How does it feel to a be pioneer in Tejano music?
“Oh, I’m tired and I feel like an antique. I am flattered by the titles and the credit. I’m really kind of a spin-off of the original performers in this type of music.” Q: What is so special about Tejano music? A: The (Tejano) music that is being performed today is not traditional Tejano, it’s quite different. Before the “Tejano” term, it was música chicana because it’s American music with other influences in two different languages. That’s “Little Joe’s” style. Now, it’s a lot of norteño wannabes. It’s more known as ‘Tex-Mex,’ not Tejano. That is what I call it. The industry categorized my first Grammy as “Best Mexican-American Performance” and last was “Best Tejano Performance.” I haven’t change, but what they do at the Grammys has. It gets quite confusing — now Mexican singers Vicente Fernandez and Luis Miguel are considered Mexican-American. Vicente is a rancheras singer and Luis Miguel is a pop singer. Now, in Tejano music, there’s all sorts of norteño wannabe acts.” Q: Through th
