David Marez | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 18, 1949 Mathis, Texas |
| Genres | Tejano |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Labels |
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David Marez (born August 18, 1949), known as "La Voz de Oro", [1] is an American singer. He began with gospel performances at his church. In the early 1970s, Marez rose to prominence as the lead vocalist for the Royal Jesters. In 1977, he parted ways with the group to establish his band, People. Under this moniker, he released one album before transitioning the ensemble into his official backing band. By 1983, Marez had signed with Bob Grever's Cara Records. [1]
During the 1980s, he briefly fronted the Hot Tamales Band but departed before a scheduled wedding performance. This exit led to the discovery of Shelly Lares–the groom's sister-in-law–who credits Marez's departure as a pivotal moment in her entry into the Tejano music scene. [2] By the mid-1980s, Marez established himself as a dominant performer in the Tejano music market. [3] Music journalist Ramiro Burr, in his book The Billboard Guide to Tejano and Regional Mexican Music (1999), lauded Marez as one of Tejano's most soulful vocalists. [4]
Marez's recording of "Entre Mas Lejos Me Vaya" earned the Song of the Year award at the 1987 Tejano Music Awards, while "Fijate" secured the same honor at the 1989 Tejano Music Awards. [1] That same year, he received the Male Vocalist of the Year award and Album of the Year for Sold Out (1988). His streak continued at the 1990 Tejano Music Awards, when he was recognized as Male Vocalist of the Year. [1]
By 1990, Marez had embarked on a solo career, signing with CBS Records by 1990. [4] His album, El Musicano (1990), reached number nine on the US Billboard Regional Mexican Albums chart, [5] marking his first top-ten entry. [1] Later, he reunited with the Royal Jesters, releasing the reunion albums We Go Together (2004) and Odyssey: The Journey (2005). The latter, along with Corazón de Oro (2007), received Grammy nominations for Best Tejano Album. [1] His album, Bringin' It Back (2004) was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2005 Tejano Music Awards. [1]
In recognition of their contributions to Tejano music, Marez and Placido Salazar were honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Tejano Music Awards. [6]
José Roberto Pulido Jr., known professionally as Bobby Pulido, is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor. He is acclaimed for pioneering the dissemination of Tejano music to a youthful audience, subsequently ascending as a teen idol and becoming one of the most influential Tejano recording artists among Mexican-American teenagers.
Amor Prohibido is the fourth studio album by American singer Selena, released on March 22, 1994, by EMI Latin. Having reached a core fan base, the label aimed to broaden her appeal with the next studio release. Finding it challenging to write a follow-up hit after "Como la Flor" (1992), Selena's brother A. B. Quintanilla enlisted the assistance from band members Ricky Vela and Pete Astudillo with writing the album's songs. The resulting album has a more mature sound featuring experimental production that blends diverse musical styles from ranchera to hip-hop music. Amor Prohibido is a Tejano cumbia album modernized with a synthesizer-rich delivery using a minimalist style that was quintessential in early 1990s Tejano music.
Entre a Mi Mundo is the third studio album by American singer Selena, released on May 6, 1992, by EMI Latin. The label endeavored to bolster Selena's popularity within the Latin music market in the United States with this release. Selena's brother, A. B. Quintanilla kept his role as the singer's producer and, in collaboration with Selena y Los Dinos members Pete Astudillo and Ricky Vela, composed tracks for the album. The ensuing recording encompassed an eclectic array of songs, attributable to the members' diverse backgrounds, which facilitated the modernization of the many genres they explored. Entre a Mi Mundo is a Tejano cumbia album that encapsulated Selena's quintessential sound, characterized by engaging tunes harmonized with her distinctive, plaintive vocals and a relaxed, danceable cumbia beat. The album incorporates musical inspirations from power pop, R&B, disco, rock, funk, and synthesized Tejano music.
Selena is the debut studio album by American Tejano singer Selena, released on October 17, 1989, by EMI Latin. Its music incorporates a range of contemporary genres with a mix of cumbia and regional styles of Mexican music. The album was released following company president Jose Behar's failed crossover request for the singer. The project was denied by the heads of EMI Records' pop division, believing the singer should first strengthen her fanbase. Selena's brother and principal record producer and songwriter, A.B. Quintanilla III fought to remain the singer's producer. The band introduced Pete Astudillo and Joe Ojeda, who contributed to the album's experimental production and songwriting. Aside from A.B., Selena worked with two Mexican songwriters, Alejandro Montealegre and Reinaldo Ornelas.
Live! or Selena Live! is a live album by American Tejano pop singer Selena, which was released on May 4, 1993, by EMI Latin. The album was re-released on September 22, 2002, as being part of the Selena: 20 Years of Music collection; which included spoken liner notes by her family, friends and her former band members Selena y Los Dinos. Live! includes three cumbia-influenced studio tracks, while the rest of the album consists of live versions of previously released songs. The album was recorded during a free concert at the Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi, Texas, on February 7, 1993. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in its first year, double platinum in 1995, and 8× platinum in 2017.
Pedro Astudillo, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and dancer. Referred to as "the Latino Babyface" by The Daily Journal, he is credited as a key figure behind Selena's signature music style. Astudillo wrote or collaborated on some of the most popular Tejano music songs of the 1990s and was inducted into the Tejano Roots Hall of Fame in 2019. His impact on the United States Latin music scene lies in his role as a songwriter collaborator, according to Billboard magazine.
"Techno Cumbia" is a song recorded by American singer Selena for her fourth studio album, Amor Prohibido (1994). It was posthumously released as the b-side track to "Dreaming of You" through EMI Latin on August 14, 1995. Techno Cumbia would be put on her fifth and final studio album Dreaming of You (1995) and would be the fourth single for Dreaming Of You. "Techno Cumbia" was written by Pete Astudillo and co-written and produced by Selena's brother-producer A.B. Quintanilla. The song is a dance-pop and tecnocumbia recording with influences of dancehall, rap, Latin dance, and club music. Lyrically, Selena calls on people to dance her new style the "techno cumbia" and calls out those who cannot dance.
Gary Lee Hobbs is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor. Called "Tejano music's Vince Gill", he has been widely recognized for his resonant baritone vocals, characterized by their emotive quality, and is considered a pioneer within the genre. Hobbs played a significant role in the expansion of Tejano music during the 1990s and became one of the most popular Tejano singers of the 1980s and 1990s.
Las Reinas del Pueblo is a compilation album by American Tejano music singer Selena and Mexican banda singer Graciela Beltrán. It was released on April 4, 1995, by EMI Latin in the wake of Selena's death on March 31, 1995. The decision to produce a compilation album featuring Beltrán emerged after her tribute to the singer at a Houston memorial. The title was inspired by Mexican newspapers that referred to Selena as "an artist of the people" during a 1992 press tour in the nation and subsequently dubbed her "La Reina del Pueblo" in the aftermath of her death. Las Reinas del Pueblo encompasses six tracks by Selena and six by Beltrán, encapsulating their respective tenures with EMI Latin. Las Reinas del Pueblo peaked at number four on the US Billboard Top Latin Albums and Regional Mexican Albums chart, both behind other Selena releases. The recording peaked at number 147 on the American Billboard 200 chart. The album peaked at number ten on the Spanish albums chart in 2010. Beltrán's participation in the album yielded substantial promotional and sales enhancements.
The Tejano Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year is an honor presented to female Tejano music recording artists. The Tejano Music Awards, first bestowed in 1981, was established to recognize the most talented performers of the genre—a subcategory of regional Mexican music, with roots in the music of early European settlers in Texas. The awards are presented by the Texas Talent Musicians Association (TTMA), to "promote excellence in the Tejano music industry" using the popular vote method to select the winner of the female vocalist of the year. Historically, female musicians fared less favorably in the male-dominated genre and were seen as inferior to their male counterparts. The award was established by Rick Trevino, a male Tejano performer, who founded the Awards in 1981.
Michelle Yvette Lares, best known as Shelly Lares, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and percussionist. Starting in 1984, Lares was nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year for thirteen consecutive years and won several other awards at the Tejano Music Awards throughout her career. She signed a recording contract with Manny Records in 1986. She left the label in 1996, and signed with Sony Music Latin until she was dropped in the late 1990s. In 2006, she signed a recording contract with Tejas Records.
The Tejano Music Award for Female Vocalist of The Year is an honor presented annually by the Texas Talent Musicians Association (TTMA). The Tejano Music Awards were first awarded in 1981 and was established to recognize the most talented performers of Tejano music—a subgenre of regional Mexican music. The nominees were originally selected by a voting poll conducted among program directors and disc jockeys of Spanish-language radio stations in Texas. Originally, winners were chosen by Tejano radio station KIWW listeners, and later by fans of Tejano musicians in the Southwest of the United States. Winners are selected through a survey of 50,000 Texas households with Hispanic surnames. By 1987, the award ceremony was broadcast through 32 radio stations and 25 local television channels in Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. The awards ceremony were originally held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, then to the San Antonio Convention Center until 1994, and the Alamodome until 1999. As of 2015, the ceremony is held annually at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio, Texas.
The Tejano Music Award for Male Entertainer of the Year is an honor presented annually by the Texas Talent Musicians Association (TTMA). The Tejano Music Awards were first awarded in 1981 and was established to recognize the most talented performers of Tejano music—a subgenre of regional Mexican music. The nominees were originally selected by a voting poll conducted among program directors and disc jockeys of Spanish-language radio stations in Texas. Originally, winners were chosen by Tejano radio station KIWW listeners, and later by fans of Tejano musicians in the Southwest of the United States. Winners are selected through a survey of 50,000 Texas households with Hispanic surnames. By 1987, the award ceremony was broadcast through 32 radio stations and 25 local television channels in Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. The awards ceremony were originally held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, then to the San Antonio Convention Center until 1994, and the Alamodome until 1999. As of 2015, the ceremony is held annually at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio, Texas.
José Roberto Pulido, known as Roberto "El Primo" Pulido, is an American musician whose career spans five decades. Pulido has been recognized as a Tejano music pioneer for his introduction of the accordion and saxophone into his music which "helped bridged the traditional conjunto and the modern Tejano camps" in the mid-1970s. Pulido is the father of Tejano musicians Alma Pulido and Bobby Pulido.
The Tejano Music Award for Song of the Year is an honor presented annually at the Tejano Music Awards, whose mission is to recognize the most talented performers of the genre. Songs nominated for the category are also eligible to be nominated for Single of the Year, and genre-specific categories Tejano Crossover, Mexican Regional Song, and Tejano Country Song of the Year. The only English-language recording to have won the award was "Oh Girl" by La Mafia in 1983, which was included on Honey, which also won Album of the Year.
This is a list of notable events in Latin music that took place in 1990.
Patricia Donita Torres is an American singer of Tejano music. Known for her vocal versatility, she has been referred to as the "princess of Tejano music" by The Monitor. Torres began her musical career as a trumpet player for Blue Harmony. The band was discovered by Albert Esquivel in 1980, after which they released their debut album with production handled by Manny Guerra. In 1982, Torres formed the Patsy Torres Band and signed with Bob Grever's Cara Records. After obtaining a college degree in science, Torres decided to pursue a career as a pediatrician.
Freddie Records is an American independent record label founded in Corpus Christi, Texas on November 1, 1969, by musician Freddie Martinez. Originally functioning as a recording studio and distributor for Martinez, the label expanded its roster to include other Tejano musicians to avoid financial failure. The label commenced producing albums for an array of artists, including Ramón Ayala, Agustin Ramirez, Oscar Martinez, and Joe Bravo. Ayala became the best-selling act of the label, sustaining the financial stability of Freddie Records throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The label sponsored a Little Joe concert in 1978 and recorded it for their Live for Schlitz album. It led to a ban on future events in the area, though the album remained a lucrative live recording for Freddie Records for two decades. As Tejano music's popularity surged, Freddie Records augmented its foundation by incorporating an additional 6,000 square feet for a second studio and production facility replete with updated MCI equipment capable of accommodating cassette tape and 8-track formats and instigated a release schedule of two albums per month on average.
Stefani Melissa Sullivan, professionally known as Stefani Montiel is a Tejano music singer. In the early 1990s, she emerged as one of the new acts in Tejano who reinvigorated the genre. Montiel is known for her fusion of various genres into her Tejano sound. The singer has been inducted into the Tejano Roots Hall of Fame and New Mexico Music Hall of Fame, and has been nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Tejano Album. In 2006, as part of Las 3 Divas with Shelly Lares and Elida Reyna, Montiel received a nomination for a Grammy Award. Her husband and musician, Gabriel Zavala, produces her music. Montiel released her first album at the age of nine before signing with EMI Latin and then with Sony Discos. She is considered to be one of the most popular Tejano singers. Montiel performed at the inaugural Fiesta de la Flor in 2015. She received the Tejano Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year, Female Entertainer of the Year, while her album, La Dueña, received the Tejano Music Award for Tejano Album of the Year at the 2017 Tejano Music Awards. Montiel has been nominated for the Tejano Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year for Amor Supernatural, Song of the Year for "La Comadre", while her collaboration with DJ Kane and Zavala on "Sol, Arena, Ron Y Mar", was nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year at the 2019 Tejano Music Awards. Her collaboration with La Calma on "Echame La Culpa", peaked at number one on the Tejano Gold Top 20 chart. In 2020, Montiel partnered with Música Ford to bring awareness to Tejano music and its culture, becoming the first Tejano woman to partner with Ford. Her song, "Quedate Con El", received the nomination for Song of the Year at the 2022 Tejano Music Awards.
La Diferenzia is an American Tejano music septet group based in San Antonio, Texas. Led by Mexican singer-songwriter Ricardo Castillon, its members included Mexican songwriter Miguel Spindola, saxophonist and keyboardist Raul Arnold, bajo sexto player Omar Cardenas, accordionist Simon Arausa, guitarist Jesse Moya, and Jose Luis Benavides on the drums. The group chose "Diferenzia" to stand out from other Tejano bands and wanted to offer a variety of musical styles. Castillon wanted to provide listeners with Tejano, mariachi, merengue, cumbia, and ballads. Ricardo and his brother, Ramiro Castillon, started La Diferenzia, recording under Manny Guerra's label in the late 1980s. Following Ramiro's death during a car accident in 1991, the group disbanded.
