Music of My People!!!

In South Texas there is a music that is king. Being a Mexican American in San Antonio it seems I will never be able to escape the sounds of conjunto. From my parents, friends, and strangers conjunto is played everywhere in this city. This diverse style of music can be traced back to the early 1900’s. Mexicans on both sides of the border were listening to traditional styles like Ranchera. Soon the accordion from the German immigrants was added incorporating a polka sound. Finally the 12 string bajo sexto guitar was added creating the revolutionary sound of conjunto. The music was played for and by the migrant Mexican workers, Mexicans who lived on farms or lives revolved around farms. In the early 1900’s most Mexicans lived and worked on farms before migrating to the city for better jobs during the 40’s and 50’s. The music spoke of not only love, but the hard rugged live of living and working on a farm. The stand out sound / instrument is the accordion. The accordion is significant because it distinguishes that the listener is listening to a conjunto style. The accordion drives the beat and many times steals the attention from other instruments. Conjunto is the music of the hard working people. This is proven because bands will play gigs in different corners of Texas every night, getting paid next to nothing, so that the hard working people of this state can enjoy themselves. The nobility of this sacrifice is something I can respect.