There are only a handful
credited Tejano music artists with more than one Spanish and
English-language top chart radio hits, aside from Trini Lopez,
Rene and Rene, or Selena. Their music became classic by sharing
familiarities of the human condition… love. Most melodies
soon became familiar to the heart of those who identified with
the lyrics. Today, Mexican-American baby-boomers have memorized
songs like: "Put Me in Jail;" "Smile Now, Cry
Later;" and "The One Who's Hurting is You" radio
favorites from the 60’s. Making such an impact within
the Tejano culture, it’s not surprising to find these
song titles tattooed to a Macho body or two. These classic hits
contributed to a national focus on a Texas act like Sunny and
the Sunliners, creating a path for the first-ever breakout Texas
bands and converting them forever into one of the original forces
behind the genre now known as the Chicano Soul. In the early
60’s, Chicano Soul was simply part of the overall American
rock & roll landscape with the youthful Tex-Mex generation.
The creative wordsmith behind those well-penned hits can be
traced to the talents of Rudy Palacios, former guitarist, songwriter
and vocalist with Sunny and the Sunliners band.
Today, Rudy is proud to unveil a brand new collection of straight
ahead Tejano tunes titled Canciones Del Corazón (Songs
from the Heart). The album is his love letter to a genre which
took him on a magical ride among the stars and fed his thirst
for music throughout the better part of his early adulthood.
With Sunny and the Sunliners, Rudy Palacios discovered both
the joy and pain on a fast-track life in pursuit of the next
gig and musical success. Though he wouldn't have guessed it
at the time, that race would also result in musical immortality.
As one of the Sunliners, Rudy headlined shows at the Hollywood
Palladium, shared a bill with Chuck Berry and toured with Archie
Bell & the Drells as a favor for a Houston radio promoter
hoping to get his nephew Bell in front of nationwide audiences
before calling it quits. During a year that also marked the
end of an era, Palacios packed it up to pick up where he'd left
off a decade before as a starry-eyed youngster.
Along the way, Rudy made enough of impression on the Original
soul group The Platters to earn him a position with the group.
In hindsight Palacios, was like a walking museum of musical
legend and lore, a man who carried his red hollow-body ES 335
Gibson guitar humbly among giants and then came home to build
a family to live the American Dream. Through the years Rudy
played the local club circuit, corporate engagements and cultural
events to keep his craft defined to the music trends and sharpened
his skills at penning new well-versed songs.
Canciones Del Corazón, while climbing the chart rapidly,
is one of the most versatile releases on the Tejano music landscape
recognized for its smooth dance, modern arrangements and textured
rhythm styles. It’s not easy moving from a Cha-Cha-Cha
to a traditional Bolero, then segue to a Cumbia and slowing
it down with an Oldie. Featuring one English-language track,
the 1965 Mel Carter hit "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, in
a version that will tingle baby-boomer’s spine, along
with nine heavy-weight Tejano destined to be classics like,
“Algun Dia, Te Regalo El Corazón, Que Bueno Es
El Amor.” Canciones Del Corazón delivers a full
body, fresh flavor for Tejano music lovers. Palacios' version
partnered up with Tejano Glory Days vocalist Jimmy Edward, on
the signature Little Joe song "Las Nubes" which restores
the Chicano national anthem to its rightful place as a call
to action and an expression of pride for all Mexican-American
citizens. If for those tracks alone, the album is worth the
price of admission. Between tracks and history, Rudy Palacios
offers a lifetime of talent and the eternal soul of a true Tejano
troubadour. |