Rancho Alegre

Beatriz Llamas, La Paloma Del Norte, passed away yesterday, May 15, 2023. This interview was recorded at her home in San Antonio in June 2015.
Known as La Paloma Del Norte, Beatriz was the first female recording artist on the storied Tejano record label Bego Records. Her strong, passionate voice, ever-present cat-eye makeup, and engaging stage presence made an indelible impression on Tejano and Conjunto fans all over Texas and beyond beginning in the early 1960s.
Conducted by our own Baldomero "El Parrandero" Cuellar, the interview is entirely in Spanish. But, even if you don't understand the language, her zest for life and her personality shine through and it's just fun to listen to. You can especially tell how absolutely smitten he was just talking with her. We also have a passable English transcription available on our website.  
At the 2015 Tejano-Conjunto Festival en San Antonio, Beatriz delighted the crowd with a special performance, backed up by the iconic Eva Ybarra y Su Conjunto Siempre.
After (but not because of) our interview in 2015, some pretty amazing things happened for Beatriz. With help from San Antonio's Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, Beatriz and her musical sisters Perla Tapatia, Rita Vidaurri and Blanca Rodriguez were featured in a documentary called Las Tesoros de San Antonio: A Westside Story, and performed all over the country. In 2019, as the surviving members of the group, Blanca and Beatriz were honored with the prestigious NEA National Heritage Fellowship and performed in Washington, DC.
Music played in this episode:
Dios Me Libre - Los Fabulosos Cuatro with Beatrice [sic] Llamas
Hambre - Los Fabulosos Cuatro with Beatrice Llamas
Caso Perdido - Beatriz Llamas with Los Dos Gilbertos
Distancia Maldita - Beatriz Llamas
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Festival Coordinators Piper LeMoine and Monica Castilleja discuss the 2023 Rancho Alegre Conjunto Music Festival. Audio taken from our Facebook Live broadcast on 4/24/23, so it might be a little choppy.
Complete information available at https://www.ranchoalegre.org/festival
For any questions about the festival, please email us at info@ranchoalegre.org.
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Recorded in July 2011 at El Torreón Restaurant in San Antonio, Texas.
Joe Gonzales passed away today in San Antonio at the age of 61. He was known in the Conjunto world as "El Gambler" because of his time playing bass with Ruben Naranjo y Los Gamblers in the later years of Ruben's career, as well as his friendship with the beloved legend. After Ruben's passing, Joe began his own group and switched over to accordion and primera voz, remaining faithful to Ruben's signature style and the distinctive Alice, Texas Conjunto sound.
In this interview, get to know this most humble man with a puro Conjunto heart and hear his story in his own words and voice. The interview is in the type of Spanglish commonly spoken in South Texas, effortlessly switching between Spanish and English in one sentence.
Tracks played:
Aborezco La Vida
Locos Disvarios
Las Ilusiones
Te Quiero Con La Vida – w/ Ricky Naranjo
Prietita Mia
La Piedrecita – w/ Ruben Naranjo
Tributo a Ruben Naranjo
Le Gusta Bailar Cumbia
Ya No Llores – Jo Ann Gonzales y Los Lowriders
Popurri – Tu Buen Camino, Preso Sin Delito, Las Puertas De La Carcel
Mi Casa Nueva
Your Cheating Heart
Mi Barrio
El Reniego
Consuelito
Alice Polka
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Recorded in June 2019 at Austin Central Library
In June 2019, Rancho Alegre finally caught up to Little Miss Dynamite herself, Shelly Lares. We had been after her since we first started doing interviews in 2011 and the stars finally aligned and our schedules finally allowed for us to finally meet.
And let's just say that the award-winning, hard-working musician, vocalist, entrepreneur, producer, arranger, bandleader, songwriter, and record label exec did NOT disappoint.
With nearly 35 years in the business, Shelly has truly seen it all. The always-candid Lares talked about everything from her very first public performance and recordings, how she writes music, the peaks, and valleys of success, telling off a CBS executive, starting her own record label, and so much more.
This is a must-listen for music nerds, Shelly fans, and everyone in between. Also included here are tracks from Shelly's latest album, "Obra de Amor," which is now available on all digital outlets and on CD.
Special thanks to Rudy Ancira for joining us and photographing the interview!
Shelly officially retired from live performances at the end of 2022. She has gone on to pursue her dream of becoming a hospice nurse, but continues to work in the studio nurturing new talent and producing new music on her label, Shellshock 3 Records.
Music played:
Soy Tu Amor
Dejame en Paz
Vas a Pagar
Mi Lugar
Trato y Trato
Ayer (ft. J.R. Gomez)
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Recorded live on KOOP radio in Austin 3/25/17.
This episode is another blast from the past! Let's go back to March 2017 when Rancho Alegre's own Piper LeMoine sat in for Dot Matrix on her spectacular Girlie Show, which plays nothing but music by female artists.
What happened was radio magic - 11 female Tejano musicians in the studio at once. Most were from the Austin area, with a couple from San Marcos and another from San Antonio.
Included were:
Mia Garcia (then age 9)
Sylvia Donley
B Santa Ana
Maria Villarreal-Fraga (Maria y Cien Grados)
Silvia Rodriguez (Maria y Cien Grados)
Erika Santana (Cañonazo)
Irma Chavez (La Distancia)
Laura Ann (La Distancia)
Daisy Loren (then age 13)
Devin Banda
Nikki Lopez Vigil
We talked with each of the artists and had a listening party with their music and that of other legendary female artists. We basked in the moment and cheered each other on. Unfortunately, the recording cut off before Nikki could finish and before we could talk more with Devin.
Songs played:
Lydia Mendoza - Mal Hombre
Linda Escobar - Es Muy Tu Vida
Beatriz Llamas con Los Fabulosos Cuatro - Dios Me Libre
Laura Ann y La Distancia - Necesito Tu Amor
B Santa Ana - Pa' Que Volver
Sylvia Donley with Manuel "Cowboy" Donley - El Barco de Oro
Maria y Cien Grados - Cumbia Del Sol
Daisy Loren - Amor Eterno
Mia - Pepe Le Pew
Cañonazo - Lo Lindo de Ti
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Recorded on 10/3/15 at the KOOP studios, Austin Texas. BJ Moncivais passed away in August 2018.
Rancho Alegre talked with BJ Moncivais of legendary Austin, Texas-based Chicano record label, Valmon Records. BJ's parents, Ben and Lupe Moncivais, started the label in the 1950s and recorded some of central Texas' favorite Tejano musicians like Little Joe and the Latinaires, Manuel Donley, Roy Montelongo, and more.
During the interview, we discuss the history and future of this regionally popular, but influential independent record label.
During the broadcast, we played these 45s from Valmon Records:
1. "A Medio Baile" by El Conjunto Corona de Señon Reyes2. "Por Un Amor" by Little Joe and the Latinaires3. "Dancing in the Street" by Alfonso Ramos y Su Orquesta4. "Flor Del Rio" by Manuel Donley y Las Estrellas
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Recorded in January 2013 at their home in Midlothian, Texas.
Conjunto Baraja de Oro is one of the hottest bands going these days. Affectionately known as Conjunto BDO or simply BDO, North Texas husband and wife duo Mario and Betty Barajas are taking the Conjunto world by storm, boasting multiple Tejano Music Award nominations, incredibly well-attended shows, high-quality songwriting and recordings, and a loyal army of fans.
Mario has been working hard for nearly 30 years playing accordion and singing in various Tejano groups. For over 20 years, he and Betty have, with their super-talented band members, steadily built the phenomenon that is Conjunto Baraja de Oro. 
We took an afternoon drive up to Midlothian, Texas, just north of the I-35 split (and the closest Braum’s Ice Cream to Austin!), and really enjoyed getting to know the pair. After talking with them, we came away with a great sense of how much of a labor of love this is for both of them, something we can definitely identify with.
They both have killer good looks, brains, talent, and extraordinary love for and from their fans. Add to that their marketing savvy, business acumen, drive to succeed, and undeniable passion for the music, and the result is nothing short of amazing. We hope you enjoy getting to know them as much as we did.
Since this interview was first posted and since their Austin debut at the 2013 Rancho Alegre Conjunto Festival, BDO has become one of the most in-demand Conjuntos in Austin and continues to tour all over Texas.
BDO also became even more of a family band when they added daughter Victoria on bass and son Jordan on bajo sexto.
Songs played:
Ayer y Hoy
Que Lastima
Prieta Casada
Yo Vendo Unos Ojos Negros
Infiel
Star-Spangled Banner
Damelo
Dos Ojas Sin Rumbo
Sembre Mi Amor
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Recorded in August 2017 at the Yarborough Branch of the Austin Public Library. Chencho Flores passed away in January 2021 due to complications of COVID-19 at the age of 91.
At the time of this interview, Chencho was 88 years old and had just started his own Conjunto earlier that year after a long tenure with Conjunto Los Pinkys.
This in-depth conversation, which we believe to be the only recorded interview with the very shy and humble Mr. Flores, covers his life, his musical beginnings in the 1940s, the changes he's seen in Austin during his lifetime, his time in bands with Ben Garza and his brother Frank Flores, how he joined Los Pinkys, and finally his own band.
In January 2020, Chencho, along with brother Frank, bajo sexto player Vicente Alonzo, drummer Augie Arreola, and bassist John Majalca, were inducted into the Tejano ROOTS Hall of Fame in Alice, Texas.
After his passing in 2021, Chencho was featured on the PBS NewsHour during a segment remembering lives lost to COVID-19. The Austin Chronicle and the Austin American-Statesman wrote long-form obituaries about him.
Rancho Alegre honored Frank and Chencho at the 2022 Rancho Alegre Conjunto Music Festival with a lifetime achievement award. Frank, though frail and ill, appeared in person to accept the award. And even got up and danced with his wife. He passed away in December 2022, also at the age of 91.
Songs played:
Buscandote - Frank Flores y Su Conjunto
Puñal Del Olvido
Viva Seguin
Morena La Causa Fuiste
El Pajuelazo
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Recorded in October 2011 at Roberto Pulido's ranch in Edinburg, Texas.
Rancho Alegre hit the road in October 2011 to interview some of our favorite artists in San Antonio, Alice, Robstown, then Edinburg, McAllen, and Mercedes. It was an unbelievable trip that we will always remember. Especially our visit with Roberto Pulido…
We showed up at his ranch in Edinburg, and he waves us to the back of the property to his shop where he makes fishing lures and other things, and is hanging out with some friends. He asks where we would like to do the interview, and suggests his game room because it’s really quiet and nice. We agree and follow him inside, expecting a pool table, dart board, HD television.
What’s there to greet us when the lights come on? Taxidermy as far as the eye can see. Stuffed wolves, bucks, does, alligators, buffalo, water buffalo, bears, a zebra hide, and to top it all off…a hippo skull. When he said game room, he meant GAME room.
As can be expected from any time spent with El Primo, who is one of Tejano music’s most beloved icons and one of the coolest guys ever, is something to treasure. We knew this would be a very entertaining interview, but it also turned out to be a very touching one too, as Pulido talks about his father, his career, and his family.
Music played:
Copa Tras Copa
La Barca de Oro
Imposible Olvidarte
La Ronera
Te Vi Partir
Rancho Alegre (Polka)
Los Tres Amigos (w/Little Joe & Ruben Ramos)
Cartas Marcadas (w/Little Joe & Ruben Ramos)
Flor Triste (w/Los Aguilares)
Amor Derecho (w/Alma Pulido)
Contigo (w/Bobby Pulido)
Soy Culpable (w/Johnny Canales)
Ya Ahora Es Tarde (w/Emilio Navaira)
Jambalaya
Mi Pequeñito
Si Quieres Verme Llorar
Sonia (Polka)
Flecha Envenenada
Señorita Cantinera
Si Borracho Estoy (Live)
La Tumba Sera El Final
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Recorded in 2011 at Janie's Record Shop in San Antonio, Texas.
Long known for their popurris, San Antonio's Los Aguilares have enjoyed great success over their 58-year career in music. With brothers Genaro on vocals and bass, and Emilio on accordion, the group became a fan favorite and, like other hard-working conjuntos, toured extensively around Texas and the rest of the country.
After Emilio’s passing in 2009, the band continued the family musical tradition until 2018, when they hosted their final anniversary show. They also established the Emilio Aguilar Alzheimer’s Foundation in his honor to support families of Alzheimer’s patients in the San Antonio/Bexar County and to help research this disease.
Genaro is a humble man and an artist who is generous with his fans and media, with a friendly, positive demeanor that instantly puts anyone at ease. You can even hear it in this interview. Heck, you can even hear it when he sings.
We hope you enjoy getting to know Genaro and learning about one of the most popular groups in Conjunto history.
Music played:
Anhelos
Popurri de Canciones #2
Popurri de Canciones
Mi Pensamiento
Ella
Popurri de Canciones #3
La Jesucita (Live)
Flor Del Rio
Tocando Puertas
Popurri de Canciones #1
Flor Triste – Los Aguilares y Roberto Pulido
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