Flaco Jiménez
Leonardo "Flaco" Jiménez (born March 11, 1939)[1] is an American singer, songwriter and accordionist from San Antonio, Texas. He is known for playing Norteño, Tex Mex and Tejano music. Jiménez has been a solo performer and session musician, as well as a member of the Texas Tornados and Los Super Seven.[2]
Flaco Jiménez
Leonardo Jiménez
March 11, 1939
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Musician
Accordion, bajo sexto, vocals
1946–present
Over the course of his seven-decade career,[3] he has received numerous awards and honors, including Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Grammys, Americana Music Awards, Tejano Music Awards, and Billboard magazine.
Early life[edit]
Jiménez, who is of Mexican descent, was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1939. He is descended from a line of musicians, including his father Santiago Jiménez Sr.,[4][5] and his grandfather Patricio Jiménez.[6]
He began performing at the age of seven with his father, a pioneer of conjunto music, and began recording at age fifteen as a member of Los Caporales. Jiménez's first instrument was the bajo sexto, but he later adopted the accordion after being influenced by his father and zydeco musician Clifton Chenier.[7]
He was given the nickname "Flaco" (which translates as "Skinny" into English), which was also his father's nickname.[4]
Personal life[edit]
His brother, Santiago Jiménez Jr., is also an accomplished accordionist and has recorded extensively.
In March 2015, Jiménez suffered a broken hip and two rib fractures from two separate falls. By May of that year, he returned to performing and was one of the acts on closing night of the 34th annual Tejano Conjunto Festival in San Antonio.[23]
Jiménez and his wife once owned a food truck in the San Antonio area, named Tacos Jimenez.[24]