Overview
The music of contemporary Mexican American culture ranges in style from traditional Mexican styles such as norteño and mariachi, to hybrid forms that combine the polka/ranchera sound with country, rock and roll, and cumbia, to hip hop and rap styles. Often the term Tejano is used generally to indicate any of these styles that have developed in Texas. However, for our purposes, the term Tejano will be used more specifically to indicate a modern, expanded conjunto style (electrified bajo sexto, bass, accordion, drumset, synthesizer and additional instruments). Individual artists and bands from California, Arizona, and Texas have driven the innovation of new approaches to traditional music with a resultant diversity of material. The selected artists and genres in this chapter will include Little Joe y la Familia, Jimmy Gonzalez y Mazz, David Lee Garza y los Musicales, Patsy Torres, Linda Ronstadt, Los Lobos, and Selena.
Objectives
- Identify the instrumental ensembles and musical styles of La Onda Chicana, Mariachi, Tejano, Rock and Tejano/Cumbia aurally
- Recall the contributions and innovations of selected artists to Mexican American popular music
- Identify the following song/dance forms: polka, cumbia, son jarocho, son jalisciense
- Examine the cultural context that these ensembles, genres and forms originate from and understand them as part of an ongoing, bi-cultural musical expression
1950s and 60s: Joining the Mainstream
The overwhelming popularity of rock and roll in America of the 1950s made its mark amongst young Mexican Americans. Chief among the converted was Ritchie Valens (originally Valenzuela) who had only started his career as a rock n roller with hits such as "La Bamba ♫" and "Come On, Let's Go ♫" when he was tragically killed in a plane crash in 1959, along with Buddy Holly. Following on Valens' heels was Sunny Ozuna who made history as the first Mexican American musician to appear on American Bandstand, with his English pop hit, "Talk to Me." Mainstream rock and roll and popular styles soon evolved into exciting new music in the 1960s, as evidenced by the Latin rock music of Carlos Santana and the diverse song writing styles of Los Lobos.
"My belief is that the marriage between conjunto music and orquesta music became Tejano music."
