Conjunto awards to be held Sunday

PHARR - Conjunto could have gone extinct nearly a decade ago.

Back then, support for the musical genre born and bred in our area was on the wane, and even die-hard fans were convinced it was a goner.
But not Lupe Saenz.

The president of the South Texas Conjunto Association recalls the countless days and nights he and his fellow conjunto aficionados worked to keep the genre alive. On the eve of the nonprofit organization's 10th anniversary, Saenz knows they weren't spent in vain.

Conjunto is to us what jazz is to New Orleans, he said - a survivor. And it's back with a vengeance.

The association boasts a highly watched show that airs every Saturday afternoon and a radio show on Saturday morning. Its influence stretches as far as France, the Netherlands and Germany.

"We've been insistent on having our music played any which way we can," he said.

The style still continues to produce new acts, many of whom are the offspring of legendary conjunto figures - like top nominee Ricky Naranjo, son of the late Ruben Naranjo.

Ricky Naranjo y Los Gamblers will join more than a dozen groups on stage during set to perform Sunday during the association's annual awards show at the Pharr International Convention Center including Da Krazy Pimps and Gilberto Perez y Sus Compadres.

"Some of the younger generations decided to continue with what their parents did," said Polo Trejo, STCA secretary. "But people out there know about conjunto because we have it on the air. Our biggest challenge is radio stations in the Rio Grande Valley still refusing to play conjunto or Tejano music. I think we're doing a good job even if we have to look elsewhere to listen for Texas music. Plenty of kids know about conjunto outside of the Valley."
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The 10TH ANNUAL CONJUNTO OF THE YEAR AWARDS will be hald Sunday at the Pharr Convention Center. Tickets cost $10 at the door. For more information, call 956-454-2207 or visit www.conjunto.org

PRE AWARDS DANCE (with Robert Riojas and others) from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday at Big Al's Patio Night Club/La Cocina Café, Alamo. Tickets cost $10 at the door.

NOMINEES
This year's Conjunto of the Year nominees are:
* Ricardo Guzman y Sus Nuevos 3 Aces (Edinburg)
* Ricky Naranjo y Los Gamblers (Alice)
* Los D Boyz (Kingsville)
* Jimmy Lee y Tentazion (Beeville)
* Los Cuatro Aces (Houston)
* Chano Cadena y Su Conjunto (Alice)
* Alredo De La Rosa y Su Conjunto (Riviera)

Conjunto Accordionist of the Year nominees:
* David Flores-Los Tremendos Alacranes (Corpus Christi)
* Arturo Espinoza-Los Cuatro Aces (Houston)
* Ricky De La Rosa-Los D Boyz (Kingsville)
* Michael Guerra-Tex Mex Experience
* Sunny Sauceda (San Antonio)
* Rene Rodriguez-Los Chucos de Zaz y Zaz (Corpus Christi)
* Felix Cavazos-Conjunto Express (Monte Alto)
* Oziel Garza Jr.-Cuatro Rosas (Falcon Heights)

Conjunto Vocalist of the Year nominees:
* Briana Rocha
* Rudy De La Rosa
* Robert Luna
* Andy Saenz
* Sara Fonseca
* Antonio Saenz