Rancho Alegre

Chano Cadena passed away yesterday, September 19, 2025 at age 87. This interview was recorded in October 2011. 
He was a Texas music legend, pure and simple. Recognized for his longevity and technical skill, he is admired by fans and colleagues alike. A hall of famer several times over, he played and toured with all of the legends, even a very young Ruben Naranjo back in the early 1960s.
Chano was the first interview on our famous tour of the Rio Grande Valley in October 2011. As he welcomed us to his home in Robstown, he gave us the tour of all his awards and framed newspaper articles celebrating his amazing career. He pointed to one trophy in particular, a 4-foot tall award given to him by the Senior Citizens of Concepción, Texas, honoring his 50th year in music.
When we were lining up talent for the Rancho Alegre Conjunto Festival in February 2012, Chano was one of the first people we called and we built the first festival around him and fellow Alice legend Rene Joslin. We also arranged an in-store performance at Antone’s Record Shop, where he delighted a crowd of music lovers of all ages and backgrounds.
Chano was a mainstay at our festival and always came to play when we asked. He continued playing until 2024, and his final public performance was at our festival at the Doris Miller Auditorium. Fellow Conjunto legend Mague Orosco of El Dueto Carta Blanca de George y Mague joined him on stage for a couple of songs, much to the delight of the crowd. 
We hope you enjoy this interview with one of Conjunto's best, along with selections from his catalog. 
Our hearts go out to la familia Cadena, and his many fans, friends, and fellow musicos who will miss his unique style of playing, birthday phone calls, and jokes. Here's what we played in addition to the interview: 
Track Listing: 
Arrancame El Corazon (Conjunto Cadena)
En Las Puertas De La Carcel (Conjunto Cadena)
Cuatro O Cinco Farolasos (Conjunto Cadena)
No Tienes Perdon (Conjunto Cadena)
Te Voy A Comprar (Conjunto Cadena)
Y Tenia Chiquito El Pie
Las Noches Las Hagos Dias
El Gambler
Huapango Cadena (Live)
De Que Es Tu Corazon
El Cumbianchero
Te Quiero Mucho
Indita Mia
Alma Rendida
Pan De Polvo
Gaviota Traidora
El Tamborazo
Corrido de Oliveira
Mi Casa Nueva
A Pesar de Tu Engaño
Contrabando De El Paso
Volveras Por Mi
Una Palomita
Noche De Cumbia
Tragos Amargos
La Pronto y Quick
Popurri De Clasicos (Live)

Songs played on this episode of Rancho Alegre on KEDA - Saturday 9/6/25: 
Ruben Rivera - La Tormenta
Gilberto Perez Jr. - Un Mal Entendimiento
Nick Villarreal - El Mudo
Los Hermanos Farias - Los Albañiles
Los Mungiazz - Mujer Perdida
Los Fantasmas Del Valle - La Rafaela
Manuel Guerrero - Yo Tenia Dos Corazones
Conjunto Soliz - La Puerta Negra
Conjunto Los Pinkys - Flor de Dalia
Break - bedding music: Big Head Todd & the Monsters - Imaginary Ships
From the Vault: Los Cuatitos Cantu - La Recien Casada
Rudy Garcia y Los Godfathers - Copas de Agua
Los Cucuys de Rodney Rodriguez - Ya Volvio La Palomita
Eddie "Lalo" Torres - Me Voy A Despedir
La Naturaleza - Ay Amigo
Los Nuevos Campeones de Ramiro Gonzalez - Cuatro Cartas
Los Artisticos de Jr. Farias - Mis Locos Desvarios
Edgar Vasquez y Los Muchachos - A Grito Abierto
Eddie y Ruben Jimenez - La Cubanita 
Break - bedding music: Madreblu - Certamente
Mix of the Day - Chano Cadena
In memory of Ernesto "Teto" Cadena
Su Mando Le Dijo a Julia
Soy Virgencita
Cuando Te Tuve Te Mantuve
Margarita
 

As bandleader of a solid, hardworking conjunto for over 40 years, San Antonio's Rudy Garcia was truly ahead of his time. He wrote and registered his own songs. He managed himself and played all over Texas. He had his own record label called Godfather Records. His sound was truly unique.
Back in May 2016, we caught up with Rudy and a couple of his long- time band members at his home in San Antonio.
Rudy passed away in July 2024. 
Here's what we played. All original songs by Rudy Garcia y Los Godfathers:
 
Interview Segment 1 -> Song: "Ya Cuando Estamos Casados"
"Los Gallineros"
Interview Segment 2 -> Song: "Que Te Pasa Calabasa"
"A Ti Se Te Cai La Garra"
"Los Tubos"
Interview Segment 3 -> Song: "Por Nuestro Bien"
Interview Segment 4 -> Song: "Yo Soy Tu Pollo"
"De Quien Son"
Interview Segment 5 -> Song: "Copas de Agua"
"Mejor Muerto"
 Interview Segment 6 -> Song: "Soy El Novio De Tu Hermana"
Interview Segment 7 -> Song: "Bailando en San Quilmas"

Songs played on this episode of Rancho Alegre on KEDA - Saturday 8/2/25: 
Interview with Flaco Jimenez, recorded in 2016. 
Interview part 1 - song: Silencio Corazon
Interview part 2 - song: Señorita Cantinera
Interview part 3 - song: Viva Seguin
Interview part 4 - song: Open Up Your Heart
Interview part 5 - song: He'll Have to Go
Interview part 6 - song: Sweethearts Together
Interview part 7 - song: Streets of Bakersfield
Interview part 8 - songs: Pantalon Blue Jean & Seguro Que Hell Yes
Interview part 9 - song: Who Were You Thinking Of
Interview part 10 - songs: La Mucura & All You Ever Do

Songs played on this episode of Rancho Alegre on KEDA - Saturday 8/23/25: 
Los Aguilares with Roberto Pulido - Flor Triste
Ruben Naranjo y Los Gamblers - Don Luis El Tejano
Bernardo y Sus Compadres - El Muchacho Alegre
Tony De La Rosa - Tras Las Rejas Del Penal
Ramz Guerrero y Los Pioneers - La Güera Preciosa
Rene Joslin y Los Favoritos - Hasta Que Retoñe Ese Arbol
Break - bedding music: Hall & Oates - I Can't Go for That
From the Vault: Los Astronautas - La Ranita
Bobby Salinas - La Rajita de Canela
Los Nobles de Joe y Joey Sanchez - Para No Pensar en Ti
Gilberto Perez y Sus Compadres - Silencio Corazon
Pepe Maldonado - Al Pie De Un Crucifijo
Conjunto Express - Flor Cafe
Break - bedding music: Rod Stewart - Do Ya Think I'm Sexy
Mix of the Day - Angel Flores y Los Alacranes
Ayer Sali De La Carcel
El Muro
Como Te Llamas Paloma
Tres Veces Te Engañe
 

Songs played on this episode of Rancho Alegre on KEDA - Saturday 8/9/25: 
Linda Escobar - El Gambler
Brown Express - Por Una Mujer Casada
Epi & Friends - Laguna de Pesares
Break - bedding music: Jackson Browne - Somebody's Baby
From the Vault: Ruben Naranjo y Los Gamblers - Barquita de Madera
Los Venaditos de Abel Cantu - Carta Jugada
Los Hermanos Cardenas - El Columpio
Los Pavos Reales - El Cafetal
Break - bedding music: Stevie Wonder - Master Blaster
Baraja de Oro - Paloma Negra
Grupo CruzSante - Cuando Juge El Albur
Los Cucuys de Rodney Rodriguez - Ave Sin Nido
Los Enmascarados - Una Mujer de Este Pueblo
Break - bedding music: Four Seasons - Oh What a Night
Mix of the Day - Mingo Saldivar - Me Agarraste Borracho - Pajaro Negro - Regresa Ya

Songs played on this episode of Rancho Alegre on KEDA - Saturday 8/16/25: 
Chano Cadena y Su Conjunto - Alma Rendida
Tony De La Rosa & Ruben Vela - A Que Has Venido
Break - bedding music: Patrice Rushing - Forget Me Nots
From the Vault: Los Tremendos Gavilanes de Juan y Salomon - Los Ojitos de Mi Elena
Los Dos Gilbertos - Cuando Llego El Momento
Fruty Villarreal y Los Mavericks (with Flaco Naranjo) - Vamonos Para Acapulco
Break - bedding music: Brian Setzer Orchestra - Jump, Jive & Wail
In memory of Ruben Rodriguez: Los Chukos de Zaz y Zaz - Ay Cariñito
Ricky Naranjo y Los Gamblers - Mis Penas
Break - bedding music: Rationale - Fast Lane
Mix of the Day - Los Garcia Brothers
In memory of Jose Garcia Sr of Los Garcia Brothers
 

Join Piper and Frank for an hour of talking about Rancho Alegre's upcoming busy month in March! Plus, hear some background stories and the origin story of the festival and the organization!
Links mentioned
Amplify Austin donate link: ⁠https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/ranchoalegre⁠
Austin Public watch link:
⁠https://www.austinfilm.org/austin-public/watch/⁠
Consuela:
⁠https://consuelastyle.com/⁠
Rancho Alegre festival information:
⁠https://ranchoalegre.org/festival⁠
Rancho Alegre store:
⁠https://shop.ranchoalegre.org/⁠
Association of Independents in Radio:
⁠https://airmedia.org/announcing-airs-new-voices-amplify-fellows⁠
Fellow podcasts in our cohort:
⁠Kahani Jaani Anjaani - Stories in Hindi⁠
 ⁠Auricle⁠
⁠Not Ugly Pod⁠
⁠The Final Say⁠
⁠Cruising⁠
⁠What's Poppin Penny⁠
⁠Am I Old Yet?⁠
⁠Queue Points⁠
⁠This is What It Feels Like⁠
⁠Unmasked⁠
⁠Winning at Losing⁠
⁠Popaganda Podcast⁠
⁠1972 - The Chisholm Campaign Trail and the Davis Trial⁠
⁠Stitch Please⁠
⁠Books & Boba
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"El Gallo" Dez is a brand new voice in Tejano music who is just now embarking on his first adventure in the genre. Luckily for him, he is already off to a great start, having been discovered by Tejano music icon Shelly Lares, who is producing his music, mentoring him, and guiding him on this path.
We caught up with the California native on a beautiful summer day here in Austin and got to know more about his background and what brought him to this new chapter in his life and music.
Stick around after the interview and check out his debut single, "Rogando Por Tu Amor," which he co-wrote with Shelly and released on her Shellshock Records 3 label. Be sure to look for him, Shelly Lares, and Shellshock Records 3 on all social media channels.
And be sure to subscribe to this podcast, and as we migrate all of the long-form in-depth intimate interviews with legendary, veteran, and up-and-coming artists that we’ve been doing for over a decade over to this platform.
Thank you for your support - as always!
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rancho-alegre/support

Jimmy Gonzalez passed away 6/6/2018. Thanks to an assist from Freddie and Marc Martinez, we recorded this interview at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in Corpus Christi in December 2012.
Most Tejano fans know where they were when they heard that Jimmy Gonzalez, bandleader of Grupo Mazz, passed away. We happened to be on an interview trip to San Antonio that day along with our friend and board member Joe Olvera of lovemytejano.com. In the days that followed, there was wall-to-wall coverage on every Tejano music radio station across the country, with fans and fellow musicians calling in with their remembrances of him. He was beloved and earned every accolade and every tear shed in the days after this death.
This interview is not just for Tejano music fans, but for music fans in general, as Jimmy had a great story. He tells of the humble beginnings of Grupo Mazz in Brownsville in the late 70s, their rise to stardom in the 80s, and the devastating breakup with Joe Lopez in the late 90s that left Jimmy broken and lost, wondering what to do with his life.
When he chose to get back into music, no record labels would give him a chance except for Freddie Martinez and his label, Freddie Records. With that opportunity to shine, Jimmy and his new version of Grupo Mazz earned 7 Grammy Awards and became one of the most bankable and popular Tejano groups from 2000 to his death in 2018.
Despite what Baldo says in the interview, we didn't include any music in this episode because thankfully Jimmy's music lives on, available on all digital streaming platforms and his son Mike Gonzalez is carrying forth his father's legacy with his own group, Mike Gonzalez and The Iconiczz. We encourage you to cruise around your favorite streaming platform or YouTube and get a taste of the sound Jimmy created for Grupo Mazz. Driven by synthesizer and guitar, the sound of Grupo Mazz was the epitome of the new sound of Tejano that rose in popularity in the late 1970s as the brass, horn-driven sound of the Orquesta Tejana became less popular and bandleaders opted for synthesizers as a cheaper alternative to horn players.
As with most of our interviews, this is one of, and perhaps the only long-form, intimate, and thoughtful interviews with Jimmy Gonzalez, and we hope you enjoy learning more about the legend in his own words and voice.
Special thanks to Thomas Hernandez of Austin's own Turntable Records and Tommy DeLeon for joining us on this Rancho Alegre adventure way back when.
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rancho-alegre/support