Rancho Alegre Interview with Mingo Saldivar

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 career, including a National Heritage Fellowship awarded to him by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2002.

In this broad-ranging interview, Mingo not only tells his life story and gets into the nitty gritty of Conjunto music as well. Born in 1936 in Marion, Texas, but raised on the west side of San Antonio, he recounts seeing Valerio Longoria performing and how he would run home immediately to try to play what he saw Valerio playing.

You'll also hear about his family, his time in Anchorage, Alaska, how he decided to incorporate Country & Western music into his repertoire, and more. Plus, we have hand-picked some of his classic tunes from his time in Los Guadalupanos as well as on his own with his band Los Cuatro Espadas.

Music played:

Sin Condiciones

Linda Twist - Los Guadalupanos

Andan Diciendo

Lo Que Dios Recoje

Me Agarraste Borracho

Te Voy A Comprar

Rueda De Fuego

Perla Del Mar - Los Guadalupanos

Mil Cadenas

Por Que No Me Comprendes (with Little Joe)

Pajaro Negro

Regresa Ya

Frenta A Una Virgen

Calabacita Con Pollo

Swinging Doors

Cardenal

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