Santiago Jiménez

Santiago Jiménez, Jr.

Tejano Accordionist / Singer
(Santiago's music samples Click Here)

Texas conjunto music is a button-accordion based music which emerged as a folk music genre among Tejanos – Texas Chicanos – in the late-nineteenth century. By the mid-twentieth century it had become a very significant regional music genre. In its formative years, the typical conjunto (ensemble) consisted of a single-row button-accordion and a bajo sexto (a Mexican twelve-string guitar). The drum set was added to the ensemble in the late-1940s, and the acoustic bass in the 1950s. Although there are many types of accordions, Texas conjuntos are known for their use of the three-row button variety. In conjunto music the accordion plays the lead, and the bajo sexto guitar, acoustic bass and drums play chord and rhythm accompaniment Although larger bands and keyboard-based groups have been extremely popular Tejano genres since the 1950s and 1960s, the conjunto has been recognized as being perhaps the most important expression of Chicano culture in Texas.

The late Don Santiago Jiménez, Sr., known as “Flaco,” was one of several pioneers of Texas conjunto music. He not only played and composed many tunes which have become conjunto music standards; he was also one of the first to record conjunto music for major record labels in the 1920s and the 1930s. His eldest son, Leonardo, who is also known as “Flaco,” is a well-known accordionist who has recorded with non-Tejano groups such as Ry Cooder, The rolling Stones, Dough Sahm and Dwight Yoakum, and has won five Grammy’s recording such “crossover” music.

Santiago Jiménez, Jr., himself a three-time Grammy nominee, is best known for remaining in the tradition of his father. That is, the instrumentation which he utilizes, the repertoire which he performs, the style of his compositions and, above all, his style of playing the button-accordion remain in the century-old tradition of south Texas accordionists. In fact, he is undoubtedly the principal living exponent of the style. For this reason alone, he is frequently asked to perform not only in his native Texas, but also through the U.S., including performances in Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York City, where he performed at Carnegie Hall. Moreover, he has performed in Spain, Austria, Switzerland, and Japan, to name a few places where his style is known and appreciated outside the U.S. Santiago, also known as “El Chief,” has recorded dozens of albums, tapes, and CD’s since he began recording in the 1950s.

Finally, he has received numerous awards the most recent one being the National Heritage Award,”the country’s most prestigious honor in folk and traditional arts.” According to Bill Ivey, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts and folklorist, “The Arts Endowment’s National Heritage Fellows are extraordinary artists who have dedicated their lives to revitalizing, celebrating and preserving this country’s living heritage. By proudly honoring their many contributions to music, dance, and the creation ob objects of beauty and function, we also pay respect to the rich traditions that inspire and nurture their work.”

José R. Reyna, Ph.D.

Professor of Spanish

Deparment of Modern Languages and Literatures

California State University, Bakersfield

( Santiago Jiménez, Jr., and José Reyna, Ph.D.)