
Originally published in 2013.
In October 1998, Ruben Naranjo, the beloved legendary Conjunto accordionist and bandleader from Alice, Texas, passed away at age 53. For over 30 years, he traveled all over Texas and beyond with a simple but elegant brand of Conjunto that filled dancehalls and resonated with fans everywhere.
For Rancho Alegre, this is a very special show. Not only is this the first of our Homenaje series, but it is special to us because we are also huge fans of Ruben Naranjo. Listening to the stories people told us about him offered a more intimate look at El Si Señor himself.
The playlist below features the voices of 75 different Conjunto and Tejano artists, collected through our interviews all over the state since 2011.
You'll hear intimate stories from Conjunto pioneers like Gilberto Perez, Agapito Zuñiga and Chano Cadena; Tejano legends like Ruben Ramos, Little Joe, and Roberto Pulido; veterans like David Lee Garza, Linda Escobar, and Pio Treviño; and then up-and-coming performers like Mickey Mendoza, Crystal and Jose Garcia of Crystal N Crew, and many, many more.
Complementing their stories are some of his greatest hits, as well as rare selections from deep within our catalog, many of which we have converted from vinyl, 8-track, and cassette.
We hope you enjoy it, and many thanks to everyone who participated in this project.
Here's what to expect:
- Introduction by Baldomero El Parrandero Cuellar - Tracks: Nora Melisa
- Chano Cadena - Tracks: Cuatro o Cinco Farolasos (with Conjunto Cadena)
- Ricky Naranjo - Tracks: Barquita de Madera (Ruben Naranjo y Su Conjunto), Es Amor (Ruben Naranjo y Su Conjunto), Dichos Juramentos (with Ruben Vela)
- Mingo Saldivar, Edgar Vasquez, Julian Fernandez of Los Texas Wranglers, Pete Gonzales of Tierra Tejana - Tracks: Dos Amores, Aguila O Sol, Andan Diciendo
- Johnny Arreola of Los Palominos, Mickey Mendoza of Mickey y Sus Carnalez, Rick De La Rosa of Los D-Boyz, Roberto Pulido - Tracks: Angel De Mis Anhelos, Corrido de Oliveira, Tengo Un Idea
- Eddie Jimenez, Krazy Pimpz, Ricky Smith, La Movida, Randy Garcia of Conjunto Estrella - Tracks: En Las Puertas de La Carcel, Destino Ingrato, Bonito Huapango
- Agapito Zuñiga, Ramon Ayala, Crystal Garcia of Crystal N Crew, Chente Barrera - Tracks: Ojos Querendones, Preguntale A Las Estrellas
- Roman Martinez Sr of the Hometown Boys, Betty Barajas of Conjunto Baraja de Oro, Smiley Cuellar of Smiley y La Fuerza Musical - Tracks: El Carreton, Toma Mi Corazoncito, Un Presentimiento
- Jesse Turner of Grupo Siggno, Ricky Ruiz of Los Escorpiones, Raphael and Paquito Rodriguez of Los A-T Boyz - Tracks: La Media Naranja, Quisiera Verte y No Verte, La Guia
- Marcos Orozco, Navor Romo of Conjunto Romo, Ruben Rivera, formerly of Los Nobles and Los Gamblers, Jesse Gonzales of Tierra Tejana, Andy Saenz of Los Homies - Tracks: Tu Negra Suerte, Señorita Cantinera, San Juan Del Rio
- Little Joe, Gilbert Alba of Super City Band, Ram Herrera - Tracks: Llorando Tu Olvido, Cuatro Caminos, Paso Del Norte
- Wally Gonzalez, Rene Joslin, Juan Sifuentes Jr. - Tracks: Preso Sin Delito, Sin Condiciones, Ese Lunar
- Jerry Peña of Los Arcos Hermanos Peña, Joel Guzman, Jimmy Gonzalez of Grupo Mazz - Tracks: La Barca De Oro (Bolero) (Ruben Naranjo y Su Conjunto), El Corrido de Jimmy Layson, Graciela
- Genaro Aguilar of Los Aguilares, Johnny Degollado, David Lee Garza - Tracks: Caballo Alazan Lucero, Besos y Copas, Lola, Pajarillo Barranqueño
- Mario Barajas of Conjunto Baraja de Oro, Joe Bravo, Mike Gonzales of Tierra Tejana, Gilberto Garcia of Los Dos Gilbertos - Tracks: Prenda Del Alma, Tu Buen Camino, Locos Disvarios, Ya No Llores
- Jose Garcia of Crystal N Crew, Fito Olivares, Rodney Rodriguez of Los Fantasmas Del Valle - Tracks: Lejos Me Encuentro, El Ausente, La Morena Criminal
- Noel Hernandez of the Big Cats, Jo-Ann Gonzales of Los Low Riders, Nikki Lopez, JD of Los Enmascarados - Tracks: Dos Caracoles, Mi Negra Suerte
- Rick Fuentes of Ruben Ramos and the Mexican Revolution, Anthony Diaz formerly of Crystal N Crew, Bernardo Martinez of Bernardo y Sus Compadres, Jose Quezada of Conjunto Senzzible - Tracks: Silencio Corazon, Indita Mia, Gorrioncillo Pecho Amarillo
- Augustin Ramirez, Lupe Gonzales of Tierra Tejana, Linda Escobar - Tracks: Por Que Me Amargas La Vida, Mujer Mujer, La Mariana
- Pio Treviño, Leonard Davila of Street People, Santiago Jimenez Jr. - Tracks: Felicidades, Por Bien De Los Dos, Depende De Ti
- Ben DeLeon of Grupo Solido, Santiago Garza of La Naturaleza, Jaime DeAnda of Los Chamacos, Henry Zimmerle - Tracks: Mis Penas, El Mundo Es Mio
- Nick Villarreal, Clip from El Show de Johnny Canales - Tracks: Por Esa Calle, Desprecio, Pero Maria
- Joe Gonzales, Ruben Ramos, Michael Salgado - Tracks: Don Luis El Texano, Mujer Paseada, Te Voy a Comprar
- Pico Ramirez - Tracks: Que Tristeza Me Acompaña, La Mujer, Shes About a Mover
- Joe Ramirez, Freddie Martinez - Tracks: Mi Pueblito, Ando Perdido, Besos Callejeros (Live)
- Gilberto Perez - Tracks: El Quelite, Ruben Naranjo Farewell Message
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