✿American Roots: Musica Tejano✿

How many people know what Tejano music is? Has there been anyone who has ventured in this music genre? Perhaps Tejano music isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the genre does have rich history. Tejano, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is a Texan of Hispanic descent” (Merriam-Webster). Though this is looking at it through the terms of actual people. What does Tejano mean in the terms of music and why is it considered an American root genre?

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Mosty of the time when people think of Texas, they think of cowboy boots and hats, horses, and rodeos. At least that’s what I think of. So, how does all of this impact music? Masterclass, a website dedicated to diverse musical representation, considers Tejano music as “rich blend of traditional music from Mexico and popular sounds from the United States” (Masterclass). This is how Tejano music mixes and is an American root genre. Mexican music and American, specifically Texan, music merged, cultural amalgamation if you will.

There are several instruments that play a huge part in Tejano music, most of which are pretty easy to guess if you put Mexico and Texas together. Masterclass states that Tejano music consisted of accordion, bajo sexto, and drums” (Masterclass). Of course, since Tejano music rooted out to different genres under Tejano, several other instruments were incorporated. Rock Tejano introduced electric guitars, keyboards, drums, and the bass to this genre.

Tejano music started in the 1900s and mainly by Latinos and Latin American up and coming artists. It was derived from the norteño music genre, which is music created in the northern part of Mexico. Tejano music also cam from music conjunto, which helped Tejano music create its cumbia, country, and sometimes even rock sounds and instrumentals. Conjunto music was also most popular during the 1940s and 1950s. Many people would mistake it for mariachi music, but according to Britannica, a website with reliable information covering several subjects, it was considered “… as more déclassé” (Britannica). Déclassé basically means being less than or of lower status.

(Mariachi)

(Conjunto)

Tejano music also created the rise of Banda music, which was based on Mexican music. Banda was most popular during the 1970s. Banda originated in Sinaloa and was heavily accordion based (LiveAbout). This type of music also incorporated cumbia sounds, which was the primary foundation of all Tejano music.

Tejano music also was influenced by corrido music, which was music with lyrics that are story-telling (Cowboys Indians). Since this is considered an American root music genre, what about Tejano music make it American? Of course, Tejano music mainly came from Texas. Mexican and Mexican-American people created this genre which, according to Masterclass, was also influenced by American songwriting styles like rock, blues, soul, and country” (Masterclass). When you listen to Tejano music, you can pinpoint and pick out several aspects to how those styles were incorporated. Disco and hip-hop styles were also added into Tejano music.

Several artists debuted under the Tejano music genre like the group La Onda, which create a craze and was a crucial aspect that helped begin the Chicano culture in America. According to Panoramas, a scholarly website, stated that“… Cumbia has been adopted into Mexican national culture”(Panoramas). Since Mexican culture migrated to the United states, it also took its music with it hence the creation of Tejano music and the birth of Chicano culture, which thrived off of cumbia.

There are several notable artists from this genre. One group was called Little Joe & the Latinaires, which later went by La Familia, Emilio Navaira, Jennifer Peña, La Mafia, Mazz, The Texas Tornados, and most notable, well known, and my personal favorite, Selena Quintanilla.

Another part that branched out straight from Tejano music was Grupo music. This was more correlated to Selena Quintanilla, who was known as the queen of Tejano music. Selena went through a lot of struggles as she was a women making Tejano music. As she started making music, many people belittled her saying she wouldn’t make it far because she was female. She definitely proved them wrong as she rose to stardom and won a Grammy. Many of her Tejano songs were cumbia based like Baila Esta Cumbia. Some her songs even incorporated rock like Techno Cumbia. She was able to explore these different styles withing the Tejano genre and made it work. Not everyone was able to pull this off.

(Sadly, these were both videos from her final concert before she passed away. The president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar, shot her and is currently serving her sentence. She will be able to go on parole in 2025. It's on sight when I see her.)

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Agren, et al. “Exploring Chicano Identity and Music.” Panoramas, 28 Jan. 2021, https://www.panoramas.pitt.edu/art-and-culture/exploring-chicano-identity-and-music.

Ilich, Tijana. “Mexico's Best Music: Discover Tejano, Norteno, Banda, and More.” LiveAbout, LiveAbout, 23 Dec. 2018, https://www.liveabout.com/mexican-popular-music-tejano-norteno-banda-2141529.

Patoski, Joe Nick. “A Timeline of Tejano Music - C&I Magazine.” Cowboys and Indians Magazine, 17 May 2021, https://www.cowboysindians.com/2020/03/timeline-of-tejano-music/.

“Soca.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/art/soca-music.

“Tejano Definition & Meaning.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Tejano.

“Tejano Music History: 4 Characteristics of Tejano Music - 2022.” MasterClass, https://www.masterclass.com/articles/tejano-music-guide#6-notable-tejano-musicians.