Texas Accordionist Flaco Jimenez Passes Away at 86, Leaving a Legacy in the Realm of Conjunto and Tejano Music
Flaco Jimenez, a beloved figure in the world of Tex-Mex and Tejano music, passed away peacefully at the age of 86 on July 31, 2025. His family announced the news on social media, though the official cause of death has not yet been determined.
Born in 1939 as the son of conjunto pioneer Santiago Jimenez, Flaco, known to his fans by his nickname "Flaco" which means skinny in Spanish, spent his entire life in San Antonio, a city he was deeply fond of. He was often referred to as "el hijo de San Antonio," which means the son of San Antonio.
Flaco Jimenez was a highly acclaimed accordionist, earning a total of five Grammys and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. He was celebrated for expanding the popularity of conjunto, Tejano, and Tex-Mex music beyond their traditional audiences, collaborating with major artists like Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones, and being a member of influential supergroups such as the Texas Tornados and Los Super Seven.
His impact on Tex-Mex and Tejano music is profound. As a bridge between Mexican musical traditions and American popular music, Flaco helped preserve and promote the cultural identity of Tejanos (Texans of Mexican heritage). Conjunto music, characterized by accordion and bajo sexto instrumentation, was popularized through his virtuosity, making him a legendary figure symbolizing this enduring style and its cultural significance in South and Central Texas communities.
In 2014, Flaco Jimenez was named a Texas State Musician. He was also inducted into the National Hispanic Hall of Fame and NYC International Latin Music Hall of Fame. The White House honoured him for "harnessing heritage to enrich American music" and for blending various musical genres.
Kyle Young, the CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, described Flaco Jimenez as a "paragon of Tejano conjunto music." Arturo Jimenez, Flaco's son, stated that his father was a humble man who never wanted to be a showman.
Fans of Flaco Jimenez have expressed gratitude for his music, citing its presence in multiple situations, either for happiness or sadness. His family plans to have a private funeral service followed by a public celebration of his life.
The Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum expressed condolences over Flaco Jimenez's passing. Flaco died in the San Antonio home of his son Arturo Jimenez.
Flaco Jimenez refined his conjunto musical skills by playing in San Antonio saloons and dance halls. He won his first Grammy in 1990 and another Grammy in 1999 as part of another supergroup, Los Super Seven.
In the 1990s, Flaco Jimenez was part of the Tejano supergroup the Texas Tornados, winning a Grammy with them in 1991 for the song "Soy de San Luis."
Flaco Jimenez will be deeply missed by his fans, family, and the music community. His legacy lives on in the music he created and the cultural impact he made.
Music and entertainment were integral parts of Flaco Jimenez's life, with his acclaimed accordion skills earning him five Grammys and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. His collaborations with artists like Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones expanded the popularity of Tejano and Tex-Mex music genres. Furthermore, his impact on conjunto music, characterized by its accordion and bajo sexto instrumentation, was profound, making him a legendary figure who symbolized the enduring style's cultural significance in South and Central Texas communities.
