Flaco Jiménez

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Flaco Jiménez

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

Jiménez's father, Santiago Jiménez Sr. was a pioneer of conjunto music. He began performing with his father at age seven and 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 with his own band, and on a joint bill with Peter Rowan. Flaco, 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", a song of his father. He was also a member of the supergroup Texas Tornados, with Augie Meyers, Doug Sahm and Freddy Fender. ' The Texas Tornados earned a Grammy Award in 1990, and Jiménez earned one on his own in 1996, when his Flaco Jiménez won the Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American Performance. In 1999, Flaco earned another Grammy Award for Best Tejano Performance (Said and Done, Barb 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 has appeared in the film Picking up the Pieces, with Woody Allen and Sharon Stone. He also appears on the soundtrack to that movie, and in many others, 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 is Squeeze Box King (2003, Compadre Records).

Discography

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