LOS TEXMANIACS ROAR INTO HORSESHOE BAY

(published in the local newspaper as part of my publicity duties as a Cultural Enrichment Society board member)

When the musical group Los Texmaniacs came roaring to life in Horseshoe Bay at Quail Point's lakeside on Saturday night, the audience didn't know what hit them.  Many of the over 150 attendees had never heard conjunto Tejano music but were soon enchanted by one of the country's best Tex-Mex bands. The band's blend of Tex-Mex, Czech, and German with bits of Americana added is a niche that is unparalleled and has earned them Grammy's.  Max Baca, the band originator, and leader, explained that their gigs had been canceled since March except for this one.  Other band members were Josh Baca, Lorenzo Martinez, and Noel Hernandez.

 

Max Baca’s birthday coincided with Saturday night’s performance, and the audience happily joined in celebrating his special day with several toasts.celebrated Los Texmaniacs songs, "How Can a Beautiful Woman Be So Ugly," was a hilarious nod to a nasty breakup.  Los Texmaniacs did not disappoint, as each member of the band was an outstanding musician.  Theband member performance opened up a new genre of music to many in the audience.  

 

john Arthur martinez, a local artist and the winner of the 2020 Academy of Western Artists' Western Swing Song of the Year, made a special appearance during the concert and sang several of his hits with Los Texmaniacs providing backup.  His first song was Canta Papa, a tribute to his beloved father, Adam Correa Martinez, a musician whose band backed up Freddy Fender.  Mr. Martinez died this past March.  john Arthur's bilingual rendition of Terry Stafford's song, Amarillo by Morning, brought many attendees to their feet to dance to his soulful vocals: "Amarillo by morning, up from San Antone/Everything I've got is what I've got on/I ain't got a dime but what I got is mine/I ain't rich but Lord I'm free/Amarillo by morning, Amarillo's where I'll be." How lovely. 

 

It wasn't the usual HSB crowd, as young and old alike came to hear the music under a half-moon sky filled with stars over a sparkling lake. The weather couldn't have been more perfect.  The music, moon, stars, and warm temperature combined as a strong force in pulling folks out of their chairs to dance.

 

The Cultural Enrichment Society literally knocked it out of the park again thiseral concerts and events were postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic. Still, CES adapted by hosting two musical groups outdoors at Quail Point over the past two months.  The next concert will be indoors at Quail Point on December 6 at 4:30pm, featuring the fabulous Three Texan Tenors with their special guests.  The Three Texans performed to a sell-out crowd last year.  Tickets can be obtained at a later date on the hsbenrichment.org website.




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