Rancho Alegre

Conjunto music legend Alfredo De La Rosa passed away on April 8, 2022. A member of one of the most storied and influential musical family dynasties in Texas music, Alfredo spent many years playing with brothers Tony and Adan and sister Eva as well as with his own Conjunto. His style was steeped in the classic Conjunto of the Coastal Bend: a clean, straightforward sound driven by a strong, unrelenting beat and equally strong vocals, perfect for the dancehalls of South Texas. In 2012, Alfredo

Recorded in 2012 at Christus Spohn hospital in Corpus Christi. In this interview, we switch between Spanish and English constantly - a perfect example of a typical South Texas dialect and conversation. Rick De La Rosa has conjunto running through his veins. The family name alone evokes the sights and sounds of his father Alfredo, his uncles Tony and Adan, and his aunt Eva, and their rich history, building and dominating the conjunto scene since the 1950s. Rick proudly carries on this tradition,

Recorded on two occasions, in 2012 and 2018 at the Little Joe Museum in Temple, Texas. The “King of the Brown Sound” is a fitting nickname for Little Joe Hernandez. The music he has played over his storied career has blended together everything from mariachi, orquesta, conjunto, country, doo-wop, Sinatra-style standards, jazz, rock, salsa, and whatever else sounds and feels right, creating a sound that has resonated with Chicanos for over 60 years. Coming from humble beginnings in the cotton fields

Rocky Hernandez is a beloved Tejano music legend who very rarely gives interviews and has retired from public performances. Just the mention of his name among Tejano fans or musicians immediately inspires a smile and a great memory, along with, invariably, a mention of his phenomenal talent. So you can imagine how honored we were that he agreed to sit down with us to reflect on his life, career, and whatever else was on his mind. Well-known for his incredible voice, charm, and charisma, the second

Johnny Hernandez has seen it all in over six decades in Tejano music. From his beginnings with his brothers in Little Joe and the Latinaires to his solo career and everything in between, Johnny remains one of the most passionate performers, one of its strongest talents, and a tireless advocate for Tejano music. We got the rare honor of interviewing the legend during his visit to Austin in December 2016 when he came to perform with Big Band Tejano at the Onion Creek Ballroom for an event with the

Recorded in 2011 and 2012 at Mingo's home in San Antonio. What can you say about Mingo Saldivar? Dubbed “The Dancing Cowboy” because of his inimitable, engaging, passionate performance style, Mingo entertained audiences all over the world (including Africa!) for over 50 years before retiring in the mid-2010s. At the time of the interview, he was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tejano Music Awards, just one of the many accolades and honors he has received over an amazing

Nick Villarreal passed away in July 2017. This interview was recorded in September 2011 at El Torreón Restaurant in San Antonio. Conjunto legend Nick Villarreal, or “Nicky Snick,” if you prefer, was a character larger than life itself. He was a man with charisma so strong, it’s almost radioactive. From his jokes to his laugh, to that big booming voice, he was just FUN. A member of the Zimmerle family of San Antonio, Nick specialized in composing songs about everything from Kool-Aid to Viagra to

Fito Olivares passed away on March 17, 2023 at age 75. In July 2013, Rancho Alegre met up with the Cumbia legend before a show at Cuauhtemoc Hall in San Marcos, Texas, and he gave us what he said was one of the most in-depth and fulfilling interviews he had ever given up until that point. We learned a lot about the man himself, his musical influences, his early solo career on Gil Records, his time with the old-school Conjunto Regional/early Norteño group Dueto Estrella, and much more from his