TEJANOmike

A Tejano Music Website       |       Phoenix, AZ       |       602.505.2168       |       tejanomike@gmail.com

 

My new and last link on my site, finally! Another reason for this new and added link is that after launching my new and present Website, I got emails and phone calls telling me they missed the previous link with all the old stories and pictures of San Jose and Austin. So, as I like to say from time to time ... "Fans Rule!"

Real good cassette tapes and albums back then, and the BIG LABELS era! David Marez was with CBS records.



Two pictures of Sam with Lydia Rubio.



Eddie Perez in the middle, front row.

 

Brown Express, San Jose CA.

Two Carmona pictures below; from the Texas Music Museum in Austin Texas.

La Familia INC., during the California years. 

Juan Lopez and his conjunto from the mid-70s; second from right; sang and played accordion. That is Mando Boito next to him, Joe Garza on bass, far right is Humberto Maltos playing guitar; all from the San Jose bay area. Mando and Juan have passed away.

From the left, my brother Chris Carmona, Alfonso Ramos, TEJANOmike with no gray hair!!, and long time 'y buen amigo' ... Rudy Sanchez Jr. Picture was taken in Austin Texas in 1992. San Jose promoters were very much responsible for the local success and popularity of local groups such as our band, The Chris Carmona Orchestra, and Rudy Sanchez Y Los Continentales. Sadly, my very good friend Rudy Sanchez Jr. pictured here on the far right, died this past FRI June 19, 2009 in Houston; from a heart attack.

Carlos Guzman, the early years.



 From left: Rick Sanchez, Hippy MC, Joe Ruiz, owner of, The Balcony .. San Jose CA, around the mid 70s.

Ruben & Lydia Rubio. We played at The Balcony for more than two years.

The Carmona's and from the left: My dad, Chris, MC, and Mack.

Two pictures of the Chris Carmona Orchestra in SJ CA .. had to be around 1969 on the top picture, and early 80s below.





My dad with Stanley Flores and probably after a gig somewhere in northern California.



MC & Chris singing tejano music in Redwood City CA for New Years Eve. I was playing a valve trombone back then.

Another nice picture of Joe Ruiz.






Two real nice and old pictures of the BIG BAND era which I got to see as a young musician growing up. I think Little Joe's compadre, James Reza, sent me these. It's been awhile.



Long story behind those drums, but let's just say it was my first set of drums for now. 

Joe Luna Jr.

""La Lievre" on the left, and Ernesto Guerra. another picture of the rabbit to your right.

My brother Mack Carmona in Austin Texas; around 1955.

I was fortunate to have met and shake her hand back in the mid 1950s.

"El Charro Negro", aka, Bobby Butler.

Again, so lucky to have witness their performances in both Texas and later on in California.

Rene & Rene!

A little picture of "Manuel Donley Y Las Estrellas" .. that's my brother Chris on the left, Emilio Villagas, and Manuel.

In the 1950s, the Carmona musicians met Little Joe and Johnny in Temple Texas. With a little help from my dad, they used to play during our intermissions.  Later on when Little Joe got popular and started touring CA, it got reversed: We open up for him!

Manuel Donley.

Carlos Guzman and MC in Edinburg TX .. taken in 2001 I believe.

Isidro Lopez! .. looks like he is accepting an award from the TTMA.

My first car in Austin TX, a 1936 four-door Chevy. It looked like this one almost, but mine smoked like a bandit and smoking train, got a flat every day. Can't complain thought: It was full of girls all the time. Hello!

My first job in Austin and thanks to my dear dad too: Working on a farm! Didn't pay much, very long hours, 7 days a week, 12/7 hours, no benefits whatsoever, plus playing weekends too .. and no dating either! Dam!

Laura Canales, mi Reina! I took this picture myself in Edinburg TX while visiting there with Eddie Perez. I finally met my Reina back then, shook her hand, hugged her, talked to her for about 15 minutes, and told her I was a very big fan of hers for a lot of years. And hearing her sing "live and in person that night?", well, let me just say, "it was priceless" .. an forgettable night for me.

San Jose promoter, Danny Lopez.

Johnny Hernandez.

Two of my very good friends in San Jose while living there: "Chuy" on the left and my padrino, George Carrasco.

Beto Villa

My favorite All-Star orchestra from New York, Tito Rodriguez. I also got to see Tito Puente, Ray Barreto, Johnny Pacheco, Buddy Rich, Rene Touzet, and so many other artists in the San Francisco bay area and including San Jose.

Carlos Guzman

From left: "Sauce" and James Meza on the right.

My tio and my music instructor in Austin! .. and formerly with La Orquesta Falcon, my mentor as well .. Feliciano Carmona.

Nash Hernandez

Louis Guerrero

Alfonso Ramos.

Front row and from the left: "La Tortuga", "La Lievre", and Amadeo Flores ... in the back it's Humberto Maltos on the left; Raymond Flores on the right.