Rancho Alegre

In this interview from 2013, Rancho Alegre's Baldomero Cuellar sat down with a true Conjunto legend, Jose "Pico" Ramirez. Best known as one of the original members of Ruben Naranjo y Los Gamblers from Alice, Texas, Pico supplied strong but intricate bajo sexto to Naranjo's simple, yet elegant accordion, as well as second voice harmonies that were second to none. This sound made the group famous and their personal interactions with fans made them beloved.
As you will hear in the introduction, this was a very personal interview for Baldomero and one that he planned on re-doing, but he never got the chance. Pico Ramirez passed away on June 3, 2020, leaving behind a legendary musical legacy in Conjunto music, many fans, and a family who loved him very much.
We hope you enjoy getting to know one of the unsung heroes of Conjunto music and hearing some of our favorite selections from his time with Los Gamblers and a couple of his last recordings with his sons.
 
 

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
---
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rancho-alegre/support

"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!
---
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rancho-alegre/support