Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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JIMENEZ, Flaco

(b Leonardo Jimenez, 11 March '39, San Antonio TX) Tex-Mex accordionist, songwriter; initially achieving some fame due to crossover work with Ry Cooder, Freddy Fender, Willie Nelson, Doug Sahm, Carlos Santana and Peter Rowan, but by '96 Flaco had won three Grammys of his own. Nickname 'Skinny'. His father was Santiago Jimenez Sr (see below); younger brother Santiago Jr is also a prominent accordionist. Played bajo sexto with his father, debuting on disc early '50s on 'Los Tecolotes'. Virtually all his early work appeared on locally released singles, often made to cash in on local crazes or recent events, though he avoided much of the political subject matter found in corridos (song-stories) recorded by Mexican-American musicians (but later made Corridos Famosos on Dina with Los Caparales). Greater fame came through work with Doug Sahm on Doug Sahm And Band '73 on Atlantic, sales of which were boosted by other luminaries such as Mac Rebennack and Bob Dylan. Cooder found Flaco's work, allegedly by chance, and determined to work with him (Chicken Skin Music '76, Showtime '77, soundtrack for The Border '82, Get Rhythm '87). Flaco recorded prolifically, having regional hits with his own songs such as 'El Pantalon Blue Jean' (El Gran Flaco Jimenez on Dina, Tex-Mex Breakdown on Sonet), and 'El Bingo' (El Internacionel Flaco Jimenez on Dina), which dealt with the game's effect on family life. Flaco Jimenez And His Conjunto on Arhoolie proved a turning point; regular tours of Europe (at first with Rowan) helped establish reputation abroad. Tex-Mex Breakdown '83 saw him take a suspect path according to purists, tailored to a European audience and unfavourably compared to his earlier work. Other albums incl. El Principe del Acordeon '77 on DLB, El Sonido de San Antonio '80 on Arhoolie (with his father), Viva Seguin '83 on Rogue (a UK reissue of earlier Mis Polkas Favoritas on DLB), On The Move '84 on Dina, San Antonio Sound '85 on Waterfront, Augie Meyers Presents San Antonio Saturday Night '86 on Sonet (with Los Paisanos, Los Hermanos Barron and Los Formales), Peter Rowan '78 on Flying Fish (on Special Delivery '87 in UK), others on Arhoolie and Rounder. Flaco's Amigos '88 on Arhoolie (Cooking Vinyl UK) incl. three '86--8 sessions with Cooder, Rowan, Fred Ojeda; Partners '92 on Reprise incl. Cooder, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Los Lobos, John Hiatt, Dwight Yoakam, Stephen Stills; Flaco Jimenez '94 was on Arista, who announced a new full-scale conjunto album for '96. Flaco's First on Rounder compiled '56--8 tracks; Bueno Suerte, Se¤orita was on Arista Texas. He also played on six albums with the Texas Tornados '90--96 on Reprise (see entries for Doug Sahm and Freddy Fender; also those for Peter Rowan, Tex-Mex, Conjunto).