A few decades ago, when I used to be a newspaper man for the Brownsville Herald, a co-worker – then-sports writer Julio Lozano – told me of a local band that was burning up the dance halls across Texas.
I was intrigued.
Brownsville – as in the case of Chelo Silva – has a knack for not recognizing their own. So we made plans to do a feature on the group which called itself Mazz. Some of the principals like Joe Lopez and Jimmy Gonzalez, were part of the old Bel Aire Band, well known to local Tejano fans. Lopez even bought a 1957 Chevy Bel Aire to remember the band's start.
Today, relatives have confirmed that Gonzalez passed away from severe levels of low blood sugar at about 9:30 a.m. in a San Antonio Hospital.
And just this past March 15, Lopez was released from a prison in Huntsville after serving 10 years of a 32-year sentence for sexually assaulting a minor, his niece.But in the mid-1980s, when Julio and I went to do a story on them, that was far into the future.
At the time we went to see them, they were playing at the Texas Southmost College prom, the Bougainvillea.
Before that event, we were invited to Lopez's house in the Brownsville Country Club where they posed for pictures with their trophies and their golden records.
Somewhere in the Brownsville Herald archives, a full-page Lifestyle feature depicts them playing at the TSC prom and in Lopez's home.
They were somewhat frustrated that when they played in Houston or some other locale like San Antonio, they used to pack the venues. And yet, when they played locally, the crowds were sparse and it was hard to get local people excited.
Over time, however, their fame grew and they went on to become headliners and Grammy winners.
Time has passed.
Lopez's Bel Aire is still in Brownsville but now owned by a local attorney who got it as payment for initially defending him from the sexual assault charges before someone talked him into changing lawyers. The first lawyer had gotten a 10-year probation sentence through a plea bargain, but Lopez rejected the offer and took his chances.
Gonzalez and Lopez separated in 1998 and he had several hit records on his own and with Grupo Mazz.
Gonzalez y Grupo Mazz won Best Tejano Album four times at the Latin Grammy Awards from 2001-2004. The group also won Best Tejano Album at the American Grammy Awards in 2004.
RIP, Jimmy.
8 comments:
How's that dna retest coming along?
I saw Jimmy on one of his last concerts and it seemed like he as struggling but also he looked like he was having a great time. RIP my friend you're home...
I remember them playing at the TSC Bouganvilia Ball when I was a student.
I also have an audio tape with Grupo Mazz opening for Juan Gabriel and Sonia Lopez at Bocaccio 2000 that used to be on North Frontage.
Good musicians.
May Mr. Gonzalez rest in peace.
(RIP my friend you're home..)
So true.
Elchuko.
I used to live on Harrison St. before it was paved and the train used to pass thru there. Joe lived across my parents home and they practice every night. At first we thought that in time they would stop practicing but they never did. They got better and better and we all know what happened. They became very very famous..Jimmy was always there with joe. Good old times. We'll miss you Jimmy (rip).
Enough of Chelo Silva, Juan! They say (El Rrun RRun, ha ha) she had an affair with SNOWBALL of Carlos Guzman & Los Fabulosos 4. Vieja loca.
You are so right, Juan, Brownsville never recognizes its own, San Antonio newspapers and television stations are giving a lot of coverage on his passing and several Tejano radio stations are playing Mazz music around the clock and planning a big musical event to honor him. I first heard them at the old Godfather club where channel 23 is now housed in the mid 70's. By the way, keep up the good work, I've been following your writings since you were a contributor to the Rocinante in the 80's. I used to pick up a copy at the Round-Up on central blvd.
WHAT? WHERE? WHEN? REALLY?
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