FRUTTY VILLARREAL TO BE HONORED BY CAMERON COUNTY

By Juan Montoya
If ever there was a home-grown bohemian conjunto accordionist living among us, it is undoubtedly Fructoso "Frutty" Villarreal.
Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, he was raised on conjunto music and has been fighting the demons associated with the conjunto genre since he was born.
"I was raised poor and my mom had all the Freddie Gomez 45s and 78s." Villareal told a reporter in an interview. "He (Gomez) had no schooling. He was raised poor. All he could do was sing and play guitar, and that's what Conjunto is about."

Villarreal knows something about the lifestyle of a traveling conjunto musician. His bouts with the ups and downs of life on the road and the associated impact on his family life and income have not only made him bear the slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune, but also honed his voice to a world-weary rasp that he uses with great effect in his music.

The selection above is one of his best known compositions that has earned him the moniker of a Conjunto Legend. 

The Cameron County Commissioners Court will present the resolution honoring him as a Conjunto Legend Tuesday at 9 a.m. on the second floor Oscar Dancy Building, 1100 E. Monroe, in Brownsville.