After battling an unspecified "long illness," Leonardo "Flaco" Jiménez Sr. passed away on July 31 at the age of 86. An avid performer and Grammy award-winner, he not only collaborated with successful artists like Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones, but he also brought the traditions of Hispanic music to a broader audience in a way that no one had done before. Here is his legacy.
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Flaco was born on March 11, 1939, in San Antonio, Texas, to his mother and father, a musician who also went by the name "Flaco." The singer came from a long line of musicians, including his father, who was a pioneer of conjunto music, and his grandfather, who introduced young Flaco to music as a child. By the age of seven, the boy was already playing the 12-string Mexican guitar, but his attention shifted to the accordion when he became inspired by artists like Clifton Chenier.
As he became increasingly known as the "Tex-Mex accordion master," Flaco started gaining a lot of attention from other artists in the 80s and 90s. He became the go-to session musician for his sound at the time, and worked with artists like Bob Dylan, Dwight Yoakam, and The Rolling Stones.
He eventually became influential across a wide variety of genres, bringing his "happy" accordion sound to blues, rock, and country. For those who weren't aware of the style of music before, his accordion playing introduced many people to conjunto music worldwide, and it became a trademark for him.
Flaco Was More Than Just A Musician
Josh Baca, another accordionist from San Antonio, put his legacy best. "When you would turn on the radio, you know, oh man, that's Flaco! You know it's him playing the accordion." As Kyle Young of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum said, "Flaco drew millions of listeners into a rich musical world they might not have discovered on their own." His accordian, the Jiménez's Hohner Corona II, is currently on display for all to see at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Aside from creating a reputation for himself as the "heavyweight champion of conjunto," Flaco went on to win multiple Grammy awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. Although he is often recognized for his musical talent and a career that spanned over 70 years, his "open heart" is what those closest to him remember him for.
Just recently, the musician's family shared an update on
social media. "It is with great sadness that we share tonight the loss of our father, Flaco Jiménez," the Facebook post reads. "He was surrounded by his loved ones and will be missed immensely. Thank you to all of his fans and friends — those who cherished his music. And a big thank you for all of the memories. His legacy will live on through his music and all of his fans. The family requests privacy during this time of sadness and grievance."Photo By: Frans Schellekens/Redferns
