introduced dance hall music and the diatonic accordion, which was later embraced by Texans of Mexican heritage. Flaco described conjunto music as "joyful" and loved to see couples dancing on the dance floor to the beat of his music.
Flaco Jimenez's music is not only a reflection of his Hispanic heritage and biculturalism, but also a bridge connecting generations and communities. His ability to merge musical styles such as conjunto, norteño, rock, country, blues and pop allowed his music to transcend cultural and geographical boundaries. His unique style and ability to perform complex melodies quickly made him stand out in the Texas music scene.
In the late 1960s, Jimenez played in dance halls in San Antonio and collaborated with Doug Sahm, one of the founding members of the rock band Sir Douglas Quintet. In the 1970s, he settled in New York, where he worked with several musicians. Jimenez was a collaborator on Ry Cooder's album, Chicken Skin Music, and joined Cooder on his European tour.
When Jimenez returned to the United States, he began touring with his own band, sharing the stage with Peter Rowan, with whom he later founded the band Free Mexican Airforce. In 1986, Jimenez won his first Grammy for his album, Ay te dejo en San Antonio, featuring a song written by his father. Another Grammy followed for the song Soy de San Luis, also written by Flaco's father. This track was recorded with the fusion band Texas Tornados, and marked the beginning of Jimenez's collaboration with Freddy Fender, another Latin music icon. Together, they created hits that resonated on the charts and in the hearts of their fans. In 1990, Jimenez played with Bob Dylan at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and in 1994 he collaborated on the Rolling Stones' Voodoo Lounge. In 1998, he joined Los Super Seven and won a Grammy award with them.
In addition to being one of the featured artists in the 1976 documentary Chulas Fronteras, directed by Les Blank, Jimenez also appeared in the film Picking Up the Pieces with Woody Allen and Sharon Stone. Not only was his music part of the soundtrack for this film, but his compositions were also featured in other films such as Y tu mamá también and Tin Cup. These experiences solidified him as a cultural ambassador for Texas by spreading conjunto music internationally.
Beyond his music, Flaco Jimenez was a true cultural ambassador. His dedication to preserving and promoting Tejano music and celebrating Mexican culture has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the National Medal of Arts. His influence has inspired new generations of musicians to explore and value their cultural roots.
Flaco was also a pillar in his community, participating in charity events, supporting young musicians in his community and raising money for scholarships. His commitment to his hometown of San Antonio was a testament to his character and his desire to give back to the people who supported him throughout his career.
Flaco Jimenez’s way of combining traditional music with modern styles and adding a Tex-Mex flavor to genres such as rock, blues and country leaves an indelible mark on Texan culture and Latin music. His music broke down barriers and will remain alive for generations to come.