Tejano Music
Howdy folks. This is an opinionated tejano music/history link of my own, and perhaps it's just me and my wondering mind trying to figure out things logically and thinking about our tejano music industry. ​Maybe it's just a generation gap and trend when I say that our music is "changing." Well, it is changing, but surprisingly it is evolving - "ever so slowly."
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Secondly, we have come an exceptionally long way from the early 1920s. ​Meaning, from the early pioneers of conjuntos to the big orchestras; from Gilberto Perez to the bands of Little Joe and the Latin Breed; on to groups with organs and keyboards; and better studio recordings. I call it, "La Nueva Onda."
​Our proud tejano music history is long and distinguished with so many musicians and artists that made history and won so many awards. Of course, I do not live in Texas either and perhaps I am just missing the ball in right and left field, but I do sense that: "Something is just not the same and not like it was years ago. Is our tejano music on a pivotal edge and about to change? Again?" ​​
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History in general ... is essentially the study of past events, people, and societies. It's about understanding how previous actions and decisions have shaped the world we live in today. By examining historical documents, artifacts, and other sources, historians aim to piece together narratives that explain how and why things happened the way they did. Historians uncover the stories of our collective past. From the rise and fall of empires to the everyday lives of ordinary people, history provides a rich tapestry of human experiences and helps us make sense of our present and future.
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Allow me to add this: Our tejano music is now into the modern times category of 2025, but as most of us know it today, it is progressing ever so slowly. There is plenty of room here to discuss our heritage and our tejano music roots but most people cannot comprehend why it is changing and to what degree or direction we are heading to.
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Seems like most of us want to go back where we were, nostalgically, and/or keep the sounds of today, but we are unwilling to accept the realistic paradigm that we are in the center of a tejano transformation. It is here already, and we cannot cope with it and refuse to let go of our past and present artists. Perhaps we are unwilling to see what is across that hill; maybe we are afraid of this monumental tidal wave heading our way - music and affluence from the south.​
In retrospect, it is intriguing to me that we've gone through a 360-degree turn in our music.
I mean, the tejano music evolution of our time began in northern Mexico, with influences from Spain, native Americans, we are a mixed race, indeed ...
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... and most of our dance rhythms came from Czech and German genres, and all this happen in south Texas/Mexico.
Today we hear Grupo Frontera all over the map and they're from Edinburg, south Texas ... to me, they sound more Tex Mex than real tejano music.
Tejano music history repeating itself again.
The term Tejano, derived from the Spanish adjective tejano or (feminine) tejana (and written in Spanish with a lower-case t), denotes a Texan of Mexican descent, thus a Mexican Texan or a Texas Mexican.
The term received greater currency at the end of the twentieth century than previously with subsequent changes in nuance and usage. It encompasses cultural manifestations in language, literature, art, music, and cuisine. As an adjective, Tex-Mex is a recently coined term related to, but not synonymous with, Tejano.
Broader terms used at different times or for different segments of this ethnic group are Hispanic American, Latin American, Mexican, Mexican American, and Chicano. As early as 1824, Miguel Ramos Arispe, author of the (Mexican) Constitution of 1824, referred to the citizens of Texas as Tejanos in correspondence with the town council of Bexar.
Tejano Music:
Tejano music has continued to evolve ...
Yes, evolve and flourish over the years, incorporating influences from rock, jazz, and other genres. Its cultural significance and enduring legacy make it a vital part of Texas’ musical heritage.​
Tejano music holds a unique place in the cultural landscape of Texas and beyond, reflecting the Texan Mexican identity in a way that no other genre can.
"With its roots in the blending of Mexican folk music and various regional musical influences, tejano music has come to
represent the cultural and artistic fusion that defines the state of Texas."
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Tejano music has been a vital means of cultural expression for generations of Mexican Americans in Texas, providing a means for artists to represent their heritage and connect with their community.
By incorporating traditional Mexican instruments and song structures into their music, tejano artists have been able to preserve the cultural traditions of their ancestors while creating something new and dynamic.
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Over the years, Tejano music has also served as a platform for social commentary, with artists tackling issues such as immigration, poverty, and discrimination in their lyrics.
This aspect of the genre has made it an important tool for social justice and activism in the Texan Mexican community.
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Tejano music has not only had an impact on the cultural identity of Texas, but on the wider music scene in the United States and beyond.
With its infectious rhythms and lively performances, Tejano music has reached audiences far beyond its home state, inspiring new generations of artists and introducing new audiences to the rich cultural heritage of Texas.
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Tejano music has rich cultural roots that reflect the diverse heritage of Texas and the Mexican American community. Here's a look at some of the key cultural influences:
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1] Mexican Folk Music:
Tejano music draws heavily from traditional Mexican music, such as rancheras and mariachi. These styles provide the foundation for Tejano's melodies and rhythms.
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2] German and Czech Polkas:
In the 19th century, German and Czech immigrants brought their polka music and instruments, particularly the accordion, to Texas. These elements were integrated into the local music scene, creating a distinctive sound.
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3] Latin Pop and Cumbia:
As Tejano music evolved, it incorporated modern Latin pop influences and the infectious rhythms of cumbia, a dance music style that originated in Colombia.
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4] Country and Western:
Given Texas's strong country music tradition, Tejano music also features elements of country and western, particularly in its use of the guitar and storytelling lyrics.
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5] Rock and Roll:
The influence of rock and roll is evident in the energetic performances and instrumentation of Tejano bands, adding a contemporary edge to the genre. ​​These cultural influences combine to create the unique and vibrant sound of Tejano music. It truly is a celebration of the multicultural tapestry of Texas!
The origins of Tejano music / By Scott Sosebee / The Daily Sentinel / From the internet
Texas is a powerhouse when it comes to producing notable musicians in all genres. From Van Cliburn to George Strait, Miranda Lambert to Beyoncé, and Bob Wills to Ornette Coleman, Texas can boast of musical stars of every variety.
However, while Texas claims a multitude of performance stars, the music most of those played did not truly have Texas origins (Bob Wills’ “western swing” may be the closest to having Texas roots, but it borrowed its fundamental elements to a blend of jazz, Big Band, country, and bluegrass stylings), except for one genre that was essentially born in Texas. That would be Tejano music, a sound that is vibrant and soulful and that has a deep heritage in “Tex-Mex” border culture.
Tejano’s origins date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries and while it has evolved and expanded in many ways past its roots, it remains - at its most structural levels - a unique blend of Mexican folk music, polkas, the Celtic folk sounds of the American frontier that would eventually evolve into what we would come to term country music, as well as American rock-and-roll..
It is truly a melding of cultures whose meeting ground was the brush country of South Texas.
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German and Czech migrants who came to Texas brought their polka style of music and dance with them to their new home, with the emphasis on the accordion. When those immigrants came in contact with Tejanos in San Antonio and areas south of that city, their stylings fused the traditional Mexican forms of the corrido and mariachis.
The result was a hybrid form between the two; Tejanos in South Texas began to incorporate the German polka beat and melody into their songs and also made the accordion a part of their instrumentation. These small Tejano bands, referred to as orquestas, played at small community dances and gatherings all over South Texas, for audiences and dancers of both Mexican and European ancestry. It was not just a musical innovation, but also a social phenomenon.
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Those earliest Tejano arrangements were mostly instrumental, although there were some lyrics added but in a traditionally corrido fashion. The music and its adherents were rural in nature as South Texas was a base for ranching and agriculture. The songs - when they were sung - were the same ones that had survived in an oral tradition for generations in Northern Mexico, just adapted for the new instruments like the accordion, guitar, drum, and often a flute.
When recordings became a more pervasive cultural affectation in the 1920s, the RCA corporation made some recordings of these earliest artists as part of their “race music” division - forms such as traditional African American genres such as the Blues, and traditionally Mexican mariachi music, with Lydia Mendoza, the “Lark of the Border,” becoming the earliest star of what would eventually be termed “Tejano” music.
A Music Style: Tejano Music ... "What Is Tejano Music?"
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1) Tejano music, also known as Tex-Mex music, is a popular music style fusing Mexican and US influences. Typically, Tejano combines Mexican Spanish vocal styles with dance rhythms from Czech and German genres -particularly polka or waltz. Tejano music is traditionally played by small groups featuring accordion and guitar or bajo sexto. Its evolution began in northern Mexico.
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2) Music is something enjoyed all over the world. It brings entire nations, and people together. With time, different ethnicities have put their twist to the tunes and have come up with new genres of music. One such very popular genre is Tejano Music. Tejano is a blend of European, Mexican, and American music styles. It is now enjoyed both nationally and internationally.
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3) Tejano music is a genre of music born in the states of Texas and Mexico in the 18th century. Over three centuries, Tejano music has absorbed a lot of different styles, and instruments. The music features tunes from the Czech Republic and Germany, especially polka, and waltz.
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Here’s why the genre is called Tejano Music. The name Tejano was given to Mexican Americans living in Texas. The music is played using the accordion and has since developed from being a small genre of music to being played on large stages worldwide. Tejano music was born in Texas, near the Mexican-Texas border, and in Northern Mexico.
The origins of the genre can be traced back to people from Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, migrating to the US. These people influenced the Tejanos by their polka music and accordion. The accordion would go on to be the major instrument used to make Tejano Music.
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The music gained immense popularity with the working class. The Mexican working class spends days working and music is the perfect way to loosen up. Soon musicians and small bands became very common at festive events, and pubs and taverns. These small bands were called orquestas and included musicians that played the accordion, flute, guitar, and drums. Finally, the genre gained popularity after famous artists got their music recorded.
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More and more people heard Tejano Music through the radio, and later the television. Tejano Music is important for the Mexican American people, not only because it is a part of their history, but also because it has kept their identity alive. In the racist times of the 1800s and 1900s, Tejano music was a way to bring Mexican Americans out to the world.
