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La
Novia Del Pajarillo
HOMETOWN BOYS
Morena,
que andas haciendo,
por ese río,
por ese río,
señor ando navegando,
ando buscando mi pajarillo,
las señas yo puedo darte,
yo puedo darte,
vente conmigo,
vente conmigo,
arriba de un aguacate,
morena linda tendrás tu nido.
Morena,
que andas haciendo,
por ese río,
por ese río,
señor ando navegando,
ando buscando mi pajarillo,
las señas yo puedo darte,
yo puedo darte,
vente conmigo,
vente conmigo,
arriba de un aguacate,
morena linda tendrás tu nido.
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July 2007
Ricky Martinez
“The passing of a True Conjunto legend”
Where
do I even begin to describe the impact of losing a true conjunto
Legend like Ricky Martinez? Perhaps I should start with a history of
the Martinez family. I talked to Ricky many times through out the
years but I never asked him about how the family got into the music.
The following is a history of the Martinez family, in the music, sent
to me by Lefty Ray Chapa. I believe the story is by Bino G. of BNET
Radio.
“The
Hometown Boys, from Lubbock Texas, have been around for many years.
Originally known as El Grupo Internacional de Ricky y Joe Martinez
consisted of the entire Martinez family. Roman Martinez, Sr., father,
and Maria Dolores Martinez, mother, had been members of the
Madrugadores del Valle, a very popular conjunto in the 50's. Five boys
and one girl later, El Grupo Internacional was born that consisted of
sons-Roman Jr., Ricky, Bobby, Joe, Jesse, daughter-Rosalinda, and
father-Roman Sr..
The
original Grupo Internacional had two styles of music, for both older
and younger generations. One style was the original conjunto style
with drums, bass guitar, accordion, and bajo sexto. The other style
was with drums, bass guitar, keyboard, and electric guitar. Everyone,
who attended one of the group's dances, got a taste of both types of
music. It was like getting two groups in one. Their first recording,
"Mi Ranchito" was an 8-track tape recorded in Amarillo, Texas. This is
the only recording that has both styles featured. The group played
along side some great musicians. The group changed their style to
conjunto only after daughter and keyboard player, Rosalinda, left the
group after getting married. A little ways down the road, Bobby, the
original bass player, also left the group when he moved to Dallas,
Texas to begin his career in photography. This is when the actual
Hometown Boys were born. The group then consisted of Ricky, bass
guitar, and first voice, Jesse, drums, Joe accordion, and second
voice, Roman Sr., bajo sexto, and Roman Jr., sound engineer. The
Hometown Boys have had a very basic style of music that appeals to all
generations.
September
1996, marked a first in the history of West Texas. The Hometown Boys
were the first Hispanics to be inducted into the "Buddy Holly Walk of
Fame" in Lubbock, Texas, alongside Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Waylon
Jennings and other Texas legends. The Grammy award winners have been
known for songs like, "Mire Amigo", which went gold in its first 4
days of release, "Dos Gatos", "El Poder De Una Mujer", "Hombre
Innocente", "Dos Cosas", "Vestida De Blanco", "El Pintor", and many
more great songs. Let’s not forget to mention "Joe's Specials". "Joe's
Special .. 10" received the Best Instrumental Award at the 1997 Tejano
Music Awards. The fans have been an inspiration to the group's
dedication.
Back
in October 1997 The Hometown Boys had their first loss. Roman, Jr.,
percussion, and sound engineer, after a lengthy illness, passed away
at the age of 45. This was such a tremendous loss. Joe, accordion
player, wound up having a heart attack shortly after Roman Jr.'s
funeral. After a triple bypass, Joe seemed to be on the road to
recovery. A couple of months later, in January 1998, he went to see
The Hometown Boys perform and was invited up on stage to play his
beloved accordion. Joe was known as the "Accordion Abuser" because he
put all his energy into playing the accordion that sometimes he wound
up breaking the instrument from playing so hard. After being on stage
for a while, Joe suffered heart complications and at the tender age of
34, passed away while he was doing what he loved to do. Joe was a
remarkably talented musician. The loss was devastating.
Two
brothers passed away within a three-month period. However, The
Hometown Boys continued their quest to perform for their fans. A few
years later in August, 2002, just as The Hometown Boys were to go on
stage in Lubbock, Texas, Jesse, The drummer and baby of the family,
suffered an aneurysm and passed away also at the young age of 34. The
family has been in mourning for many years now. Last year, Ricky, the
primary vocalist and leader of the group, suffered some ill health.
Everyone was praying for his recovery. Thanks to all those prayers,
Ricky bounced back, with his voice as sweet as ever. The group has
gone through many changes. Roman Sr., continues to be the root of the
group. He has endured much and continues to carry The Hometown Boy
flag. The Martinez family has reunited. Bobby came back and plays the
bass guitar, and brings his business background, and helps manage the
group, so Ricky can concentrate on singing. Rosalinda came back as a
background vocalist. Ricky is the main vocalist. Stevan Martinez,
cousin, has taken the role of accordionist, Marky Lee Riojas was
singing in Ricky's absence and has continued as second vocalist. Sammy
Robles, Marky Lee's son, has taken on the role of drummer. Through all
the struggles that The Hometown Boys have had to endure, they continue
to play for their beloved fans. The "Homies" as they are frequently
referred, want to thank everyone who has supported the group for so
many years.”
This
was written before Ricky’s death. One cannot deny that the Hometown
Boys added a different spice to the, then dwindling, genre of conjunto
music. Their sound was very conjunto but had an ‘urban’ feel to the
sound. It was solid bass thumping, foot stomping, music. One could not
resist the urge to get on the dance floor and strut their stuff. Their
style of accordion playing was also, in part, responsible for a new
generation of young accordion players. Their music was very simple to
play, yet, the style was not one that could be duplicated. No one
could imitate Ricky’s unique voice.
Many
are still in shock. They can’t believe that Ricky has passed on to a
better life. Many are left with the question of who will take up the
banner for Conjunto Music. Who will take this genre, of our music, to
a ‘Higher Level’? Maybe the answer is within our young generation of
musicians. I have noticed one group, whom I met several years ago,
from the Valley. They were very young then. They came up to me and
introduced themselves. They told me that they were influenced by many
of the legends of Conjunto but they were really impressed by El
Conjunto Bernal. I have seen them play several times and we even got
them to play for one of Tejano R.o.o.t.s. events. I am talking about
Los Badd Boyz del Valle. These young musicians have honed the skills
and created a style all of their own. This is all I will say about
these young, very talented, men from the Valley. One just has to go
and see their performance LIVE to know what I am talking about. I will
tell more about these, and other, artist on my next article. I will
reveal more with…..A Tejano Whisper
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