Tejano Conjunto Festival 2001

En San Antonio

The Garcia Brothers

Los Gallos de Paris

Coming all the way from Paris, France, Los Gallos de Paris are a testament to the power of conjunto music. Not only does it transcend cultural differences, but it brings them together without losing any of its essence. Individually Los Gallos bring a multitude of musical knowledge and styles; from classical to jazz to Cajun to conjunto. Los Gallos have recently recorded their first CD and will be available for sale. Manolo Gonzalez (bajo quinto), Thierry "Carpintero" Carpentier (accordion), David "Cajun" Rolland (bass guitar), and Russel Hoag (drums). Contact info, Victoria Garcia (210) 225-5989. Web-site: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/thierry.carpentier/losgallos.html. Manolo is playing a Jimenez "Electric" bajo quinto made by Layo Jimenez. For more info, Click Here.

 

Ramiro "Ramz" Guerrero and Guillermo (Willie) Rivera - Ramz Guerrero sang the song "Homenje a Valerio Longoria" written by Guillermo Rivera.

Los Pioneers are a relatively new group of veteran musicians. Ramiro "Ramz" Guerrero, accordionist, started playing when he was 10, having learned from his brother, Conjunto Hall of Famer, Manuel Guerrero, "El Sargento que Canta". At 15, "Ramz" began playing with Los Paisanos. He has played with Henry Zimmerle, Dueto Carta Blanca, Toby Torres, Hugo Gonzales and Los Bandoleros. For approximately four years, "Ramz" was the accordion player for Bandango. "Ramz" Guerrero started Los Pioneers in 1997. He chose the name Los Pioneers because all the band members are seasoned veterans in conjunto music. They recorded their CD "Recuerdos" in 1997 with Joey Records, and since then have added five more CD's to their record: "Conjunto", "Raíces", "Yo lo Comprendo", "Viejo el Viento", and their latest, "Homenaje a Valerio Lonoria". "Ramz" says "La música de conjunto es una música alegre and will always be around." Guillermo (Willie) Rivera composer of "Homenje a Valerio Longoria" Guillermo Rivera, who goes mostly by "Willie" Rivera, learned how to play the button accordion at the age of 10. He is self-taught and remembers playing at an early age to the cotton pickers after the work day was over. Willie considers himself a traditionalist and a "die-hard" conjunto fan. He saw the development of the traditional conjunto evolve into what it presently is. Willie believes that there is a natural marriage between the button accordion and bajo sexto. He promotes strict adherence to the button accordion being the lead instrument, accompanied by the bajo sexto, as the traditional standard for conjunto. "Homenaje a Valerio Longoria" is the first song composed by Willie to be recorded. He chose Los Pioneers to record it because he believed that the "Homenaje" should be recorded in the same genre as the type of music for which Valerio Longoria was famous for. Ramz Guerrero and Los Pioneers fit the bill. His Email address is grrivera1@aol.com.