R&B and Latin music artist Frankie J is back with a new full-length studio album released on May, 15, 2020 titled Canciones Que Recuerdo. 

The songs on this album all express how Frankie J has grown lyrically and shares about childhood memories while bringing attention to his roots. The sound pulls on the strings of the soul versus the heart that he is known to reach with every note he sings, on his music about heartbreak and the beauty of experiencing love.

“It’s an album that pays tribute to a lot of amazing artists,” Frankie J says in an interview with Preview from the Houston Chronicle. The album contains covers of classic hits from legendary artists Pedro Infante, Juan Gabriel, Jose Jose, Rocio Durcal, Javier Solis, and even a Spanish version of “My Way” from Frank Sinatra.

“They’re songs that I grew up with as a child with my grandparents hearing them, my parents hearing them,” the singer tells the Houston Chronicle. “It was different but yet it was beautiful thing and amazing experience. Learning how to sing a mariachi song. Learning how to express yourself in a very different way, boleros, they’re very traditional songs but great and beautifully done.”

As an artist, Frankie J has always been very versatile in his style of reaching different audiences with multi-cultural collaborations. These hits have established him from the rap scene with his multiple hits along with rapper Baby Bash to his music created while with Los Kumbia Kings.  

Frankie J has two very special collaborations on this album. The first one is his very own daughter, Emily Bautista, on the track titled “Fue un Placer Conocerte,” where the song speaks as a duet on appreciating the time a couple spent in love with each other but having to walk away from it all. His talent has spoken for itself throughout time, yet the greater joy is to see a father sing alongside his talented daughter. Hopefully, the fans will be blessed with more of the father and daughter music that is so beautiful creation.

His second collaboration is alongside Lupita Infante, granddaughter of the iconic legend of Regional Mexican music and cinema the late, great Pedro Infante, on the track titled “Buenos Amigos” where the song speaks about remaining friends instead of chancing a love that could ruin it all for both sides. Each note is sung with such grace that it makes it sound so romantic even in choosing not to be together. 

In songs like “El Triste”,  “El Amor Acaba”, and “La Farsante” he gives us a mature approach of heartache that allows the songs to be relatable to personal life experiences of a grown and sexy audience. To include “En Mi Viejo San Juan” on the album, it inspires the listeners to reminisce on their childhood memories while feeling more connected to the roots of their Latin culture. 

“That’s what I wanted to do with this particular project was go and take it to the roots, the real roots,” said Frankie J. “That’s what this album is about, that’s what this album is catering to.”

For the fans, the fact remains that it is an amazing accomplishment to be an artist that multiple generations can enjoy within several genres of music. His new album has become the breath of fresh air that this era was in dire need of. 

“I feel confident that you fans will understand and appreciate it just like I do,” said Frankie J in a Facebook post. “(It) was made with a lot of effort and with a lot of heart. This record is the opposite of what radio is playing today, but I’m proud of what we’ve fulfilled. What matters to me most is that you guys listen to it. I have faith that they will fall in love again with these recordings. Because they are for life.”

Canciones Que Recuerdo from Frankie J is available now at all digital music platforms.

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• Frankie J returns to his roots with new album ‘Canciones Que Recuerdo’
• Little Joe to release live concert album ‘Better Than Ever’ on May 29
• New album from Texas Latino is ‘From The Heart Of Texas’ featuring Tejano icons [AUDIO]
• Intocable adds second drive-in concert date in Hidalgo on June 7
• Siggno to release ‘Pelicula Vol. 1’ EP on May 29

The current coronavirus pandemic has kept many live music venues closed for the past few months, but now fans can enjoy live music from Bobby Pulido with the release of the live concert album En Vivo Desde Las Vegas on May 29.

The concert was recorded last August during Vegas Tejano Week at the 2019 Tejano Music National Convention and features appearances from Bobby’s father Roberto Pulido and Raulito Navaira.

The crooner paid tribute to late Tejano icons Emilio Navaira, Selena, and Jimmy Gonzalez with a medley of their hits. The album also features many fan favorites from Bobby Pulido including “Le Pedire”, “Móntame”, “La Rosa” and more.

En Vivo Desde Las Vegas from Bobby Pulido is available at all digital music platforms.

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• Ricardo Chavira talks ‘Selena’ Netflix series, portraying Abraham Quintanilla
• Bobby Pulido releases live concert album ‘En Vivo Desde Las Vegas’ featuring Roberto Pulido and Raulito Navaira
• Frankie J returns to his roots with new album ‘Canciones Que Recuerdo’
• Little Joe to release live concert album ‘Better Than Ever’ on May 29
• New album from Texas Latino is ‘From The Heart Of Texas’ featuring Tejano icons [AUDIO]

Netflix will highlight the life of late bicultural icon Selena Quintanilla-Perez in Selena: The Series to be released later this year.

Texas native Ricardo Chavira will portray Selena’s father, Abraham Quintanilla, and the Desperate Housewives actor tells San Antonio TV station KENS 5 about what Selena fans can expect from the upcoming series.

“The one thing that you’re going to get more out of this I think than any other story or movie that you have seen is the beginning,” he said. “When she was young and when they over in Lake Jackson and Houston and the move from there to Corpus and all of that. We’re covering that a lot more thank I think it ever has been covered. What it took for her to become what she became.”

Chavira also spoke about his role as Selena’s father, working with other members of the cast and much more.

RELATED: ‘Selena: A Star Dies In Texas’ true-crime podcast chronicles life, murder and legacy

The series, which stars Walking Dead actress Christian Serratos as Selena, was shooting in Mexico but has been on hiatus during the current coronavirus worldwide pandemic.

Selena: The Series is expected to be released on Netflix this year, but the streaming giant has not yet revealed the specific date.

Like Tejano Nation on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud.

• Ricardo Chavira talks ‘Selena’ Netflix series, portraying Abraham Quintanilla
• Bobby Pulido releases live concert album ‘En Vivo Desde Las Vegas’ featuring Roberto Pulido and Raulito Navaira
• Frankie J returns to his roots with new album ‘Canciones Que Recuerdo’
• Little Joe to release live concert album ‘Better Than Ever’ on May 29
• New album from Texas Latino is ‘From The Heart Of Texas’ featuring Tejano icons [AUDIO]

Joining pop culture icons like Madonna and Beyoncé, Tejano music legend Selena Quintanilla will be the subject of a first-of-its-kind course this coming fall at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Students will study various aspects of Selena, the undisputed queen of Tejano music, in the class created by Sonya M. Alemán, Ph.D., an associate professor of Mexican American Studies in the university’s Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department. The course is titled, “Selena: A Mexican American Identity and Experience.”

Alemán, a native of Cotulla, a community south of San Antonio, brings a unique and insightful mix of personal experiences and scholarly interest in Selena that make her background ideal as the first professor to teach a collegiate course in Texas about Selena.

In addition to seeing several of Selena’s performances, Alemán spent 11 years in Salt Lake City at the University of Utah, as a student and then, professor, where she experienced firsthand just how little mainstream America knew about the Mexican-American culture. Beyond the personal, Alemán has a passionate scholarly interest in how Selena’s life and career help articulate a deeper understanding of the Mexican-American perspective in Texas and beyond.

“Selena was my contemporary as a young adult,” Alemán said. “We were approximately the same age as she came into the peak of her career so I grew up in the height of the Tejano music industry.”

RELATED: Evidence from Selena murder trial revealed by prosecutor for first time in 23 years [VIDEO]

For Alemán, Selena and her career provide the perfect vehicle for an exploration of what it means to be a Mexican American and to straddle the borders of two cultures and all that entails.

“It doesn’t seem odd that we could sing an entire song in Spanish and maybe not know all the words but appreciate it, love it and then turn to our friend and have an entire conversation in English,” Alemán said. “I just think that’s a beautiful thing and (Selena) personified that. So I think there are rich, untapped opportunities to ask questions why, to better understand, and to not feel ashamed of that legacy.”

Eventually, Alemán hopes the course is one that could be taught by other professors in the department and sees the course evolving as there are so many aspects of Selena that warrant deeper study. A top priority, however, is to engage students and highlight the importance of the Mexican American culture.

“It’s a way to get students to realize that there’s beauty, value and knowledge from being Mexican American in this part of the world,” Alemán said. “There’s a history attached to it.”

Throughout her adult life, Alemán said she always related to Selena as they both dealt with crossing borders and barriers as Latinas.

“I kind of always carried her story as part of mine in terms of growing up, my memories of being a young adult, and being a Chicana,” Alemán said.

The idea of a course about Selena was not just a recent decision but one that Alemán has thought about and planned for over a span of years.

“Even when I was a professor in Salt Lake City at a predominately white campus with predominately white students, I thought wouldn’t it be so awesome to do a course that would center on (Selena’s) experience and that used her experience as a springboard to talk about what (Mexican-American) identity is like,” Alemán said.

While in Salt Lake City, Alemán remembers that for the first time in her life, she was the only Latina in her class and recalls how it “became clear to me how little people understood somebody like me.” As a South Texas native who earned her bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and her master’s at the University of Texas at Austin, living in Utah was an eye-opener for Alemán.

She recalls questions about her language skills, such as how she managed to speak English so well and do so without an accent and says she felt shocked by the reality that mainstream America did not understand or know about the Mexican American culture.

“The community had no idea of what was like to be somebody like me and that there was another reality besides what you saw on television about who a Latina was or who a Chicana was,” Alemán said.

RELATED: ‘Selena: A Star Dies In Texas’ true-crime podcast chronicles life, murder and legacy

Alemán also recognizes how Selena’s story remains relevant even for younger generations who weren’t even born when Selena was alive.

“Something about her resonates with them so that’s what I want the course to try to explore as well because I do think that there are specific reasons for that that has to do with how little we see that image of ourselves,” Alemán said. “Chicanas in this part of the world and Tejanas in this part of the world celebrated and on a stage in that way that has a celebrity kind of status just doesn’t happen.”

To Alemán, if people think about Selena’s life as just a tragic one because she didn’t live to achieve her full crossover potential only overshadows all that Selena did accomplish in her brief life.

“That’s such a disservice to her actual career because she crossed borders all the time,” Alemán said. “She was a woman in a male-dominated industry. She took Tejano music outside of Texas and the U.S., internationally, which very few had done before her. And she did so as a non-native Spanish speaker so she had to overcome that barrier of being accepted in Spanish-speaking communities and countries who often looked down at those who have Latino heritage but aren’t fluent in the language. She had to do all of those things.”

Alemán said some of the specific topics that the course will explore include her music, language, Selena’s image and how it’s used, Selena’s body type and shape, and even a look into how superstar Jennifer Lopez’ career developed following her portrayal of Selena in the biopic.

“I want to do (the course) right for a number of reasons,” Alemán said. “One, because (Selena) deserves it, right? And there are so many people who have a connection to her.”

As Alemán prepares for the launch of the inaugural Selena course, she added: “I’m going to dream about it. I’m going to think about it all the time and really hope that we do right by her with this class.”

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• Selena is the subject of new UTSA course this fall
• Ricardo Chavira talks ‘Selena’ Netflix series, portraying Abraham Quintanilla
• Bobby Pulido releases live concert album ‘En Vivo Desde Las Vegas’ featuring Roberto Pulido and Raulito Navaira
• Frankie J returns to his roots with new album ‘Canciones Que Recuerdo’
• Little Joe to release live concert album ‘Better Than Ever’ on May 29

This current worldwide pandemic has kept many of us at home over the past couple of months, but as businesses slowly reopen it may take a while before full concerts and live music events return to normal. Many Tejano artists have taken to social media during the pandemic to stream performances for fans from home including Shelly Lares with her Kind of But Not Really Jam Sessions on her YouTube channel.

The Tejano R.O.O.T.S. Hall of Famer tells Tejano Nation radio affiliate Magic 106.5 FM in Lubbock, Texas, she doesn’t plan to return to the stage anytime soon. “I know for us it’s going to be a little while because I’m not comfortable yet,” she said. “For me and speaking for my band, my guys too, they feel the same way, they’re like ‘we’re not there yet’.”

RELATED: Shelly Lares proud of ‘Pride’ merchandise

“Little Miss Dynamite” also shared details for new music. “I had planned on releasing a new single in April,” she said. “That was the whole plan, that was the whole goal and I got it done, but I’m really, really feeling adamant about having the video released with it at the same time…they need to be together because it’s such a great song and for it to make sense and for the fans to really appreciate what it’s about and where it came from, I really feel I got to wait and do the video.”

Lares plans to head back to the studio to finish up a full album. She also made her past albums available for sale at her official online store.

Listen to the full interview with Shelly Lares and Magic 106.5 FM

Like Tejano Nation on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud.

• Cindy Ramos showcases Conjunto roots with sophomore album ‘Inicios’
• ‘Película Vol. 1’ EP from Siggno debuts at top of iTunes Regional Mexican Albums chart
• Shelly Lares on returning to stage after pandemic, new music + more
• Selena is the subject of new UTSA course this fall
• Ricardo Chavira talks ‘Selena’ Netflix series, portraying Abraham Quintanilla

Grupo Siggno debuted on the top spot of the iTunes Regional Mexican Albums chart less than 24 hours after the release of the group’s Película Vol. 1 EP.

The Latin Grammy-winning group shared the news with a graphic of the chart’s Top 21 albums via social media.

The six song EP contains the hit songs “Yo Te Amo”, “#Hashtag”, and the latest single “Como Una Película”.

“If you don’t know what Pelicula means, it means movie, our movie, volume one,” Turner tells Tejano Nation radio affiliate Magic 106.5 FM in Lubbock, Texas during a recent interview. “We got to write those songs, we go to do those songs before this pandemic, before this COVID-19, and it stopped us from recording the next six songs. So, I said, you know what, let’s give people what they need which is music.”

Turner added that fans can expect another EP and full album over the next year from the Latin Grammy-winning group. “The next songs will probably be out in December and it will be Volume 2,” he said. “And then probably in March of the following year, 2021, it will be the full version, the full story, the full volume, the full album, the full movie complete with an additional four songs and it will be one complete album.”

According to the graphic, three other Tejano albums debuted in the Top 20 including the Freedom Tour live concert album from Joe Lopez at No. 5 and the live concert album Better Than Ever from music legend Little Joe at No. 6, with En Vivo Desde Las Vegas from Bobby Pulido at No. 19.

Like Tejano Nation on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud.

• Cindy Ramos showcases Conjunto roots with sophomore album ‘Inicios’
• ‘Película Vol. 1’ EP from Siggno debuts at top of iTunes Regional Mexican Albums chart
• Shelly Lares on returning to stage after pandemic, new music + more
• Selena is the subject of new UTSA course this fall
• Ricardo Chavira talks ‘Selena’ Netflix series, portraying Abraham Quintanilla

Cindy Ramos is an emerging artist in Conjunto since the release of her solo sophomore album Inicios in December and the former Inocencia singer is excited about this new album as it showcases her roots in Conjunto music.

The award-winning singer spoke to Tejano Nation about the album’s title. “I wanted to name it Inicios,” she said. “It’s really like the music that I grew up listening to. It’s my roots. A lot of the covers that we did in here are artists that I have been a big fan of. I admire them so much.”

The album’s lead single, “Toma Mi Corazoncito,” already earned Ramos a South Texas Conjunto Association award for Crossover Song of the Year in 2019.

The album was produced by Lorenzo “Papo” Banda, who created a unique sound for Ramos. “The sound he created is a little bit progressive Conjunto,” Ramos said. “It’s a little bit different than what everybody is listening to right now, but it’s Conjunto so it’s kind of like a new sound. I was very happy with what he did, what he created.”

Inicios from Cindy Ramos is available at all digital music platforms.

Cindy Ramos — Inicios

Like Tejano Nation on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud.

• Cindy Ramos showcases Conjunto roots with sophomore album ‘Inicios’
• ‘Película Vol. 1’ EP from Siggno debuts at top of iTunes Regional Mexican Albums chart
• Shelly Lares on returning to stage after pandemic, new music + more
• Selena is the subject of new UTSA course this fall
• Ricardo Chavira talks ‘Selena’ Netflix series, portraying Abraham Quintanilla

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Amidst the current pandemic and uncertain times, Mia Garcia, the youngest person to win a Tejano Music Award, has become a published author at the age of 12.  Mia released her brand new bilingual children’s book My Hero: Mi Héroe on June 1, 2020. 

The book was inspired by a poem she wrote in a sixth grade ELA class taught by Dani Brandimarte.

Brandimarte commented, “Wow!  That’s amazing!  I was flipping through the channels the other day and caught a glimpse of Mia on PBS.  She is definitely going places and Lamar is lucky to have her!  I remember her book (about your dad!)  Thanks for sharing with me.  I’ll take a tiny bit of credit.”

My Hero is Mia’s first published book and is targeted to children aged 5 to 10. Mia wrote the book inspired by her father when she was 11 years old.  In its pages, she talks about her relationship with her dad and his role in her life as she grows up.

The project is a labor of love for Mia, who collaborated with illustrator Arturo J. Quijano Hérnandez and Larissa Davila of BCO Consulting to make it a reality. 

The book was released just in time for Father’s Day, having a place in the book to dedicate to each child’s father. 

Mia’s debut EP, La Reina del Mundo, earned her a Tejano Music Award for “Best New Artist – Female” in 2018, and the young singer is no stranger to accolades. She has also been honored with the Texas State flag flown over the State Capitol on June 6, 2019, along with a proclamation from the Texas State Senate by Senator Kirk Watson. October 5, 2017, was proclaimed “Mia Garcia Day” in Austin, Texas by Mayor Steve Adler. Mia has also won nearly 200 other medals and awards in gymnastics and karate, as well as many scholastic honors.

Like Tejano Nation on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud.

• Award-winning young singer Mia Garcia releases bilingual children’s book
• Cindy Ramos showcases Conjunto roots with sophomore album ‘Inicios’
• ‘Película Vol. 1’ EP from Siggno debuts at top of iTunes Regional Mexican Albums chart
• Shelly Lares on returning to stage after pandemic, new music + more
• Selena is the subject of new UTSA course this fall

The newly-released cumbia, “Contigo,” from vocalist Sonja De La Paz offers a sweet, refreshing sound and is her first original release, but the longtime singer is definitely not a newcomer to the music scene.

De La Paz, who has sang since she was about 12 years old, currently performs with veteran Tejano vocalist Pete Astudillo and his band Tekno Mex. With her powerful voice, De La Paz performs many of the late Tejano icon Selena‘s hits. In addition, she and her husband, Diego Garcia, form a local cover band, The Bottom Line. As a teenager, De La Paz toured with Tejano band, Jesse Marroquin y Calidad.

De La Paz, originally from Corpus Christi, now lives in Laredo where she recorded “Contigo” in the couple’s home studio.

With the recent COVID-19 quarantine that forced Tekno Mex to cancel a March show at San Antonio’s Aztec Theatre and put an indefinite halt on touring, the opportunity presented itself to record the cumbia, which she and her husband co-wrote.

“We basically wanted to write about our personal experiences and things that we’ve actually been through and that we know other people have been through,” De La Paz said.

Garcia produced and played all of the instruments on “Contigo,” while De La Paz delivers a polished performance with an impressive range.

The vocalist, who sings a wide variety of genres from Tejano to rock and pop, describes “Contigo” as a fast, carefree cumbia.

“I consider it like a fun, summer song,” De La Paz said. “It’s just an upbeat dance, sing-in-your-car kind of song.”

“Especially if you’ve been in love, it’s a nice song to listen to,” she added.

De La Paz said future plans for her music could take the form of an EP, a full album or even a music video for “Contigo.” Whatever the case, more music, specifically cumbia, is on the way this summer.

“For sure, we should have at least five songs ready by the end of summer,” De La Paz said.

While De La Paz is not affiliated with a record label nor does she have a manager, her and her husband do have a lot of friends in the music industry as they begin their journey to produce original music. Astudillo and A.B. Quintanilla are among those close to De La Paz.

“Pete (Astudillo) is a really good friend of ours and just to have his support is awesome,” De La Paz said.

Quintanilla also supported De La Paz’ recent musical venture and she said he had always suggested she release original music. As a teenager, De La Paz won a radio singing contest and as a result, she performed with Quintanilla and his Kumbia Kings.

“(A.B. Quintanilla) even called me to congratulate us on the song,” De La Paz said. “My husband has worked with him also. He’s always told me, ‘You’ve got to get out there, do something, record something.’”

De La Paz said she never recorded original music before this release for a variety of reasons, including some self-doubt and apprehension along with the lack of record company backing, but now that her three children are getting older De La Paz and her husband decided the time was right.

“We feel like we’re not getting any younger so if we’re going to do this, we’ve got to do it now and just see where it goes,” De La Paz said. “Even if nothing comes out of this, at least we can say we gave it a shot. We’re willing and ready to take it on the road.”

Listen: Sonja De La Paz — “Contigo”

Listeners will hear a tropical, international feel to “Contigo” and De La Paz said the sound was intentional as she wants to attract younger listeners and spice up the traditional Tejano sound.

“I know a lot of people criticize Tejano and say ‘Tejano’s dead,’” De La Paz said. “It doesn’t have to be because all music evolves. What we want to do is kind of put a new, fresh spin on it because I know a lot of the younger generation, they don’t listen to Tejano or they feel like they don’t really connect with the older style…”

“We want the younger generation to enjoy this kind of music so that’s why we made it more fun and upbeat to catch their attention also,” she added.

“Contigo” will make listeners take note and people can visit De La Paz’s YouTube channel and her Facebook page to learn more about the artist. She can also be seen on YouTube in Tekno Mex live performances for new fans who want to hear more of her talented, skilled vocals.

De La Paz thanked fans in advance for listening to her new single and learning more about her. She hopes “Contigo” is only the start of her bringing original music to audiences.

“There’s so much talent and things like that that they could be giving their attention to so I just hope that they like the music and appreciate the spin on the new cumbia just to make it a little fresh,” De La Paz said. “Thanks for listening and I really hope that they like it. I hope that we’re able to put more music out for them so that they can enjoy in the future.”

Like Tejano Nation on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud.

• Jr. Aldaco and the Midwest Allstars release “Nomas Contigo” from upcoming debut album
• Vault Studios to host online discussion about Selena true-crime podcast
• Tekno Mex singer Sonja De La Paz drops impressive solo debut ‘Contigo’
• Award-winning young singer Mia Garcia releases bilingual children’s book
• Cindy Ramos showcases Conjunto roots with sophomore album ‘Inicios’

Vault Studios, TEGNA’s premier digital content studio focused on true-crime storytelling, will host an online Questions and Answers session about their latest project Selena: A Star Dies In Texas, a six-episode podcast that chronicles the incredible life, senseless murder, and enduring legacy of bicultural icon Selena.

Join Jessica Noll from the True Crimes Chronicles team and Cat Cardenas from Texas Monthly on Reddit, Wednesday, June 3, at 12:00 p.m. CT for a live Q&A about the podcast. They have been diving deep into the life, legacy, and tragic death of Selena.

The Tejano superstar’s meteoric rise and tragic death left millions of fans heartbroken.

“It’s this incredible story of a superstar just on the brink of international stardom,” said Noll in promoting the project. “She was about to release her English crossover album and then she was shot and killed by someone who claims to be her best friend and who was her fan club president. We’re going to explore the lives of these two women and ultimately the fatal ending to it — to their relationship as well.”

With access to an extraordinary archive of rare and never-before-heard audio from TEGNA’s network of TV newsrooms across Texas, VAULT Studios, the network behind Bardstown and The Officer’s Wife captures the entire story of a superstar, a superfan, and the shocking murder that ended the life of a bright young star.

You’ll be able to find the Q&A at https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrime/.

Like Tejano Nation on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud.

• Jr. Aldaco and the Midwest Allstars release “Nomas Contigo” from upcoming debut album
• Vault Studios to host online discussion about Selena true-crime podcast
• Tekno Mex singer Sonja De La Paz drops impressive solo debut ‘Contigo’
• Award-winning young singer Mia Garcia releases bilingual children’s book
• Cindy Ramos showcases Conjunto roots with sophomore album ‘Inicios’

Jr. Aldaco and the Midwest Allstars, a Tejano group founded in Lansing, Michigan, currently helmed by Carlos Aldaco and his father Jr. Aldaco, have released the latest single from their upcoming debut album.

In the 1960s, Juve Aldaco began the family band known as “Grupo Aldaco” that continued until 2010 when the family band was renamed to its current brand by Carlos Aldaco in 2018. Carlos continues the musical legacy of his grandfather, Juve Aldaco, who sacrificed blood, sweat, and tears to get the band recognition while taking pride in their heritage, struggles, and triumphs of the musical journey.

The current group has been working hard in the studio on their highly-anticipated debut album 3rd Generation and just-released second single “Nomas Contigo.” The song itself expresses passion and tells the story of a well-known love once held onto, but left only to depart reminiscing and craving for her to return and console his pain, staying hopeful that it would be similar to it had been to the sole woman that no other could compare to through the vocals.

RELATED: Carlos Aldaco of Jr. Aldaco & Midwest Allstars talks new single + more [AUDIO]

“I feel as if it’s going to be a wonderful song for the fans to dance too.” Carlos Aldaco told Tejano Nation.

The successful single is getting tremendous radio play and has fans excited and waiting for more songs to come to reminisce over and relate to.

“If everyone enjoys it from the beginning we’re doing our part as musicians,” Carlos added.

The album 3rd Generation will contain different styles of music such as Rancheras, Cumbias, and Merengue, all originals written by Juve Aldaco and Ernie Aldaco, uncle of Carlos Aldaco, and songwriter for the group until his recent passing. 

“My main goal for an album is to make sure we are doing songs that will get people up dancing and for each song to be catchy and mean something. Carlos Aldaco told Tejano Nation. “When my uncle would write a song it always had meaning to it. It’s like he was telling his life story through his music and that’s one thing we will carry on.”

After their album is finished and released, the group plans to go on tour and play their music for their fans proudly representing the history and development of the band over the years.

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• Jr. Aldaco and the Midwest Allstars release “Nomas Contigo” from upcoming debut album
• Vault Studios to host online discussion about Selena true-crime podcast
• Tekno Mex singer Sonja De La Paz drops impressive solo debut ‘Contigo’
• Award-winning young singer Mia Garcia releases bilingual children’s book
• Cindy Ramos showcases Conjunto roots with sophomore album ‘Inicios’

Michael Salgado, Jr., the son of Grammy winner Michael Salgado, was arrested on Thursday (June 4) in San Antonio and charged with strangulation of a family member, a third-degree felony.

KSAT.com reports the 27-year-old was taken into custody around 11 a.m. Thursday after investigators said he lifted up his girlfriend by the neck and choked her against a refrigerator on Monday. He is accused of attacking the woman, who is also the mother of his child, after accusing her of infidelity, according to a warrant for Salgado’s arrest.

The woman told police that Salgado demanded to see her cellphone, and after she refused, he pulled her by the hair, knocked her to the floor, and then lifted her up by her neck and impeded her breathing while holding her against a refrigerator.

Salgado smashed her cellphone, but she was able to activate another phone and call police as she and the child escaped the home, the warrant states.

He was released from jail on a $20,000 bond, according to jail records.

Like Tejano Nation on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud.

• Michael Salgado, Jr. arrested, accused of assault on girlfriend
• Jr. Aldaco and the Midwest Allstars release “Nomas Contigo” from upcoming debut album
• Vault Studios to host online discussion about Selena true-crime podcast
• Tekno Mex singer Sonja De La Paz drops impressive solo debut ‘Contigo’
• Award-winning young singer Mia Garcia releases bilingual children’s book

Grupo Mettal released “Capullo de Rosas”, the latest single from the group’s most recent album La Introduccion.

The Cotulla, Texas-based band had success with their previous single “En Tus Brazos,” which was a Tejano cover of 2008 hit song of “In My Arms Instead” from Texas Country artist Randy Rogers Band.

“Capullo De Rosas” contains the aggressive powerhouse sound that Mettal has established and will definitely become a fan favorite.

Mettal is currently in the studio recording their second album under the band’s new record label Discos Solcar set for release this fall.

“Capullo de Rosas” and the full album La Introduccion is available at all digital music platforms.

LISTEN: Mettal — “Capullo de Rosas”

Like Tejano Nation on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud.

• ‘Capullo de Rosas’ is latest single from Grupo Mettal [AUDIO]
• Michael Salgado, Jr. arrested, accused of assault on girlfriend
• Jr. Aldaco and the Midwest Allstars release “Nomas Contigo” from upcoming debut album
• Vault Studios to host online discussion about Selena true-crime podcast
• Tekno Mex singer Sonja De La Paz drops impressive solo debut ‘Contigo’

“Se Esta Muriendo Mi Corazón” is the latest single from Liz Garcia and fourth track from her highly-anticipated new album, Una Estrella, that is currently delayed but plans to be released in mid-2020.

The emotional bolero addresses a woman’s love that goes unappreciated by her significant other begging for him to have mercy on her heart since she has grown weak suffering tremendous pain. 

In the song, she claims that he will soon pay the price for his wrongdoings. 

As Garcia sings, the raw vulnerability can easily be displayed in this melody and captures the true emotion one feels when experiencing heartbreak.  

“I love that the song is exactly how I wanted it,” Garcia tells Tejano Nation. “It’s different and inspired by the many scenarios and real-life situations with friends or people I know.”

This song exhibits all that is to come on the Una Estrella album and what her artistry represents. 

The singer and songwriter is very passionate about making each song fit her unique style while relating to fans. 

“I was able to put some feeling into this song so people can relate to it,” Garcia said. “I used personal experiences on some of the new songs coming up on the album, you will get to hear it on my next single coming soon titled ‘Ya Es Muy Tarde’ but that is further down the year”.

She describes her album to have a more mature approach and obvious growth for fans to enjoy and more catchy tunes. 

“I appreciate all my fans and those who believe in my vision,” she said.

“Se Esta Muriendo Mi Corazón” will be available at all digital music platforms soon.

Like Tejano Nation on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud.

• Liz Garcia drops new single ‘Se Esta Muriendo Mi Corazón’ from upcoming album
• ‘Capullo de Rosas’ is latest single from Grupo Mettal [AUDIO]
• Michael Salgado, Jr. arrested, accused of assault on girlfriend
• Jr. Aldaco and the Midwest Allstars release “Nomas Contigo” from upcoming debut album
• Vault Studios to host online discussion about Selena true-crime podcast

Joining pop culture icons like Madonna and Beyoncé, Tejano music legend Selena Quintanilla will be the subject of a first-of-its-kind course this coming fall at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Students will study various aspects of Selena, the undisputed queen of Tejano music, in the class created by Sonya M. Alemán, Ph.D., an associate professor of Mexican American Studies in the university’s Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department. The course is titled, “Selena: A Mexican American Identity and Experience.”

Alemán, a native of Cotulla, a community south of San Antonio, brings a unique and insightful mix of personal experiences and scholarly interest in Selena that make her background ideal as the first professor to teach a collegiate course in Texas about Selena.

In addition to seeing several of Selena’s performances, Alemán spent 11 years in Salt Lake City at the University of Utah, as a student and then, professor, where she experienced firsthand just how little mainstream America knew about the Mexican-American culture. Beyond the personal, Alemán has a passionate scholarly interest in how Selena’s life and career help articulate a deeper understanding of the Mexican-American perspective in Texas and beyond.

“Selena was my contemporary as a young adult,” Alemán said. “We were approximately the same age as she came into the peak of her career so I grew up in the height of the Tejano music industry.”

RELATED: Evidence from Selena murder trial revealed by prosecutor for first time in 23 years [VIDEO]

For Alemán, Selena and her career provide the perfect vehicle for an exploration of what it means to be a Mexican American and to straddle the borders of two cultures and all that entails.

“It doesn’t seem odd that we could sing an entire song in Spanish and maybe not know all the words but appreciate it, love it and then turn to our friend and have an entire conversation in English,” Alemán said. “I just think that’s a beautiful thing and (Selena) personified that. So I think there are rich, untapped opportunities to ask questions why, to better understand, and to not feel ashamed of that legacy.”

Eventually, Alemán hopes the course is one that could be taught by other professors in the department and sees the course evolving as there are so many aspects of Selena that warrant deeper study. A top priority, however, is to engage students and highlight the importance of the Mexican American culture.

“It’s a way to get students to realize that there’s beauty, value and knowledge from being Mexican American in this part of the world,” Alemán said. “There’s a history attached to it.”

Throughout her adult life, Alemán said she always related to Selena as they both dealt with crossing borders and barriers as Latinas.

“I kind of always carried her story as part of mine in terms of growing up, my memories of being a young adult, and being a Chicana,” Alemán said.

The idea of a course about Selena was not just a recent decision but one that Alemán has thought about and planned for over a span of years.

“Even when I was a professor in Salt Lake City at a predominately white campus with predominately white students, I thought wouldn’t it be so awesome to do a course that would center on (Selena’s) experience and that used her experience as a springboard to talk about what (Mexican-American) identity is like,” Alemán said.

While in Salt Lake City, Alemán remembers that for the first time in her life, she was the only Latina in her class and recalls how it “became clear to me how little people understood somebody like me.” As a South Texas native who earned her bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and her master’s at the University of Texas at Austin, living in Utah was an eye-opener for Alemán.

She recalls questions about her language skills, such as how she managed to speak English so well and do so without an accent and says she felt shocked by the reality that mainstream America did not understand or know about the Mexican American culture.

“The community had no idea of what was like to be somebody like me and that there was another reality besides what you saw on television about who a Latina was or who a Chicana was,” Alemán said.

RELATED: ‘Selena: A Star Dies In Texas’ true-crime podcast chronicles life, murder and legacy

Alemán also recognizes how Selena’s story remains relevant even for younger generations who weren’t even born when Selena was alive.

“Something about her resonates with them so that’s what I want the course to try to explore as well because I do think that there are specific reasons for that that has to do with how little we see that image of ourselves,” Alemán said. “Chicanas in this part of the world and Tejanas in this part of the world celebrated and on a stage in that way that has a celebrity kind of status just doesn’t happen.”

To Alemán, if people think about Selena’s life as just a tragic one because she didn’t live to achieve her full crossover potential only overshadows all that Selena did accomplish in her brief life.

“That’s such a disservice to her actual career because she crossed borders all the time,” Alemán said. “She was a woman in a male-dominated industry. She took Tejano music outside of Texas and the U.S., internationally, which very few had done before her. And she did so as a non-native Spanish speaker so she had to overcome that barrier of being accepted in Spanish-speaking communities and countries who often looked down at those who have Latino heritage but aren’t fluent in the language. She had to do all of those things.”

Alemán said some of the specific topics that the course will explore include her music, language, Selena’s image and how it’s used, Selena’s body type and shape, and even a look into how superstar Jennifer Lopez’ career developed following her portrayal of Selena in the biopic.

“I want to do (the course) right for a number of reasons,” Alemán said. “One, because (Selena) deserves it, right? And there are so many people who have a connection to her.”

As Alemán prepares for the launch of the inaugural Selena course, she added: “I’m going to dream about it. I’m going to think about it all the time and really hope that we do right by her with this class.”

Like Tejano Nation on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud.

• Liz Garcia drops new single ‘Se Esta Muriendo Mi Corazón’ from upcoming album
• ‘Capullo de Rosas’ is latest single from Grupo Mettal [AUDIO]
• Jr. Aldaco and the Midwest Allstars release “Nomas Contigo” from upcoming debut album
• Vault Studios to host online discussion about Selena true-crime podcast
• Tekno Mex singer Sonja De La Paz drops impressive solo debut ‘Contigo’

Michael Salgado shared his latest music in an EP titled MMXX, released on May 22, 2020.

The project features seven tracks from the two-time Latin Grammy winner, including the hit songs “Si Tu Me Dejaras”, “Esa Chica Me Trae”, “Me Llaman Soñador”, along with the latest release “Vente Ya”, and a country bonus “Honky Tonk Education”.

“This album is to help shed a piece of light on my fans that are here like all of us going through this difficult time together,” Salgado tells Tejano Nation. “The music is a sign of hope, a sign of happiness, not even to just my fans but to me not being on the road and doing what I love to do for my fans and my followers.”

RELATED: Michael Salgado added to cast of ‘On American Soil’ film

“El Zurdo de Oro” is working on tour dates for the rest of 2020 and plans for a live performance to be streamed on the official Michael Salgado Facebook page on June 20, 2020.

MMXX is available now at all digital music platforms and is the follow-up to the Latin Grammy-nominated album Otras Historias released in 2017. Salgado won a Latin Grammy award for Best Tejano Album in 2016 for Por Cielo Y Tierra and a Latin Grammy for Best Norteño Album with En Vivo in 2007.

LISTEN: Michael Salgado – MMXX

Like Tejano Nation on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud.

• ‘MMXX’ album from Michael Salgado is a ‘sign of hope, happiness’ for 2020
• Liz Garcia drops new single ‘Se Esta Muriendo Mi Corazón’ from upcoming album
• ‘Capullo de Rosas’ is latest single from Grupo Mettal [AUDIO]
• Jr. Aldaco and the Midwest Allstars release “Nomas Contigo” from upcoming debut album
• Vault Studios to host online discussion about Selena true-crime podcast

Payne Arena is the site and Grupo Solido is the artist for the next drive-in concert June 20 in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley for Tejano Norteño music fans.

Following the success of Intocable’s two drive-in concerts in Poteet and Hidalgo on June 6 and 7, respectively, Grupo Solido will perform Saturday, June 20, 2020, at Payne Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, which is the spot where Intocable held their sold-out concert.

Tickets range from $80 for spots in Section 2, $100 for Section 1 seats and $140 for the first two rows, with each ticket admitting a carload of four passengers.

Visit driveinrgv.com for tickets and more information.

Like Tejano Nation on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud.

• Solido drive-in concert set for June 20 in RGV
• ‘MMXX’ album from Michael Salgado is a ‘sign of hope, happiness’ for 2020
• Liz Garcia drops new single ‘Se Esta Muriendo Mi Corazón’ from upcoming album
• ‘Capullo de Rosas’ is latest single from Grupo Mettal [AUDIO]
• Jr. Aldaco and the Midwest Allstars release “Nomas Contigo” from upcoming debut album

Tejano newcomer Erika Renée released her second single “No Te Preocupes” as she readies her debut album.

The singer and songwriter wrote the original song that was co-produced by Brandon Ortiz and Eric “E-Rock” Avalos at The Music Vault in Seguin, Texas. “No Te Preocupes” features backup vocals by Ilyssa Saenz and musicians Anthony De La Garza and Joey Trevino with mix and mastering by Ramiro Serna.

“Brandon did an amazing job coming up with the arrangements for the song,” Erika Renée tells Tejano Nation. “I was trying to find somebody to do something different for it and I gave him the challenge and he did an amazing job with the sound.”

The U.S. Army veteran is working on her debut album with plans to release it before the end of the year featuring 10 original songs.

“No Te Preocupes” from Erika Renée is the follow-up to her debut single, “Tu Chapparita,” and both are available now at all major digital music platforms.

Learn more about Erika Renée at her official Facebook page, Erika Renée Official.

LISTEN: Erika Renée — “No Te Preocupes”

Like Tejano Nation on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud.

• Neto Gutierrez releases ‘Es Cierto’ from solo debut album [AUDIO]
• Erika Renée drops second single ‘No Te Preocupes’ [AUDIO]
• Solido drive-in concert set for June 20 in RGV
• ‘MMXX’ album from Michael Salgado is a ‘sign of hope, happiness’ for 2020
• Liz Garcia drops new single ‘Se Esta Muriendo Mi Corazón’ from upcoming album

Neto Gutierrez has released “Es Cierto”, the latest single from his solo debut album Otra Carretera.

The singer and songwriter shared details on the track with Tejano Nation. “It’s basically about an ex,” he said. “You’re talking to an ex and you’re telling them ‘Hey, you broke my heart, I don’t hold it against you because I’m better off now and I found true love, something I never had with you’.”

“The whole song is pretty much telling your ex, whatever they told you, it’s true,” he added. “They saw me somewhere happy, it’s true. It’s very true!”

Gutierrez once again teamed with producer Eddie Perez of La Calma for the latest original single from the former lead vocalist of Tejano Highway 281.

“Es Cierto” from Neto Gutierrez along with his solo debut album, Otra Carretera, is available at all digital music platforms.

LISTEN: Neto Gutierrez — “Es Cierto”

Like Tejano Nation on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud.

• Neto Gutierrez releases ‘Es Cierto’ from solo debut album [AUDIO]
• Erika Renée drops second single ‘No Te Preocupes’ [AUDIO]
• Solido drive-in concert set for June 20 in RGV
• ‘MMXX’ album from Michael Salgado is a ‘sign of hope, happiness’ for 2020
• Liz Garcia drops new single ‘Se Esta Muriendo Mi Corazón’ from upcoming album

The second annual Jimmy G Music Festival celebrating the life and music of late Tejano icon Jimmy Gonzalez has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and in an abundance of caution for the safety of Jimmy G fans, fellow artists, and our beloved community, the second annual Jimmy G Music Festival set to take place at the end of the month has been cancelled,” said a statement via the Forever Jimmy G Facebook page on June 10.

The event was originally scheduled for June 27 at Dean Porter Park in Brownsville, Texas, the hometown of Jimmy Gonzalez.

“Please know that we continue planning future opportunities to share his legacy,” the statement added. “We are also grateful to the many entertainers, friends, sponsors, and loyal supporters of our vision for this event, which is influenced by the life of late Tejano music icon Jimmy Gonzalez endeavoring to promote live musical entertainment and especially that of Tejano/Conjunto music in the hopes of maintaining its longevity for future generations.”

Gonzalez was a pioneer, a legend and a multiple Grammy Award winner that achieved international acclaim as co-founder of one of the most successful Tejano groups ever, Mazz. He died of cardiac arrest in June 2018 at the age of 67.

Like Tejano Nation on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud.

• Destiny Navaira covers ‘Pienso En Ti’ to honor uncle’s legacy in her unique style
• Solido drive-in concert set for June 20 in RGV off indefinitely
• Neto Gutierrez releases ‘Es Cierto’ from solo debut album [AUDIO]
• Erika Renée drops second single ‘No Te Preocupes’ [AUDIO]
• Solido drive-in concert set for June 20 in RGV postponed