NMCAC Anniversary

For Immediate Release:
October 25, 2004
 
For more information contact:
Cristina Balli
NMCAC
(956) 361-0110
 
Tejano Walk of Fame Honoree will commemorate Narciso Martinez Birthday
 
WHO:  Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center
 
WHAT: 13th Birthday Celebration
 
WHEN:  October 29, 2004   7:00 PM
 
WHERE:  225 E. Stenger Street, San Benito, Texas
 
October 29th was the birthday of the late Don Narciso Martinez, "the father of Texas-Mexican Conjunto music," and marks the 13th anniversary of the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center.  To commemorate the occasion, descendants of Narciso Martinez, NMCAC founders, board of directors, staff and volunteers will gather for a celebration that will include food, beverage, and plenty of conjunto music by Los Donnenos, Fruty Villareal, Los Patrulleros, Cande Aguilar and Juan Lugo.
 
Headlining the music presentations will be bajo sexto player and Tejano Walk of Fame Honoree Ramiro Cavazos of Los Donnenos.  Cavazos formed his duet with accordion player Mario Montez in Donna and recorded in the 1950s.  They were one of the first to infuse the regional Mexican music sound with vocal duets, which made them extremely popular on both sides of the border.  They toured extensively and filmed with noted Mexican comedian Lalo Gonzalez "El Piporro" throughout Mexico, the U.S. and even Cuba.  Montes died in 1994 and Cavazos keeps the tradition of musica regional alive in his music store in McAllen.  Cavazos was one of the last to record Narciso Martinez' music on his record label, R y N Music.  These two legends performed together for this recording, and Cavazos will be performing a tribute to Narciso Martinez the night after his induction into the Tejano Walk of Fame in Edinburg (October 28, 2004).
 
Also performing a tribute to Martinez will be Fructoso "Fruty" Villarreal, who credits Ramiro Cavazos as one of his greatest influences and recently recorded some tunes made popular by Narciso Martinez.  Los Patrulleros (Rigo Garza and Jose Moreno) of San Benito will also take the stage, as well as former accordionist for Elida y Avante and abstract artist Cande Aguilar and NMCAC accordion instructor Juan Lugo.
 
The 30 minute documentary "Los Del Valle: Narciso Martinez" will be presented at 7:00 PM, followed by a reception and music.  Admission is $5.00.  For more information call (956) 361-0110.
 
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Cristina Balli
Director of Programming & Development
Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center
P.O. Box 471
225 Stenger Street
San Benito, Texas 78586
(956) 361-0110