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Rancho Alegre

by Rancho Alegre

Many moons ago, seeing a criminal underdocumentation of Tejano and Conjunto music, Austin-based nonprofit organization Rancho Alegre began an ambitious project to travel the state of Texas recording oral histories with legends, veterans, and up-and-coming artists in Tejano and Conjunto music. These were a sort of proto-podcast, living on ranchoalegre.org. Now it's time to move these over to podcasting platforms for the rest of the world to enjoy. These are in English, Spanish, and Spanglish, depending on the preference of the interviewee, and conducted by the one and only Baldomero Cuellar. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rancho-alegre/support

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Episodes

  1. Rancho Alegre Interview: Johnny Degollado

    Recorded in July 2012 at Johnny Degollado's home in Montopolis. In July 2012, Rancho Alegre met up with the legendary Johnny Degollado. We had just produced our first Rancho Alegre Conjunto Festival in February of that year and finally got a chance to sit down with the guy who had been producing...

  2. Rancho Alegre Interview - Vicente "Chente" Alonzo

    In this interview, recorded in August 2017, Baldomero Cuellar talks with Vicente "Chente" Alonzo, an Austin conjunto music legend with nearly 60 years in the business. While he played bajo sexto with several different bands, he was most recognizable as the longtime second voice and bajista for El...

  3. Rancho Alegre Homenaje: Ruben Naranjo

    Originally published in 2013. In October 1998, Ruben Naranjo, the beloved legendary Conjunto accordionist and bandleader from Alice, Texas, passed away at age 53. For over 30 years, he traveled all over Texas and beyond with a simple but elegant brand of Conjunto that filled dancehalls and...

  4. Rancho Alegre Interview with Los Arcos Hermanos Peña (2014)

    Recorded in 2013 in Dimmitt, Texas. Things have changed considerably since this interview (read to the end for the update). In 2013, Rancho Alegre headed out to the Texas panhandle on business. While we were out there, we thought we would touch base with one of the region's most popular groups…

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  5. Rancho Alegre Interview - Freddie Martinez

    Recorded in 2012 at Freddie Records Headquarters in Corpus Christi, Texas. Freddie Martinez, or simply Freddie, is one of the most influential men in Tejano music history. Since beginning his professional career in the 1950s, Martinez has seen both sides of the business. He built a record company...

  6. Rancho Alegre Interview - David Lee Garza

    Recorded in 2012 at Palo Alto College in San Antonio. After we got kicked out of Whataburger because they didn't want us to record there - seriously. Much has been made of the decline of Tejano, and more than a few groups that made it big back in the 80s and 90s have either broken up quietly…

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  7. Rancho Alegre Interview - Ram Herrera

    Recorded in November 2012 at Cooter Brown's in San Antonio, Texas. If you ask any Tejano music fan to list some of the most popular performers in the industry, Ram Herrera will be near the top of the list. He hardly has to use his last name anymore, “Ram” is usually enough. He’s also known as the...

  8. Rancho Alegre Interview - Crystal n Crew

    Recorded in November 2012 at the Garcia home in Pasadena, Texas. When we recorded this interview, Crystal N Crew was one of the youngest groups in conjunto. With all members under the age of 17, the family band from Pasadena included Crystal Garcia on bajo sexto, Jose Garcia on accordion, and…

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  9. Rancho Alegre Interview - Julian Fernandez - Los Texas Wranglers

    Recorded in 2012 at his home in East Austin. For decades, Julian Limon Fernandez of Los Texas Wranglers has worked to keep Conjunto alive in Austin. Through various lineups, he and his band Los Texas Wranglers have played in all kinds of venues around Austin, rodeos, tardeadas, benefits…

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  10. Rancho Alegre Interview - Grupo Siggno

    Recorded in 2012 when Siggno was in Seguin, Texas, for a benefit for the Enriquez family, and graciously made some time to talk with us aboard their tour bus. When we recorded this interview, Siggno was the the hottest band in Tejano music. They were riding high on Tejano Music Awards successes…

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  11. Rancho Alegre Interview - Conjunto Romo

    Recorded in 2012. As the traditional audience ages, everyone’s talking about how to get young people to listen to Conjunto and Tejano music. Kyle, Texas, has an answer with Conjunto Romo. Meet Navor Romo…bassist, bandleader and vocalist. Together, he and his sons Cedrick (accordion/vocals), Noe...

  12. Rancho Alegre Interview - Gilberto Perez Sr

    Recorded in October 2011 at the Gilberto Perez ranch in Mercedes, Texas. This is a special interview. Recorded on our first interview road trip in the fall of 2011, we sat down with beloved Conjunto icon Gilberto Perez Sr. Gilberto and his wife Amelia welcomed us into their home and we talked…

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  13. Rancho Alegre Interview - Jesse y Beto Duran y Los Aguilillas

    Recorded in 2011 and 2012. Back in the 1980s, Jesse y Beto Duran y Los Aguilillas had a massive hit with El Soltero Apasionado, a waltz that took them all over Texas and was frequently requested (and graciously played) multiple times per show. With various rhythm sections, Jesse and Beto played...

  14. Rancho Alegre Interview - Ruben Rivera

    Recorded in 2011 in Alice, Texas. During our interview tour of the Valley in October 2011, we stopped in Alice, Texas, and talked with Ruben Rivera, a former member of Ruben Naranjo y Los Gamblers and Los Nobles. For several years, his own conjunto was called Ruben Rivera y R.A., but a change in...

  15. Rancho Alegre Interview - Marcos Orozco

    Recorded in 2011 after a jamaica south of Austin. Marcos Orozco is not just a pretty face in a pair of tight-fitting Wranglers. The singer-songwriter-producer-arranger has lent his signature romantic voice to some of Tejano music’s greatest hits. Marcos began his career in the 1980s with groups...

  16. Rancho Alegre Interview - Ramon Ayala

    Recorded in 2011, we caught up with the legend himself, Ramon Ayala, before a show here in Austin, Texas. At the time, Ramon didn't really do interviews, so we were really fortunate to get him to talk with us. We spoke with him about his life and career, as we do, and he was candid and friendly,...

  17. Rancho Alegre Interview - The Hometown Boys Part 2: Elias Arredondo & Roman Martinez Sr

    This interview was also recorded in 2011 at Steak & Shake in South Austin, shortly after our first interview with The Hometown Boys. Following up on that first interview, we talk a little bit more with Don Roman Martinez and Elias Arredondo. With a quieter environment, we got to dig a little…

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  18. Rancho Alegre Interview - Los A-T Boyz

    On a lovely summer evening in 2011, we met up with Raphael and Paquito Rodriguez of Los A-T Boyz at Little Mexico on South 1st here in Austin. We got to know the brothers pretty well, and talked about all manner of things. We learned what it was like for them growing up around their father…

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  19. Rancho Alegre Interview - Jaime y Los Chamacos

    Recorded in 2011 at Cuauhtemoc Hall, San Marcos, Texas. We met up with the legendary Jaime y Los Chamacos before a show and got to learn about the life and career of Jaime DeAnda. A lot has happened since this interview, notably that Jaime and the rest of the band parted ways in 2018. Tejano…

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  20. Rancho Alegre Interview - Gilbert Alba

    Back in 2011, we caught up with Austin's own Gilbert Alba. The veteran Tejano musician has had a long storied career in central Texas and beyond, spending time in numerous bands including Dave Gutierrez y Su Orquesta, Ruben Ramos and the Mexican Revolution. and most notably, The Latin Breed, as...

  21. Rancho Alegre Interview - Augustin Ramirez

    Recorded in 2011 at the Flamingo Ballroom. Augustin Ramirez is a Tejano icon. Beginning his career in the early 1960s and riding the tide of the popularity of horn-driven Orquesta Tejana into the 1980s, "El Guti" has been one of the most popular musicians for over 60 years. Full disclosure, his...

  22. Rancho Alegre Interview - Bene Medina

    Recorded in 2011 - Moose Lodge, Austin Texas Bene Medina is one of those rare musicians who have created a lasting legacy into future generations through teaching. Known as El Maestro, San Antonio's Bene Medina has, at one time or another, probably given a lesson to every young accordion player…

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  23. Rancho Alegre Interview - Tony Guerrero - La Sombra

    Recorded in 2011 - Tejano Ranch, Austin TX Back in 2011, we caught up with the legendary Tony Guerrero of La Sombra, one of the most popular Tejano showbands of the 1980s and 1990s. At the time, Guerrero had had some health issues and La Sombra had been on hiatus for a few years. In 2016, they...

  24. Rancho Alegre Interview - Sunny Sauceda

    Recorded in 2011 at Cuauhtemoc Hall, San Marcos Texas. In this interview, we first meet the dynamic Sunny Sauceda before a show at Cuauhtemoc Hall. We talk about his beginnings as an artist, important moments in his career, and more. Since then, Sunny has become active in the Texas Chapter of the...

  25. Rancho Alegre Interview - The Hometown Boys

    Recorded in 2011 at Cuauhtemoc Hall, San Marcos, Texas. In this interview, recorded before a show at Cuauhtemoc Hall, we talk with The Hometown Boys lineup of 2011: Elias Arredondo (lead vocals), Rosie Perea (backing vocals), Bobby Martinez (RIP, bass), Anthony Treviño (accordion), and of course,...

  26. Rancho Alegre Interview - Los Dos Gilbertos

    This was our second interview ever! Recorded in April 2011 at Tejano Ranch in Austin. Conjunto legends Los Dos Gilbertos sat down with us before their show in Austin. You'll hear from Gilberto Garcia (RIP), Ruben Garza, and Dario Gonzalez(RIP). Gilberto Garcia passed in 2016, and Dario Gonzalez...

  27. Rancho Alegre Interview - Pico Ramirez

    In this interview from 2013, Rancho Alegre's Baldomero Cuellar sat down with a true Conjunto legend, Jose "Pico" Ramirez. Best known as one of the original members of Ruben Naranjo y Los Gamblers from Alice, Texas, Pico supplied strong but intricate bajo sexto to Naranjo's simple, yet elegant...

  28. Rancho Alegre Interview - Chano Cadena

    Chano Cadena passed away yesterday, September 19, 2025 at age 87. This interview was recorded in October 2011. He was a Texas music legend, pure and simple. Recognized for his longevity and technical skill, he is admired by fans and colleagues alike. A hall of famer several times over, he played...

  29. Rancho Alegre on KEDA Episode 5 - Saturday 9/6/25

    Songs played on this episode of Rancho Alegre on KEDA - Saturday 9/6/25: Ruben Rivera - La Tormenta Gilberto Perez Jr. - Un Mal Entendimiento Nick Villarreal - El Mudo Los Hermanos Farias - Los Albañiles Los Mungiazz - Mujer Perdida Los Fantasmas Del Valle - La Rafaela Manuel Guerrero - Yo Tenia...

  30. Rancho Alegre Interview - Rudy Garcia y Los Godfathers

    As bandleader of a solid, hardworking conjunto for over 40 years, San Antonio's Rudy Garcia was truly ahead of his time. He wrote and registered his own songs. He managed himself and played all over Texas. He had his own record label called Godfather Records. His sound was truly unique. Back in…

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  31. Rancho Alegre on KEDA Episode 1 - Saturday 8/2/25 - Flaco Jimenez Interview

    Songs played on this episode of Rancho Alegre on KEDA - Saturday 8/2/25: Interview with Flaco Jimenez, recorded in 2016. Interview part 1 - song: Silencio Corazon Interview part 2 - song: Señorita Cantinera Interview part 3 - song: Viva Seguin Interview part 4 - song: Open Up Your Heart Interview...

  32. Rancho Alegre on KEDA Episode 4 - Saturday 8/23/25

    Songs played on this episode of Rancho Alegre on KEDA - Saturday 8/23/25: Los Aguilares with Roberto Pulido - Flor Triste Ruben Naranjo y Los Gamblers - Don Luis El Tejano Bernardo y Sus Compadres - El Muchacho Alegre Tony De La Rosa - Tras Las Rejas Del Penal Ramz Guerrero y Los Pioneers - La...

  33. Rancho Alegre on KEDA Episode 2 - Saturday 8/9/25

    Songs played on this episode of Rancho Alegre on KEDA - Saturday 8/9/25: Linda Escobar - El Gambler Brown Express - Por Una Mujer Casada Epi & Friends - Laguna de Pesares Break - bedding music: Jackson Browne - Somebody's Baby From the Vault: Ruben Naranjo y Los Gamblers - Barquita de Madera Los...

  34. Rancho Alegre on KEDA Episode 3 - Saturday 8/16/25

    Songs played on this episode of Rancho Alegre on KEDA - Saturday 8/16/25: Chano Cadena y Su Conjunto - Alma Rendida Tony De La Rosa & Ruben Vela - A Que Has Venido Break - bedding music: Patrice Rushing - Forget Me Nots From the Vault: Los Tremendos Gavilanes de Juan y Salomon - Los Ojitos de Mi...

  35. Rancho Alegre March 2024 Update: Amplify, Consuela, Senior Dance and Rancho Alegre Conjunto Festival

    Join Piper and Frank for an hour of talking about Rancho Alegre's upcoming busy month in March! Plus, hear some background stories and the origin story of the festival and the organization! Links mentioned Amplify Austin donate link: ⁠https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/ranchoalegre⁠ Austin...

  36. Rancho Alegre Interview with ”El Gallo” Dez

    "El Gallo" Dez is a brand new voice in Tejano music who is just now embarking on his first adventure in the genre. Luckily for him, he is already off to a great start, having been discovered by Tejano music icon Shelly Lares, who is producing his music, mentoring him, and guiding him on this…

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  37. Rancho Alegre Interview with Jimmy Gonzalez

    Jimmy Gonzalez passed away 6/6/2018. Thanks to an assist from Freddie and Marc Martinez, we recorded this interview at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in Corpus Christi in December 2012. Most Tejano fans know where they were when they heard that Jimmy Gonzalez, bandleader of Grupo Mazz…

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  38. Rancho Alegre Interview with Beatriz Llamas

    Beatriz Llamas, La Paloma Del Norte, passed away yesterday, May 15, 2023. This interview was recorded at her home in San Antonio in June 2015. Known as La Paloma Del Norte, Beatriz was the first female recording artist on the storied Tejano record label Bego Records. Her strong, passionate voice,...

  39. 2023 Rancho Alegre Conjunto Music Festival Preview

    Festival Coordinators Piper LeMoine and Monica Castilleja discuss the 2023 Rancho Alegre Conjunto Music Festival. Audio taken from our Facebook Live broadcast on 4/24/23, so it might be a little choppy. Complete information available at https://www.ranchoalegre.org/festival For any questions…

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  40. Rancho Alegre Interview with El Gambler Joe Gonzales

    Recorded in July 2011 at El Torreón Restaurant in San Antonio, Texas. Joe Gonzales passed away today in San Antonio at the age of 61. He was known in the Conjunto world as "El Gambler" because of his time playing bass with Ruben Naranjo y Los Gamblers in the later years of Ruben's career, as well...

  41. Rancho Alegre Interview with Shelly Lares

    Recorded in June 2019 at Austin Central Library In June 2019, Rancho Alegre finally caught up to Little Miss Dynamite herself, Shelly Lares. We had been after her since we first started doing interviews in 2011 and the stars finally aligned and our schedules finally allowed for us to finally…

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  42. Rancho Alegre guest hosts The Girlie Show on KOOP with 11 Female Tejano Artists in the studio

    Recorded live on KOOP radio in Austin 3/25/17. This episode is another blast from the past! Let's go back to March 2017 when Rancho Alegre's own Piper LeMoine sat in for Dot Matrix on her spectacular Girlie Show, which plays nothing but music by female artists. What happened was radio magic - 11...

  43. Rancho Alegre Interview with BJ Moncivais of Valmon Records

    Recorded on 10/3/15 at the KOOP studios, Austin Texas. BJ Moncivais passed away in August 2018. Rancho Alegre talked with BJ Moncivais of legendary Austin, Texas-based Chicano record label, Valmon Records. BJ's parents, Ben and Lupe Moncivais, started the label in the 1950s and recorded some of...

  44. Rancho Alegre Interview with Conjunto Baraja de Oro

    Recorded in January 2013 at their home in Midlothian, Texas. Conjunto Baraja de Oro is one of the hottest bands going these days. Affectionately known as Conjunto BDO or simply BDO, North Texas husband and wife duo Mario and Betty Barajas are taking the Conjunto world by storm, boasting multiple...

  45. Rancho Alegre Interview with Chencho Flores

    Recorded in August 2017 at the Yarborough Branch of the Austin Public Library. Chencho Flores passed away in January 2021 due to complications of COVID-19 at the age of 91. At the time of this interview, Chencho was 88 years old and had just started his own Conjunto earlier that year after a long...

  46. Rancho Alegre Interview with Roberto Pulido

    Recorded in October 2011 at Roberto Pulido's ranch in Edinburg, Texas. Rancho Alegre hit the road in October 2011 to interview some of our favorite artists in San Antonio, Alice, Robstown, then Edinburg, McAllen, and Mercedes. It was an unbelievable trip that we will always remember. Especially…

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  47. Rancho Alegre Interview with Genaro Aguilar

    Recorded in 2011 at Janie's Record Shop in San Antonio, Texas. Long known for their popurris, San Antonio's Los Aguilares have enjoyed great success over their 58-year career in music. With brothers Genaro on vocals and bass, and Emilio on accordion, the group became a fan favorite and, like…

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  48. Rancho Alegre Interview with Rick De La Rosa

    Recorded in 2012 at Christus Spohn hospital in Corpus Christi. In this interview, we switch between Spanish and English constantly - a perfect example of a typical South Texas dialect and conversation. Rick De La Rosa has conjunto running through his veins. The family name alone evokes the sights...

  49. Rancho Alegre Interview with Alfredo De La Rosa

    Conjunto music legend Alfredo De La Rosa passed away on April 8, 2022. A member of one of the most storied and influential musical family dynasties in Texas music, Alfredo spent many years playing with brothers Tony and Adan and sister Eva as well as with his own Conjunto. His style was steeped…

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  50. Rancho Alegre Interview with Little Joe Hernandez

    Recorded on two occasions, in 2012 and 2018 at the Little Joe Museum in Temple, Texas. The “King of the Brown Sound” is a fitting nickname for Little Joe Hernandez. The music he has played over his storied career has blended together everything from mariachi, orquesta, conjunto, country, doo-wop,...

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Many moons ago, seeing a criminal underdocumentation of Tejano and Conjunto music, Austin-based nonprofit organization Rancho Alegre began an ambitious project to travel the state of Texas recording oral histories with legends, veterans, and up-and-coming artists in Tejano and Conjunto music. These were a sort of proto-podcast, living on ranchoalegre.org. Now it's time to move these over to podcasting platforms for the rest of the world to enjoy. These are in English, Spanish, and Spanglish, depending on the preference of the interviewee, and conducted by the one and only Baldomero Cuellar. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rancho-alegre/support

HOSTED BY

Rancho Alegre

CATEGORIES

music interviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Rancho Alegre have?

Rancho Alegre currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Rancho Alegre about?

Many moons ago, seeing a criminal underdocumentation of Tejano and Conjunto music, Austin-based nonprofit organization Rancho Alegre began an ambitious project to travel the state of Texas recording oral histories with legends, veterans, and up-and-coming artists in Tejano and Conjunto music. These...

How often does Rancho Alegre release new episodes?

Rancho Alegre has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Rancho Alegre?

You can listen to Rancho Alegre on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Rancho Alegre?

Rancho Alegre is created and hosted by Rancho Alegre.
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