RAMIREZ, FOUNDER OF BSPA, JAZZ FEST, KXIQ-FM, DIES

(Ed.'s Note: We here at El Rrun-Rrun are saddened that George Ramirez, founding member of the Brownsville Society For the Performing Arts, owner of the Half- Moon Saloon, Brownsville Performing Arts Academy, and main force behind the low-power FM educational, non-commercial radio station KXIQ, 105.1, died this morning.

He was declared dead at about 9:48 a.m. Saturday at  Solara Specialty Hospital.

His family opted to remove him from life support Friday evening when he didn't seem to respond after an extended illness.

Having known George since before he and Ben Neece established the Crescent Moon which morphed into the Half Moon as the anchor for the downtown entertainment district, we are struck with the huge loss to our community

George was the driving force behind the renovation of the circa 1912 Stegman Building and the establishment of the Brownsville Performing Arts Academy open to all residents and children in the city.

In spite of all these endeavors for the betterment of the people of this city, George was, by nature, an unassuming individual who wanted no credit for this work on behalf of our fellow residents.

On more than one occasion, when the city or its tax-funded organizations would not – or could not – shoulder a share of the costs with the public events aimed at bringing people downtown, he would step in and quietly pay for them out of his own pocket.

The Half Moon Saloon is located on a corner along the future 11th street corridor, part of an Imagine Brownsville project to create a pedestrian walkway from the Rio Grande to the Country Courts Park and eventually even to the Port of Brownsville. George took the ball and ran with it to make it happen.

Behind the Half Moon Saloon there are plans to build a plaza across 12th Street from the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. 

He knew these projects would positively impact the Half Moon Saloon and the neighborhood. Ramirez said patrons include those visiting Brownsville who are dragged to the place by relatives who cannot wait to show them the “new” market square area.

George was proudest of getting naturalized and becoming a United States citizen just a few years ago. The Latin Jazz Festival he started 23 years ago lives on. He was not one to wait for paperwork to do things he saw would help his fellow city residents now. He lived his life to his own rhythm. He was, in every sense  of the word, a citizen of the world and its ambassador though music.

"George was not only a thinker, but he was a doer," said Neece who was associated with Ramirez on several projects. "Above all, he loved music. Whether it was creating the jazz festival or opening a club or starting a radio station, there was no obstacle that was going to prevent him from achieving his goals, even if it was going to cost him thousands of his own money."

"We're all deeply saddened by his misfortune.We are losing a leader. We will be losing an energy that nobody else possessed. It is so ironic that on the 23rd anniversary of his Brownsville Latin Jazz Festival, he isn't on center stage introducing the acts. Brownsville is a lesser place without George."

Ramirez was born in Mexico City and raised in Los Angeles. In 1982 he relocated to Brownsville to start a business called Polibrid Coatings that gave him the freedom to pursue his passion for music which he believed stems from his childhood days in Mexico City when he was forced to attend live operas directed by his grandfather.

With 20 years of experience producing shows, Ramirez only hired the best musicians to play at the Half Moon Saloon.

 Classic acoustic guitarists, jazz and blues bands are scheduled weekly.

“We are planting a cultural seed here for a live music entertainment district like you’ve never known,” he said. “People often say the place feels like Austin, but I say no, this is like Brownsville; this is Brownsville at its best.”

The tribute to his role in establishing the festival was scheduled for Friday night and was cancelled because of the roaring wet norther that blew in late afternoon and soaked the electrical system at the old yard, making it unsafe to plug in musicians' instruments. In a sense, it was fitting that the horns and strings were stilled and a quiet descended on Adams Street. The music, at least for then, died.

We join his family and those who knew him and extend our prayers and heart-felt empathy to them in this time of grief. If his leaving is what was meant to be, then we'll see you on the other side, hermano.)