Thursday, September 8, 2011
Conjunto Association’s Freddie Gomez Memorial Huge Success
By: Juan Montoya
From the beginning strains of the National Anthem played by local accordion virtuoso Juan Antonio Tapia and the rendition of “America the Beautiful” by Antonio Briseño to the finale by a half-dozen accordionists to close the show, the first annual South Texas Conjunto Association’s memorial to Brownsville legend Freddie Gomez was an unqualified success.
“We’re happy so many people came out today,” said Timo Ruedas, the president of the STCA’s Brownsville chapter. “It was hot there in the beginning, but as the evening wore on, the conjunto lovers came out in force. We’re overjoyed at the turnout.”
From the outset, Tapi’s rendition of the national anthem was singularly striking. It is doubtful that anyone had ever heard a rendition of the anthem norteño style. The stilled crowed watched in awe as Tapia squeezed out the familiar tune as VFW commander Luis Lucio and an assistant saluted the U.S. and Texas flags.
The local VFW post 2035 donated the use of the chairs and tables for the event. Lucio said many of the members of the conjunto association, including Ruedas, are veterans.
“Freddie Gomez has a special place in the hearts of Hispanic veterans,” he said. “We used to sing the ‘Soldado Razo’ as we went off to fight for our country and left our families and sweethearts behind. Some of us were lucky to make it back but a lot of us didn’t. That song brings a lump to my throat.”
In fact, right after the presentation of the colors, accordionist Mike Garza of Los Paisanos and Juan Tovar, of Los Pobres launched a stunning rendition of the war classic, drawing energetic applause from the appreciative crowd. Tovar had played with Gomez recorded the song with “El Ciclon del Valle.”
The symbolism didn’t stop there.
Gomez died in 2005, and with MC Mariano Ayala, STCA president Lupe Saenz and conjunto accordionist Fruity Villarreal participating, the names of those conjunto musicians who passed away were read as the drummer struck a single beat on the cymbal.
One person who thanked the group for honoring him for his lifelong contribution to teaching conjunto music to local musicians, Luis Rosas, said it himself.
“Thank you for honoring me while I’m still here and before I go to a better place,” Rosas quipped.
While Mayor Tony Martinez did not attend, the city commission did issue a proclamation to the memory of Gomez and for his contribution to conjunto music.
As the evening wore on, the closed off section between 12th adn 13th Streets on Adams was filled with dancing couples. Vendors did a brisk business selling everything from hot dogs to kebobs, and brews. Joe Kinney, Brownsville favorite Irishman, plied the crowd with cold grog and traded jokes with barfly Dr. G.F. McHale-Scully while Marco Longoria and his cronies tended the firefighters’ mobile grill.
Musicians drifted in and out of various groups on stage as dancers competed in a marathon that ended at the very end of the event. Gilberto Perez, Sr., for example, joined his son Gilbert Jr. for three classic numbers.
From the beginning strains of the National Anthem played by local accordion virtuoso Juan Antonio Tapia and the rendition of “America the Beautiful” by Antonio Briseño to the finale by a half-dozen accordionists to close the show, the first annual South Texas Conjunto Association’s memorial to Brownsville legend Freddie Gomez was an unqualified success.
“We’re happy so many people came out today,” said Timo Ruedas, the president of the STCA’s Brownsville chapter. “It was hot there in the beginning, but as the evening wore on, the conjunto lovers came out in force. We’re overjoyed at the turnout.”
From the outset, Tapi’s rendition of the national anthem was singularly striking. It is doubtful that anyone had ever heard a rendition of the anthem norteño style. The stilled crowed watched in awe as Tapia squeezed out the familiar tune as VFW commander Luis Lucio and an assistant saluted the U.S. and Texas flags.
The local VFW post 2035 donated the use of the chairs and tables for the event. Lucio said many of the members of the conjunto association, including Ruedas, are veterans.
“Freddie Gomez has a special place in the hearts of Hispanic veterans,” he said. “We used to sing the ‘Soldado Razo’ as we went off to fight for our country and left our families and sweethearts behind. Some of us were lucky to make it back but a lot of us didn’t. That song brings a lump to my throat.”
In fact, right after the presentation of the colors, accordionist Mike Garza of Los Paisanos and Juan Tovar, of Los Pobres launched a stunning rendition of the war classic, drawing energetic applause from the appreciative crowd. Tovar had played with Gomez recorded the song with “El Ciclon del Valle.”
The symbolism didn’t stop there.
Gomez died in 2005, and with MC Mariano Ayala, STCA president Lupe Saenz and conjunto accordionist Fruity Villarreal participating, the names of those conjunto musicians who passed away were read as the drummer struck a single beat on the cymbal.
One person who thanked the group for honoring him for his lifelong contribution to teaching conjunto music to local musicians, Luis Rosas, said it himself.
“Thank you for honoring me while I’m still here and before I go to a better place,” Rosas quipped.
While Mayor Tony Martinez did not attend, the city commission did issue a proclamation to the memory of Gomez and for his contribution to conjunto music.
As the evening wore on, the closed off section between 12th adn 13th Streets on Adams was filled with dancing couples. Vendors did a brisk business selling everything from hot dogs to kebobs, and brews. Joe Kinney, Brownsville favorite Irishman, plied the crowd with cold grog and traded jokes with barfly Dr. G.F. McHale-Scully while Marco Longoria and his cronies tended the firefighters’ mobile grill.
Musicians drifted in and out of various groups on stage as dancers competed in a marathon that ended at the very end of the event. Gilberto Perez, Sr., for example, joined his son Gilbert Jr. for three classic numbers.
# posted by Raul Garcia Jr. @ 10:43 PM 
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