Accordionist Flaco Jimenez, renowned for expanding the reach of conjunto and Tejano music in Texas, has passed away at the age of 86.
Flaco Jimenez, Legendary Tejano and Conjunto Musician, Passes Away at 86
Flaco Jimenez, a renowned figure in Tejano and conjunto music, has passed away at the age of 86. The news was announced by his family on social media, although the exact cause of his death remains undetermined.
Jimenez, affectionately known as "el hijo de San Antonio" or the son of San Antonio, was a six-time Grammy winner and a recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. His album "Partners" was added to the U.S. Library of Congress's National Recording Registry, recognizing its cultural significance.
Born as Leonardo Jimenez in 1939, Jimenez spent his entire life in San Antonio, a city that was "very close to his heart." He refined his conjunto musical skills by playing in San Antonio saloons and dance halls, and his career took off when he joined the Tejano supergroup the Texas Tornados in the 1990s, alongside Douglas Sahm, Augie Meyers, and Freddy Fender. The group won a Grammy in 1991 for the song, "Soy de San Luis."
Jimenez was a champion of traditional conjunto music and Tex-Mex culture, innovating while collaborating across genres. He was the son of conjunto pioneer Santiago Jimenez and played a crucial role in promoting the accordion-driven sound rooted in South Texas Mexican-American communities.
Kyle Young, the CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, praised Flaco Jimenez as a paragon of Tejano conjunto music. In 2014, he was named a Texas State Musician. In 2022, the White House honoured him for "harnessing heritage to enrich American music."
A private funeral service and a public celebration of Flaco Jimenez's life are planned, with details to be announced in due course. The Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum expressed their condolences over his passing.
[1] Flaco Jimenez, legendary Tejano musician, dies at 86 [2] Flaco Jimenez, Tejano and Conjunto Music Pioneer, Dies at 86 [3] Flaco Jimenez, Accordionist and Tejano Music Pioneer, Dies at 86
[1] Although he was renowned for his contributions to Tejano music, Flaco Jimenez, the six-time Grammy winner, passed away at the age of 86, leaving a significant void in the music industry.
[2] Known for his innovative approach to traditional conjunto music and Tex-Mex culture, Flaco Jimenez, who passed away at 86, was a pivotal figure in the Tejano and Conjunto music scene, having refined his skills in San Antonio saloons and receiving numerous accolades throughout his career.
