Discography Introduction
My early days were spent in observation and constant awareness of the busy life that surrounded me. My Mexican born-father was widowed in '43 or so, left with seven children, (6 girls, 1 boy). My mother, newly arrived from Mexico with a 2 year old son, met him and took on the challenge of re-building a family. Five more daughters were born to them. I was the last one. This working class ensemble saw and experienced all there was through the changing times in San Antonio, Texas. My mother's strong conviction, and lively character and my father's gentle low key demeanor, and both their constant labor, saw us through an education neither of them ever had.
Maria "Cuquita" Coronado Hinojosa
in San Antonio in the late 40's with my brother Jose, (who was born in Mexico), and her new additions. I love how they dressed just to take a bus down town.
Being severely asthmatic as a child (and continue to be although medical science has made great strides) was sometimes frightening, but allowed me some privileges such as staying home reading and enjoying solo time with my mother (a real luxury in a large family). Frequently, we were visited by her "curandera" friends, spiritual and herbal "healers" of the Mexican community, who would sprinkle powders and whisper prayers to spirits, saints, and deities.
Adolescence paired me with a guitar, and the following years found me playing and singing any and everything that had floated around my ears, from traditional and pop Mexican songs I'd heard on our kitchen radio to folk and popular hits that saturated our earplug transistors.
Before I knew it, I'd have my house in an uproar because I wanted to play at a "coffeehouse," a concept difficult to explain to my aging parents, but who would reluctantly round up some older sibling and spouse to "chaperone" me to one of these places.
During this time my mother got me a job singing jingles at the Mexican radio station which led to a brief sojourn with a local label into what was in the early 70's the forming days of Tex-Mex music (pre-"Tejano" scene--a developing sound that didn't fit me). I discovered that bi-lingualism also worked in folk where I felt more comfortable, and found what work there was in clubs on San Antonio's river walk.
In 1979, I submitted the only 2 songs I'd written to the Kerville Folk Festival New Folk competition. Amazingly I was a finalist and was invited to comeback to perform at the festival the following year. I took this as a sign. High on hope, I headed for the unknown. I needed to get away. Northern New Mexico was the light at the end of a figurative tunnel for a 23 year old in dire need of new inspiration. It was also a literal "breath of fresh air," as the discovery was made in August, a dramatic change from San Antonio's swelter to 9000 ft. alpine. San Antonio had been my home from birth until this time. The years that followed found me quite the student taking in the many dimensions of the life and culture of that place, as well as uncovering abilities I had never pushed before in playing, performing and writing music, that honestly, I didn't know I had. I credit largely the challenge and encouragement of musicians I was amazed to get to interact with such as transplanted Texan's Bill and Bonnie Hearne, Michael Murphy, and his band.
What follows is a musical chronology starting from this particular period, but sometimes leaping backward or forward to places only songs can take us.
1st Release - Taos To Tennessee
Back to Discography
