Johnny Hernandez has seen it all in over six decades in Tejano music. From his beginnings with his brothers in Little Joe and the Latinaires to his solo career and everything in between, Johnny remains one of the most passionate performers, one of its strongest talents, and a tireless advocate for Tejano music.
We got the rare honor of interviewing the legend during his visit to Austin in December 2016 when he came to perform with Big Band Tejano at the Onion Creek Ballroom for an event with the Tejano Music Alliance of Texas. Considering that, at the time, he resided in Modesto, California, we jumped at the chance to get his story and meet the man himself.
He did not disappoint. A former radio personality and executive himself, Johnny told us the story of his career AND of Tejano music, particularly what he refers to as True Tejano Music (which is usually called Orquesta). The horns and big band sounds were the precursors to the Tejano music we know today.
Johnny also wrote an autobiography called The Cotton Picker: An Odyssey, which recounts his life and times in this crazy industry. The book will soon be re-released in hardback.
We talked about everything from music to politics to history to, of course, the state of modern Tejano music as he sees it. We hope you enjoy getting to know the man as much as we did.
Special thanks to Rudy Ancira of the Tejano Music Alliance of Texas for coordinating the interview and for taking great photos like the one above.
Since this interview, we have had the opportunity to work with Johnny firsthand. We flew him out for a symposium on Orquesta music in late 2017 and as the special Tejano guest for the 2022 Rancho Alegre Conjunto Music Festival, where he performed with Los Cucuys de Rodney Rodriguez. Both times, he proved once again that he is the "real deal," and that he can still bring the house down.
Music listing:
"Corazon del Pueblo" - Isidro Lopez
"Echale Cinco Al Piano" - Little Joe and the Latinaires
"Las Nubes" - Little Joe y La Familia
"Total" - Johnny Hernandez
"Por Un Amor" - Little Joe and the Latinaires
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