Flaco Jimenez

• Genre: Tex Mex
• Hometown: San Antonio

About

Flaco Jimenez is the undisputed king of Tex-Mex accordion. Son of Santiago Jimenez, one of the first to introduce the accordion into norteno music and inventor of the conjunto sound, Flaco has ventured beyond these traditional styles into country music and rock. His flashy, rapid style of play and forthright singing, done mostly in Spanish, can be heard on recordings by Ry Cooder and the Rolling Stones. His crossover appeal to country audiences is witnessed by his participation in the Texas Tornados, a supergroup that includes Freddie Fender and the members of the Sir Douglas Quintet. Perhaps more than any other artist, he is responsible for placing the variety of Tex-Mex music on the world stage. Nobody can rock a Polka like Flaco.

- Robert Leaver