Tejano Music Legend and Six-Time Grammy Winner Flaco Jiménez Dies at 86

By Admin

Flaco Jiménez, the legendary Tejano musician celebrated for his masterful accordion skills and groundbreaking influence on conjunto and Tex-Mex music, has died at the age of 86.

His family announced his passing on Thursday night, July 31, through a statement posted on his official social media platforms.

“It is with great sadness that we share tonight the loss of our father, Flaco Jiménez. He was surrounded by his loved ones and will be missed immensely,” read the message from family members Arturo and Lisa Jimenez, Gilbert and Cynthia Jimenez, and Javier and Raquel Fernandez.

The family expressed gratitude to fans for their support and requested privacy during this difficult time, noting that “His legacy will live on through his music and all of his fans.”

Earlier this year, the Grammy-winning artist had been hospitalized due to what was described on his Facebook page as a “medical hurdle.”

Born Leonardo Jiménez in 1939 in San Antonio, Texas, Flaco came from a long line of accordion players. His father, Santiago Jiménez Sr., and grandfather, Patricio Jiménez, were known for preserving traditional conjunto music. Flaco, however, pushed those traditions further by blending polkas, waltzes, and rancheras with genres like country, rock, and blues—making him one of the most recognizable ambassadors of Tex-Mex music on the global stage.

Over the course of more than six decades, he worked with major artists including Willie Nelson, Ry Cooder, Bob Dylan, and The Rolling Stones. He was also a founding member of the Tex-Mex supergroup Texas Tornados, performing alongside Freddy Fender, Augie Meyers, and Doug Sahm.

Jiménez’s contributions earned him six Grammy Awards. His 1992 album Partners was inducted into the U.S. Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry in 2020, recognizing him as a “champion of traditional conjunto music and Tex-Mex culture.”

In 2015, the Recording Academy presented him with its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, cementing his place in American music history.