Chicano Music in the Southwest
John Wheat discusses some of the different styles of Chicano Music and Dr. Americo Paredes discusses the history and evolution of the Corrido. Wheat first discusses Conjunto music which originated in the 19th century, when German and Czech immigrants brought unfamiliar musical styles and instruments, such as the polka and accordion, to Mexicans and Anglos in the Southwest. Although a conjunto can be any small ensemble, the most popular have a guitarist, bassist, drummer and the accordian. Wheat explains that a good accordian is key to success and many of the most famous Tejano musicians, including Flaco Jimenez, are accordionists.
Dr. Americo Paredes then discusses the structure and themes of the corrido. Corridos have historically dealt with topics of border violence and Anglo-Mexican conflict—themes which the genre still explores today. Dr. Paredes explains that today’s corridos are inspired by contemporary political and social activism, much like the music of Woody Guthrie, and seek to reinforce ethnic pride. Other corridos cover sensational news topics, like the kidnapping of Patricia Hearst.
Wheat then discusses the rise of Freddie Fender, Chicano Country and other hybrid music styles, such as bilingual country western songs. Steve Jordan’s polka psicodelica is another example of emerging indigenous American musical styles, like blues, jazz, soul, country, salsa and conjunto.
John Wheat; Producer of Spanish-language programming, KUT-FM, Austin, Texas
KEYWORDS
AccordionAmerican Music
Antonio Orendain
Avant-garde
“Flaco” Jimenez Jr.
Bajo Sexto
Baldemar Huerta
Ballad of Gregorio Cortes
Banditry
Before the Next Teardrop Falls
Bilingual Music
Border Violence
Button Style
Camelia
Campesino
Cesar Chavez
Chicano Country
Chicano Generation
Chicano Music
Conflict between Anglos and Mexicans
Conjunto Music
Corrido
Corrido de Cesar Chavez
Corrido Revival
Cultural Revival
Cultural Revivalism
Cumbia
Czech Influence on Mexican Culture
Dance Hall
David Jimenez
Doug Sahm
Dr. Americo Paredes
Drums
El Asesinato de John F. Kennedy
El Pirata
Ethnic Pride
Ethnic Protest Music
European Influences on Mexican Culture
Female Protagonists
Flute
Freddy Fender
German Influence on Mexican Culture
Gregorio Cortez
Guitar
Honor
Hybrid Music
Jacinto Trevino
John F. Kennedy
John Wheat
Johnny Rodriguez
Juan Nepomuceno Cortina
Kerrville Folk Festival
Lolo Cavazos
Mazurka
Narciso Martinez
Narciso Martinez
Patricia Hearst
Patricia Hearst Corrido
Peanuts
Phonograph
Phonograph Record
Polka
Polka Psicodelica
Polka-Ranchera
Pretty Boy Floyd
Radio
Radio
Ry Cooter
Santiago “Flaco” Jimenez
Santiago “Flaco” Jimenez, jr.
Saxophone
Social Bandit
Social Protest
Social Protest Music
Steve Jordan
Tex-mex music
Texas
Texas Farm Workers Union
Waltz
With his Pistol in his Hand
Woody Guthrie