Flaco Jiménez

Flaco Jiménez
Birth name	Leonardo "Flaco" Jiménez
Born	(1939-03-11) March 11, 1939 San Antonio, Texas
Occupations	accordionist
Years active	1946–present

Leonardo "Flaco" Jiménez (born March 11, 1939) is a Tejano music accordionist from San Antonio, Texas.

Career

Jiménez began performing, at the age of seven, with his father Santiago Jiménez Sr, who was a pioneer of conjunto music and began recording at age fifteen as a member of Los Caporales. He played in the San Antonio area for several years, and then began working with Douglas Sahm in the 1960s. Sahm, better known as the founding member of the Sir Douglas Quintet, played with Jiménez for some time. Flaco then went on to New York City and worked with Dr. John, David Lindley, Peter Rowan, Ry Cooder and Bob Dylan. He appeared on Cooder's world music album Chicken Skin Music and on the Rolling Stones' Voodoo Lounge. This led to greater awareness of his music outside America and, after touring Europe with Ry Cooder, he returned to tour in America with his own band, and on a joint bill with Peter Rowan. Jiménez, Peter Rowan and Wally Drogos were the original members of a band called The Free Mexican Airforce.

Jiménez won a Grammy Award in 1986 for Ay Te Dejo en San Antonio, one of his father's songs. He was also a member of the Tejano fusion group Texas Tornados, with Augie Meyers, Doug Sahm and Freddy Fender. The Texas Tornados won a Grammy Award in 1990, and Jiménez earned one on his own in 1996, when his self-titled album Flaco Jiménez won the Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American Performance. In 1999, Flaco earned another Grammy Award for Best Tejano Performance for Said and Done (released by Barbed Wire Records), and one for Best Mexican-American Performance as a part of supergroup Los Super Seven. Jiménez has also won a Best Video award at the Tejano Music Awards and earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from Billboard Latin Magazine for "Streets of Bakersfield" with Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens.

Jiménez appeared in the movie Picking Up the Pieces, with Woody Allen and Sharon Stone, and also featured on the soundtrack. His music has featured in the soundtrack for other movies such as Y Tu Mamá También, The Border, Tin Cup, and Striptease. The Hohner company collaborated with Jiménez to create the Flaco Jimenez Signature Series of accordions.

His brother, Santiago Jiménez, Jr., is also an accomplished accordionist who has recorded extensively.

Jiménez's latest CD, Ya Volvi De La Guerra, was issued in 2009 by Fiesta Records.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Flaco's Amigos, 1988, Arhoolie Records
• San Antonio Soul, 1991, Rounder Records
• Partners, 1992, Warner Bros. Records
• Flaco Jiménez, 1994, Arista Records
• Buena Suerte Senorita, 1996, Arista Records
• Said and Done, 1998, Virgin Records
• Sleepytown, 2002, Back Porch Records
• Squeeze Box King, 2003, Compadre Records
• Ya Volvi De La Guerra, 2009, Fiesta Records
• Arriba el Norte, 2009, Rounder Records
• Entre Humo y Botellas, 2009, Rounder Records

Live Albums

• One Night at Joey's (Live), 1999, Sony Records

Compilations and Re-Releases

• El Rancho de la Ramalada, [release year unknown], Joey Records
• Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio Y Mas, 1993, Arhoolie Records
• Un Mojado Sin Licencia and Other Hits From the 1960's, 1993, Arhoolie Records
• Flaco's First! (with Las Caminantes), 1995, Arhoolie Records
• 15 Exitos, 1995, Joey Records
• Best of Flaco Jiménez, 1999, Arhoolie Records
• Ultimo Tornado, 2001, Warner Bros. Records
• 20 Golden Hits, 2001, Haçienda Records
• Flaco's Favorites: 14 Fabulous Tracks, 2002, Fab14 Records
• Contiene Exitos, Prieta Case Se Me Olvido Otra Vez, 2003, Discos Ranchito
• Fiesta Del Rio, 2006, Fiesta Records
• Melodias, 2010, Joey Records
• Polkas y Mas..., 2010, Joey Records

Featured On Multi-Artist Compilation Albums

• Tex-Mex Conjunto Classics, 1999, Arhoolie Records

Singles

Year	Single	Peak positions	Album
		US Latin
1992	"Me Está Matando"	38	Partners

Guest singles

Year	Single	Artist	Peak chart positions		Album
			US Country	CAN Country
1996	"All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down"	The Mavericks	13	15	Music for All Occasions

Participations

• 2007 : "My Name Is Buddy" (Nonesuch Records) by Ry Cooder with Paddy Moloney, Van Dyke Parks, Mike & Pete Seeger, Bobby King & Terry Evans, Jim Keltner, Jacky Terrasson, Jon Hassell…

References

• Leonardo "Flaco" Jiménez. National Public Radio.
• Hohner, Inc and Flaco Jiménez
• Hohner,Inc Press Release

External links

• Interview with Flaco Jiménez, May 28, 1986, University of Texas at San Antonio: Institute of Texan Cultures: Oral History Collections, UA 15.01, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.