Reyes Accordions

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Gilbert Reyes Jr - was born in Harlingen, Texas and lived most of his life in the Rio Grande Valley. As a young boy he was captivated greatly by the emerging style of Tejano during the late 60s early 70s. He has never forgotten a performance by Esteban Jordan at the Veras Palladium in Weslaco, Texas. What he saw that day was the power that music had on people. According to Gilbert, till this day, he has not found any other medium that captivates and inspires the Latino community as much as the music. His father would take him to see other musicians such as Los Donnneños, Narciso Martinez, Los Fabulosos Quatro, Little Joe y La familia, Los Allegres de Teran who were from his parent's home town in General Teran Nuevo Leon, Mexico. "I remember so vividly waking up early on Sunday mornings to watch the Paulino Bernal Show to see the latest Tejano bands in South Texas." However the most important influence in Gilbert's life was his grandfather Pablo Reyes. Embedded in his memory forever is his grandfather's music, his style, and philosophical view of the world. To him (Pablo Reyes), music was cure for all ills that stem from man-made conventions. A cure, he believed, that could unite all of us in this global community. Indeed he was remarkable man for someone who had no formal education. It is because of Pablo Reyes that Gilbert carries on the Tex-Mex/Conjunto tradition. In 1975, at the age of 14, Gilbert had the opportunity to perform in a band based out of Weslaco, Texas. His band produced one album and disbanded in 1977. In 1987 Gilbert decided to move to California to continue his studies at Cal State University, Sacramento completing his BA and MA in Political Science. Today Gilbert continues in his grandfather's tradition -- the Conjunto style.

El Profesor - Manuel Pickett was born and raised in Fresno, California. At the age of thirteen, Manuel started his own rock & roll band combining it with Mexican rancheras. In the 1960's Manuel joined a group called the Celestials and later the Cavaliers based out of Fresno. In 1969-1974, Manuel was musical director for Teatro Campesino creating music arrangements for plays. After graduating from California State University in Sacramento, Manuel pursued his Ph.D. in Theater Research from the University of California, Davis. During his college years, Manuel was active with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers organizing and boycotting throughout California. During the early years of the Cesar Chavez movement, Manuel remembers the struggles for the cause of the farm workers. "In order to uplift the spirit of our people, I would play the guitar and sing protest songs in the middle of the fields, rain or shine." Today Manuel is a professor of Drama at CSUS and is active in giving voice lessons and singing classes as well. His music career has influenced his daughter (Marisol) who is presently pursuing her career as a singer songwriter and performer. In the late 1980's in one of Manuel's courses at CSUS, he met Gilbert for the first time. Manuel with his keen understanding of music and Gilbert with his vast knowledge of conjunto, decided to get together and come up with their own style of music, Texas-California fusion.

El Maestro - Layo Jimenez ( Hilario Baldemar Jimenez ) was born in Santa Rosa, Texas in December of 1941. At the age of 14, Layo's parents purchased his first guitar in Harlingen, Texas for $12.00. Two years later at the age of sixteen and already proficient in playing the guitar, Layo and his family migrated to California in search of work throughout the farm areas in the central valley. It was during this time that Layo started performing at the labor camps for the farm workers when he realized that the bajo sexto was indeed his true calling in life. At the age of 24 uncle Sam took Layo to the U.S. Army in which he served for two years. It was after his military service that Layo decided to go professional. In 1968 at the age of 27, he started performing with El Conjunto Zamora, and shortly after with Tony Corona y El Conjunto Rio Grande in which his brother Greg Jimenez played the drums. It was during this time that Layo and his brother Greg had the privilege to accompany the infamous group Los Relampagos Del Norte for one night. According to Layo, this experience was profound in that it crystallized his dream in becoming a great bajo sexto player. As Layo puts it, "to be able to play with Cornelio Reyna and Ramon Ayala you must have what it takes." Layo also had the opportunity to play with Frank Alvarez y Los Imperiales de Texas for a few years. He also formed his own group Los Tiros that lasted for a couple of years and recorded a few albums including Little Lu which became a hit. Around 1978, Layo started custom building bajo sextos as a hobby. This all started when a friend asked Layo to build him a bajo sexto since he could not afford a Macias which was the bajo sexto to have at that time. Today his craftsmanship in building guitars has been recognized by the guitar industry for quality in design and craftsmanship. He has established a long list of clients and is extremely busy building bajo quintos, bajo sextos, and electric bajos. For more info Click here. Besides being a great guitar maker, Layo continues to perform proficiently the bajo sexto at the ripe young age of 60. Click here for a picture of Layo and Johnny Cash.

El Maestro - Pedro "Pete" Hernandez - Was born in Robstown, Texas and raised in Corpus Christi. Pete taught himself how to play the guitar at the age of 12. By the age of thirteen he was proficient enough to start playing at small functions. At the age of 14 he started to learn how to play the accordion with a Hohner Corona II that was purchased for his older brother. Pete remembers the sacrifice his mother made by paying $75.00 for this brand new accordion that his brother shelved because it was difficult for him to learn. In no time Pete became skilled in playing the accordion and at the age of 15, he was busy playing at the local bars such as Shorty's, Los Dos Arrbolitos, Ruben's Lounge to name a few. In 1958 he formed his own group called Pedro Hernandez y Su Conjunto and started performing at Lermas in San Antonio, Texas. The group lasted for couple of years and in 1960, Pete joined Gilberto Reyes y Su Conjunto. At the age of 24, his good friend Arturo "La Perica" Perez, recommended Pete to Isidro Lopez in which it launched an incredible career for Pete as the accordion player for Isidro "El Indio" Lopez. According to Pete, a lot of places did not like the accordion. He remembers while playing at the Pan American in Houston, the owners requested the band play without the accordion. "I would sit and drink since there was nothing else for me to do," states Pete. Playing with Isidro was exciting to Pete since he rubbed shoulders with many great musicians such as Ruben Vela, Los Pavoreales, Los Guadalupanos de Joey Lopez, and Paulino Bernal to name a few. One of Pete's most memorable experiences was the night that he performed at the Club Mexico de San Antonio. After his performance with Isidro Lopez, Paulino Bernal and Oscar Hernandez with their dual accordions gave an incredible performance with their rendition of Idalia. In 1975, Pete formed the group Pete y Marta y Los Fugitivos based out of San Antonio. In 1989, the group disbanded and Pete moved to Sacramento, California. Indeed Pete has been through and incredible journey. He has a lot of history and is a valuable member of the group since he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. More importantly, he brings discipline to the art of playing conjunto. According to Pete, "It's all about timing. If you don't have that, you have nothing." Pete is one of the last gentle, kind, down-to-earth musicians from a different era that demanded loyalty, respect, discipline, professionalism, honesty, and gentilidad. If there were more people like Pete, this world would indeed be a better place.

Chino "The Midnight Show" originally from La Grulla, Texas and has been living in Lodi, Ca for over 30 years. Chino has played with them all. He started playing drums at the age of 12 and has continued for over 35 years. Many bands have come and gone, but Chino continues doing what he loves best, playing the drums. You name it, he can play it or sing it. He knows over 500 songs by memory. In the old days according to Chino, he would play with any group that would ask. From honky tonk bars in Austin, Texas, Columbian Valenato in Chicago's west side, to norteno in some of the most remote bars in California. According to Chino, it takes a special guide to take you to and from these most peculiar places. It was in one of these places that Gilbert found Chino. Gilbert herd that there was this incredible drummer playing at this joint called El Fuego Del Diablo (Devil’s Fire). Even though Gilbert does not believe in carrying weapons, he thought about it. Nonetheless, Gilbert found the courage and came out of this joint alive. Chino is now a very important member of the band.

The name Cactus Fire - The cactus represents for us mother earth and fire -- rebirth. En los ranchos de Tejas, it was customary to burn the cactus for the removal of thorns to feed the livestock. As Layo would say, "there is nothing like the sweet smell of cactus burning in the morning."

Our Mission

Our mission is to promote conjunto music to the masses. Cactus Fire dedicates itself to this cause by playing for school children, the elderly, nonprofit organizations, universities, political and artistic community events, familia, friends, or for anyone else who will be enlightened by this art form. An art form that expresses our heritage, culture, and way of life as Mexican Americans, Chicanos/Chicanas, Latinas/os. Each member of Cactus Fire shares the same vision and goal. Our philosophy is simple, keep it real -- musica de gente, para la gente. Cactus Fire activities, recordings, and promotions are fully funded by Reyes Accordions.