Flaco Jimenez, Conjunto Music Master And Six-time Grammy Winner, Dies At 86

SAN ANTONIO — Flaco Jimenez, a six-time Grammy victor who took his conjunto accordion musicianship to nan nationalist and worldwide stages pinch countless superstar musicians and bands, has died, his family announced. He was 86.

The San Antonio euphony gem, whose first sanction is Leonardo but who was amended known by his nickname, Flaco (which intends Skinny), continued nan euphony contented handed down by his begetter and shared pinch his siblings. He built a bequest that honored nan Texas-Mexican euphony contented centered connected nan trills of his three-row accordion and gave it modern twists.

"It is pinch awesome sadness that we stock coming nan nonaccomplishment of our father, Flaco Jimenez," his family said successful a societal media post Thursday. "He was surrounded by his loved ones and will beryllium missed immensely."

Flaco Jimenez pinch nan Texas Tornados successful Berwyn, Ill., successful 1990. Paul Natkin / Getty Images file

Jimenez, a San Antonio native, was possibly astir popularly known arsenic a personnel of nan Texas Tornados, which gained fame pinch its deed opus "(Hey Baby) Que Pasó." The set besides included Doug Sahm, Freddy Fender and Augie Meyers, besides Texas musicians.

But good earlier that occurrence and after, he was making hits, breaking barriers and widening nan liking successful the sound of conjunto music beyond South Texas. Beyond nan greats of nan Texas Tornados, he collaborated pinch The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Dwight Yokum, Carlos Santana, Los Lobos, Joe Ely, Willie Nelson and Linda Ronstadt, to sanction a few. He performed pinch various bands, from Leonardo Jiménez y sus Caporales to Los Super Seven and played alongside others specified arsenic Los Texmaniacs.

He had learned from his father, Santiago Jimenez. Though he doesn't bask arsenic overmuch fame, his brother Santiago Jimenez, Jr., besides carries connected nan tradition.

Flaco Jimenez speaks onstage during 2015 Grammy Awards successful Los Angeles, Calif.Frazer Harrison / WireImage / Getty Images

His decades of activity were honored pinch aggregate awards, including life accomplishment awards from nan Grammys, Billboard and nan Tejano Music Awards.

He was fixed nan National Medal of Arts by President Joe Biden successful 2022, but could not be nan ceremonial because of illness.

His 1992 "Partners" album, featuring him successful respective collaborations pinch different well-known euphony stars was entered into nan National Recording Registry of nan Library of Congress successful 2021.

“People utilized to respect my euphony arsenic cantina music, conscionable nary respect,” he said successful an question and reply pinch nan Library of Congress astatine nan time. “The accordion was considered thing for illustration a statement joke ... I really springiness respect to everyone who helped maine retired connected this grounds and I’m flattered by this recognition.”

Hohner, nan accordion marque he preferred saluted his bequest successful a posting, calling him a "Global Ambassador for Tex-Mex conjunto music."

In 2012, nan federation recognized nan taste preservation achieved by his euphony arsenic good arsenic his trailblazing activity pinch a National Heritage Fellowship awarded by nan National Endowment for nan Arts, nan nation’s highest grant for people and accepted arts.

Jimenez remained adjacent to his roots. He performed annually — though not this twelvemonth because of unwellness — astatine nan Tejano Conjunto Music Festival successful San Antonio, held astatine a San Antonio metropolis parkland connected its westbound side, wherever he grew up. The show featured up and coming and established Tejano and conjunto players, including respective accordionists and is simply a fundraiser for nan section Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. The halfway posted condolences connected societal media and noted his contributions to nan center.