BIOGRAPHICAL SYNOPSIS FOR FACILITY NAMING PROPOSAL

(A) PEREZ-RAMOS FAMILIES

The Perez – Ramos Families have a long musical tradition that stretches back several generations.  The two families are connected by brothers Don Louis Perez and Don Tranquilino Perez.  Don Louis Perez and his wife Trinidad are the parents of Elvira Perez who is the mother of Ruben Ramos and Alfonso Ramos.  Don Tranquilino Perez and his wife Carolina are the parents of Blas Parez who is the father of Ernest Perez and Ruben Perez.

Ruben Ramos, Alfonso Ramos, Ruben Perez and Ernest Perez have all led their own Tejano orchestras.  Ruben and Alfonso have often performed and recorded together.  Many of Ruben and Alfonso’s brothers were and continue to be members of their musical groups.  In recognition of their accomplishment, Ruben Ramos and Alfonso Ramos have both been inducted into the Tejano Music Hall of Fame.  As a member of Los Super Seven, Ruben Ramos is a grammy award winner. 

Accomplished local musicians such as Alfonso Ramos and Manuel “Cowboy” Donley played with the Ruben Perez Orchestra early in their careers.  In addition to leading his own orchestra, Ernest played in his brother’s orchestra for many years as well as other local groups such as Johnny Degollado and Los Cinco Reyes.

(B) NASH HERNANDEZ

The Nash Hernandez Orchestra, Austin’s longest running big band, has been playing big band, swing and Latino styles of music for generations of fans throughout Central Texas.  Nash Hernandez fell in love with the big band style while in the Army during World War II.  When he returned to Austin, he worked with Matt Velasquez before starting his own band in 1949.  In 1975, Nash Hernandez was named Ambassador of Goodwill by Governor Dolph Brisco for whom he had performed in 1973 at the Governor’s Inaugural Ball.  He was also recognized for his musical contributions by the City of Austin in 1975 and 1993, by the Texas Senate in 1993 and by Vice President Al Gore in 1994.  Nash Hernandez passed away on June 26, 1994, but the band continues to perform under the direction of Nash’s son, drummer Ruben Hernandez, who began playing with the group at the age of eleven.

(C)  JOHNNY DEGOLLADO

Johnny Degollado is the premier conjunto accordionist, band leader, and song writer in Austin and the surrounding areas. In 1952, at the age of 15, he started his own conjunto along with his neighbor, Vicente Alonzo, who still is a member of the conjunto. Johnny studied under Camilo Cantu, another important conjunto band leader from the Austin area.  Cantu also taught Johnny to tune and repair accordions.  Johnny has composed more than 200 songs, and he is the event coordinator for the Austin Conjunto Festival that has been held in May for the last 20 years.  He was inducted into the Tejano Music Hall of Fame in 1986.

(D)  MANUEL “COWBOY” DONLEY

Manuel Donley is considered a pioneer of Tejano music.  An accomplished musician, arranger and composer, Manuel Donley is well respected by his musical peers.  In addition to fronting a Tejano orquesta, he also performs in traditional “Trio” and “Mariachi” ensembles.  Manuel Donley has also composed and performed for movie soundtracks.  He has taught guitar lessons at Huston-Tillotson College and still gives lessons at his home.  His orquesta, Las Estrellas, is famous for its tight horn section as well as for the many different styles of music they played such as boleros, rancheras, polkas, rock-n-roll, rhythm-and-blues, big band-swing, etc.  Manuel Donley formed his orquesta in 1949 and continues to perform with them occasionally. 

Roy Montelongo is an original Tejano legend who started playing in his teens with the legendary orquesta of Beto Villa.  He then went on to play with the orquestas of Isidro Lopez and Alfonso Ramos before forming his own band.  One of his first picks for a sideman was Agustine Ramirez.  Roy Montelongo recorded many hits and toured nationally.  His unique singing style and his accomplishments as a saxophonist and arranger brought him much acclaim.  Roy Montelongo recorded over 20 albums and was selected to be an original member of “The Legends” of Tejano music along with the likes of Freddie Martinez and Sunny Ozuna.  Eventually, he settled on broadcasting as a career and for many years was heard on the Austin airwaves.

Matt Velasquez’ Latinaires, that pre-dated Little Joe’s Latinaire’s by several years, performed from approximately 1946 to 1959.  Vocalist-guitarist Matt Velasquez was a member of several ballroom bands including “Big Poppa’s Band,” the group with which he started playing when he was 14 years old.  After returning from the service in 1946, he formed his own band, playing sorority parties, debutante balls and major parties. He also donated services to all Catholic churches.  Matt Velasquez and his band played for the grand opening of Palmer Auditorium in 1959.  He worked with Eduardo Martinez and Emilio Caceres.  His brother, James Velasquez, played drums.

Roy Velasquez is an important local Hispanic businessman and community leader.  He established Roy’s Taxi in 1931 at the age of 21 when construction jobs dried up in the years following the great depression.  He started the business with one car and within a year had 35 cars working for him on a contract basis.  The company was located in various locations in and around East Austin, but in 1957 he moved the company to 90 East Avenue where the business headquarters remain today.  Roy was active in political circles since his early years in business.  He sold the poll tax to help minorities gain a voice in government.  He also was active in supporting many political candidates and was a friend of leaders such as President Lyndon B. Johnson, Mayor Tom Miller, City Council Member Emma Long, Judge Homer Thornberry, and Congressman Jake Pickle.  In 1935, Roy was co-founder of the Austin Chapter of LULAC, Council 85 and was one of the charter members of the Austin Citizen’s League which was organized in the mid-1960’s.