It was Saturday morning and it was a day off from work for me. I was thinking about what I could do for that day that would be fun and adventurous. Then I thought for a while and I was hoping that my cousin Cha Cha Jimenez was playing somewhere close to my home. My wife came into the room and said that the phone was for me. I didn’t even hear it ring. It was my cousin Cha Cha Jimenez. Talk about coincidences (or maybe Fate).

  I answered the phone and Cha Cha said that some one wanted to talk to me. A very nice lady started to talk to me and invited me to their anniversary dance in Falfurrias, Texas. Then she said that if I didn’t go Cha Cha was not going to go either. Well with an offer like that…How could I refuse?

  It was now about 8:00 p.m. and the dance was to start at 9:00 p.m. I quickly jumped on my van and headed south on 281 towards Falfurrias. I had not been at the VFW there since my oldest son, Chris, got married there in 2001. I like driving around south Texas because of the scenery. There was a beautiful sunset that was highlighted by an old windmill and a barn to my right between the turn-off to Kingsville and Premont, Texas. I also saw a beautiful field of watermelons. Even though our part of Texas has been through a drought, the farmer there made sure that the watermelons were properly irrigated through and irrigation system that he had built. The pipes were painted silver and they were joined together, at about every 50 feet with giant wheels that resembled those wheels that were used for covered wagons of the old west.

  Thirty minutes later and I was at my destination at the VFW in Falfurrias, Texas. I was really excited because Falfurrias has it’s own Tejano music history. It is the hometown of the Late, Tejano R.o.o.t.s. hall of fame, Beto Villa. Beto Villa is known as the father of orchesta Tejana. This town has also been very good to my father the late Juan Sifuentes Sr. but that is another story that I would have to tell in the very near future.

  I get off my van and I see a lot of old friends that I had not seen for a while. One of those was Ramiro Sanchez, another hall of fame inductee. I walked inside and the whole place was decorated with tapestry that resembled huge wind sails. They were blue, white, and light pink in color. It was frugal in cost but very nicely decorated. I saw my cousin Cha Cha and he gave me a huge smile. His wife was sitting with Mr. and Mrs. Mando Castro of "Yo Mando" productions.

  I saw the rest of Los Chachos getting up on stage. I looked at my watch and I realized that it was…SHOW TIME!!

  There was a man on stage playing the accordion. It was the drummer’s brother and his name is Adan Torrez. He played a Paulino Bernal polka on a chromatic accordion. Very well done. Cha Cha and Joe Mora (accordion) kicked-off the rest of the dance with ‘ Camino de Cantunillo’. Without stopping or skipping a beat they next played ‘ Con Nada Me Pagas’. The dance floor was full of people of all ages. Some as young as 12 and as old as 87. It was a beautiful site. When these songs were finished the crowd gave a thunderous applause. I was very impressed and excited. This is how the rest of the night was. People would applause, really loud, with approval of the music. This is why they had come. To hear our great, true Tejano, music.

  The people were then treated to ‘ Porque Nostotros No’. Beautiful harmonies by Cha Cha, Joe Mora, and the drummer Mr. Torrez. Next on the musical menu was ‘ Odiame’. 2 people dared to dance to this song and they did a wonderful job. Very good smooth, melodic, moves. These 2 couples were in about their 60’s or 70’s. They showed the young generation how it is done.

Los Chachos then sang one of my favorite tunes because it just sounds so…TEJANO. It was ‘ Asi Lo Quisiste’. Old school style indeed. There will never be another Cha Cha. I kept getting goosebumps all through the night. I am really proud of my cousin and what he has accomplished with his very hard work. I know…. I witness a lot of his work since I was a teenager.

  The next song left a lasting impression on me. It was ‘ El Mono De Vidirio’. I have never listened to the words until now. Cha Cha put so much feeling into it that tears ran down my cheeks. Mando’s wife gave me a hug and said, " I know how you feel Jito". How does one measure the Essence of a Man? By what he has in his Heart and successfully passes that essence to others. That is Cha Cha Jimenez and the entire group.

  The band then got the crowd going again with "Que Metida De Pata". Everyone took to the dance floor again. This song was followed by a huapango called "Loco De Amor’. Yes people the night was filled with a lot of Bernal and the Old Chachos music. Cha Cha then hit us with a big bang. ‘ Vestido Blanco’ a tune written by Rene Serrata. I was really amazed that the older generation was able to keep up with the dancing and they didn’t even look a little winded.

  Cha Cha and the group got into a groove and played non-stop. Buena Suerte Corazon, Mi Mundo Feliz, Quiero Conoserte (Rene Serrata), Corazonada, Lo lindo de Ti. It just kept getting better folks. I was then honored by being called on stage and I sang ‘ Sufriendo A Solas’. I felt good because the crowd applauded in approval. The next song was ‘ Porque Andas Diciendo’ a bolero that my father sang with Conjunto Bernal. The crowd applauded again and told me how great it was. In reality…I killed it. My father was probably turning in his grave. But the people were fabulous.

  Joe Mora then did his rendition of Vengi Vengi. Very good job by Joe Mora. Cha Cha then sang " Seis Anos". Then he did something so awesome. He dedicated the next song to La Reina Laura Canales. I think it is called ‘ Como Han pasado Los Anos’. I lost it !!! I kept seeing Laura’s beautiful smile and hearing her laugh over and over in my head. Laura….. We really do miss you Mi Reina. Cha Cha himself was choking back tears.

  Roy Torrez (drummer) gave us a country tune. Then Cha Cha gave us " Las Quatro Lupes" ala Jesse Serrata style. This was followed by ‘ Dile A tu Marido Que Te Vas’. Yes the people were still dancing, dancing, and dancing. I was called up on stage to do another song. Cha Cha wanted me to sing ‘ Otra Vez Borracho’ a song I had not sung with them at all. I asked if he was sure and he said YES. The vocals on this song are a little tricky. If not done right, You destroy the song. Well Joe Mora did an excellent job with his part that it made mine easy. Los Chachos were so professional that all I had to worry about was my part. The dance floor was full again and the crowd gave a thunderous applause. Make no mistake people. Los Chachos were the ones making the "Magic" that night.

  The night came to an end with songs like Que Cosas Te Hise Yo, Me Regalo Contigo, No Volvere, Jacarandosa, Pudo Mas tu Orguillo, and finally ‘ Estoy en el Mismo Lugar’. I was totally exhaust and I had to be at work at 5:00 A.M. it was 1:00 A.M. and I still had a 35-minute drive home. I said my good byes and left.

  On the way home I thought about the whole night and I couldn’t help but cry tears of joy. Another Tejano Music History moment from a front row seat. People still say Tejano Music is Dead…Why am I still in the middle of IT? People wake up and hear the music. Go to these dances. If you are short on money then go to the free ones and support the bands! It is not Dead until WE, the FANS, decide to kill it by not supporting our music…Si Se Puede Mi Gente…Let’s Do It…Not with a Tejano Whisper but with a Loud Tejano Bang…Tu Amigo Juan Sifuentes Jr.