Conjunto Music Legend Flaco Jimenez Dies at 86
Six-time Grammy-winning conjunto and accordion master Flaco Jimenez has passed away at 86, surrounded by family. His enduring musical legacy will continue.
Overview
- Flaco Jimenez, the celebrated conjunto and accordion master, passed away at the age of 86, marking the end of an era for traditional Tex-Mex music.
- A highly acclaimed musician, Jimenez was a six-time Grammy Award winner, recognized for his profound influence and innovative contributions to the conjunto genre.
- His passing occurred peacefully, surrounded by his beloved family and close ones, though specific details regarding the cause of death were not publicly disclosed.
- Major news outlets, including NPR and Rolling Stone, reported on his death but did not provide information on the cause, respecting the family's privacy.
- Flaco Jimenez's immense musical legacy, characterized by his distinctive accordion style, is expected to live on through his extensive discography and dedicated global fanbase.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story of Flaco Jimenez's passing as a celebration of a musical legend. They consistently use laudatory language and emphasize his mastery, widespread influence, and deep roots in Tex-Mex music. The collective editorial choices portray him as a beloved, essential figure whose legacy is comparable to other musical giants.
"Flaco Jimenez, a six-time Grammy winner who took his conjunto accordion musicianship to the national and worldwide stages with countless superstar musicians and bands, has died, his family announced."
NBC News"Flaco Jimenez became the A-list Tex-Mex accordionist for any artist who wanted that west-side San Antonio baile feel in their song."
NPRArticles (3)
FAQ
Flaco Jiménez received five Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, an NEA National Heritage Fellowship, and honors from Billboard, Americana, and Tejano music communities. He was also inducted into the National Hispanic Hall of Fame, the NYC International Latin Music Hall of Fame, and was named a Texas State Musician.
Flaco Jiménez was known for playing Norteño, Tex-Mex, Tejano, and conjunto music, and was influential in popularizing these genres globally.
Flaco Jiménez collaborated with notable acts including the Texas Tornados, Los Super Seven, Sir Douglas Quintet, Ry Cooder, Bob Dylan, Dwight Yoakam, Carlos Santana, and Peter Rowan's Free Mexican Airforce.
Flaco Jiménez's legacy is characterized by his distinctive accordion style, which helped popularize conjunto and Tex-Mex music worldwide. His extensive discography and collaborations have ensured the Hispanic influence remains alive in North American music for over seven decades.
Flaco Jiménez was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1939 into a family of musicians. He started performing at age seven with his father, Santiago Jiménez Sr., a pioneer of conjunto music, and began recording with Los Caporales by age fifteen. Initially playing bajo sexto, he later adopted the accordion influenced by his father and zydeco musician Clifton Chenier.
History
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