Jiménez, who was of Mexican descent, was born in San Antonio, Texas, on March 11, 1939.[5] He is descended from a line of musicians, including his father Santiago Jiménez Sr.,[6][7] and his grandfather Patricio Jiménez.[8]
He began performing at the age of seven with his father, a pioneer of conjunto music, and began recording at age fifteen as a member of Los Caporales. Jiménez's first instrument was the bajo sexto, but he later adopted the accordion after being influenced by his father and zydeco musician Clifton Chenier.[9]
He was given the nickname "Flaco" (which translates in English as "Skinny"), which was also his father's nickname.[6]
Career
Jiménez performed in the San Antonio area for several years and then began working with Doug Sahm in the 1960s. Sahm, better known as the founding member of the Sir Douglas Quintet, played with Jiménez for some time. Jiménez later went to New York City and worked with Dr. John, David Lindley, Peter Rowan, Ry Cooder and Bob Dylan. He appeared on Cooder's world music album Chicken Skin Music and was a guest musician on the Rolling Stones' Voodoo Lounge album.[9] These appearances led to greater awareness of his music outside of America. After touring Europe with Cooder he returned to tour in America with his own band, and on a joint bill with Peter Rowan. Jiménez, Rowan and Wally Drogos were the original members of a band called the Free Mexican Airforce.[10]
He was one of the artists featured in archival footage in the 2013 documentary film This Ain't No Mouse Music about Arhoolie Records and its founder Chris Strachwitz.[22][23]
The Hohner company collaborated with Jiménez to create the Flaco Jimenez Signature series of accordions.[24]
Jiménez also received acclaim for his performances of Texas-Mexican Conjunto music, in addition to Tejano (Tex Mex) music.[25][26][27][28]
In March 2015, Jiménez suffered a broken hip and two rib fractures from two separate falls. By May of that year, he returned to performing and was one of the acts on closing night of the 34th annual Tejano Conjunto Festival in San Antonio.[29]
Jiménez and his wife once owned a food truck in the San Antonio area, named Tacos Jimenez.[30]
Even during his time as a global ambassador for conjunto, Jiménez kept his home in San Antonio.[26] For numerous decades, and until 2025, Jiménez performed at the annual Tejano Conjunto Festival in San Antonio.[26][27]
In 2000, Jiménez won a Tejano Music Video of the Year award at the Tejano Music Awards for his song "De Bolon Pin Pon".[37]
In 2001, both Flaco and his brother Santiago were included among the first group of recipients of the Texas Medal of Arts[38] in the folk arts category.[39]
Jiménez was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 31st Tejano Music Awards ceremony in 2011.[37]
In 2014, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist from the Americana Music Association.[40] He received his plaque at the ceremony from longtime collaborator Ry Cooder,[41] with whom he also performed at the event.[42]
Jiménez was one of five artists to receive the inaugural Distinction in Arts honor from the City of San Antonio in 2015.[43] Also in 2015, his collaborative album with Max Baca titled Flaco & Max: Legends & Legacies won an award in the Latin Album category at the 14th Annual Independent Music Awards.[44]
Additionally in 2015, Jiménez was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame.[45]
In 2017, a photograph of Jiménez taken by Al Rendon in 1987 was added to the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Images in the Gallery "represent the numerous individuals who have made a significant impact on the history and culture of the United States".[46][47]
In 2018, the Houston Chronicle listed him as number 19 of the Greatest 50 Texas Musicians of all time.[48]
Jiménez received the Top of Texas Award from the Country Music Association of Texas in 2019.[49] Earlier in the same year, he also received the History-Making Texas Award from the Texas State History Museum Foundation.[50][18]
In 2021, Jiménez's album Partners was selected as one of 25 works to be inducted into the National Recording Registry's class of 2020, with the registry calling Jiménez "a champion of traditional conjunto music and Tex-Mex culture who also is known for innovation and collaboration with a variety of artists."[52]
In 2022, Jiménez was awarded the National Medal of Arts from U.S. President Joe Biden.[53] However, he did not attend the award ceremony, citing illness.[27]
↑"The Free Mexican Air Force". The Strachwitz Frontera Collection of Mexican and Mexican American Recordings. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
↑Fuentes, Gladys (December 26, 2019). "Keeping Tradition Alive: Los Texmaniacs Are The Past, Present, And Future Of Conjunto Music". Houston Press. Houston, Texas.
↑Saldaña, Hector (May 18, 2015). "Return of a legend; Jimenez, back from injuries, main draw at conjunto festival". San Antonio Express-News. San Antonio, Texas. p.1A.
↑Saldaña, Hector (March 21, 2001). "Artists honored: Awards recognize Texas musicians, actors and authors". San Antonio Express-News. San Antonio, Texas. p.Metro / South Texas section, 8B.
↑"Texas Medal of the Arts Awards". Texas Almanac. Texas State Historical Association. 2018. Archived from the original on February 13, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
↑Saldaña, Hector (November 24, 2015). "Distinction in the Arts award honors locals". San Antonio Express-News. San Antonio, Texas. p.Metro section, 2A.
↑"Newly Installed Portraits Displayed at the National Portrait Gallery" (Press release). Targeted News Service. November 7, 2017.
↑"Flaco Jiménez". National Portrait Gallery. Smithsonian Institution. n.d. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
↑Dansby, Andrew (August 10, 2018). "The Greatest 50 Texas Musicians ever". Houston Chronicle. Houston, Texas. p.D8. Archived from the original on October 9, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
↑Lozano, Jayme (September 27, 2019). "Lubbock to host CMA of Texas Awards at Cook's Garage". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Lubbock, Texas.
↑Saldaña, Hector (April 10, 2019). "A Musical treasure: accordion king Flaco Jimenez still rules city's music scene". The Southside Reporter. San Antonio, Texas. p.SR014.
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