I was stationed in Germany with the 3rd Armor Division in 1974-76 and found this album in the PX. It was a trip home every time I played it, and it became my favorite to this day. Chicano/Tejano music was in short supply there at time and I was happy to add it to my collection which included Sunny Ozuna, Little Joe, and Vicente Fernandez. The guys in my squad were a diverse mix of cultures and we had an agreement that we would each get playing time for our music in our barracks during our off duty time. You can imagine that adding this unique latino genre to the soul, rock, country and western, bluegrass, salsa, and even classical music, was somewhat of a culture shock to my buddies, especially when Bobby Butler, Vicente Fernandez and, of course Little joe, would let loose with a mean grito at about 100 watts of full volume.
Such great talent. Half of these guys were playing with Little Joe, then started Tortilla Factory. Gilbert DeAnda and Bobby Butler had such awesome vocals. Tony was probably one of the best trumpet players in Texas. He originally played jazz, and I believe Jimmy Flores played jazz or his father may have. But either way, these were truly some of the greatest memories of my childhood and all through my life.
This was one of my first Onda Chicana LP’s that I bought when I was in High School! I used to practice on my trumpet to this record. Does anyone know what ever happened to guitarist Paul Velasquez? He is one of my all time favorite guitarists and was one of the first (aside from Snowball) that I heard play a wah pedal and distortion in La Onda.
