The Texas Radio Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2023, which includes Tejano radio pioneer Manuel Davila, Sr. Davila, who passed away in 1997, was the founder and owner of KEDA-AM in San Antonio, the first Tejano music station in the country. He will be honored along with 19 other radio professionals at a ceremony on November 4 at the Texas Museum of Broadcasting and Communications in Kilgore, Texas.
Davila was born in San Antonio in 1913 and became involved in radio as a teenager. In 1928, he and his brother José began broadcasting in Spanish by buying one-hour slots on English-language stations. They faced discrimination from both Anglos and Hispanics who did not accept Mexican American broadcasters or music. Davila persevered and worked in various radio stations until 1961 when he decided to buy his own station.
After a five-year legal battle, he launched KEDA-AM in 1966, nicknamed “Radio Jalapeño” and later “La Tejanita”. The station played Tex-Mex music, featuring local bands and artists such as Santiago Jiménez, Sr., Narciso Martínez, Selena, Emilio, and Los Aguilares.
Davila also expanded his “Jalapeño Network” by adding three more Spanish stations in Corpus Christi, playing different genres such as Christian, classic rock, and international music.
Davila’s vision and passion for Tejano music helped shape the cultural identity and musical heritage of South Texas. He gave voice and opportunity to many musicians who would otherwise be ignored by the mainstream media. He also created a loyal and diverse audience that appreciated his authentic and family-oriented approach to radio.
Davila’s legacy lives on through his family, who continued to operate KEDA until 2011 when it was sold to Claro Communications. The station remains on the air today, still playing Tejano music and serving the community. Davila has also received posthumous recognition from various organizations and institutions for his contributions to radio and music. He was inducted into the Conjunto Music Hall of Fame in 1997, the Tejano Conjunto Festival Hall of Fame in 1997, the Pura Vida Music Awards Radio Pioneer Award in 1998, the Tejano R.O.O.T.S. Hall of Fame in 2008, and the Texas Conjunto Hall of Fame in 2015.
The Texas Radio Hall of Fame was founded in 2002 to honor the men and women who have made significant contributions to the radio industry in Texas. The Class of 2023 includes other notable names such as Walt “Baby” Love, Mark Landis, Patti Diaz, Smokey Rivers, and Rudy Fernandez. The induction ceremony will be open to the public and tickets will be available online at www.trhof.net.
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