BIOGRAPHY
Chano Cadena
www.puroalice.com

Chano Cadena was born in Palito Blanco, TX.  He started playing accordion at the age of 8.  He started his first conjunto in Alice in February of 1954. The first members of his conjunto were:  Chano  on accordion, Juan Sifuentes guitar and vocals, Lorenzo Hernandez bajo sexto and Tony Benavidez drums.  His first recordings were for the Ideal label with the legendary Tejano Music Recording Pioneer, Armando Marroquin.  He recorded for many more labels like Nopal, Zarape, Sombrero, Lyra, Norteño, ZAZ, Discolanda, Copa, Bego, El Pato, Canasta and many more. His 2nd conjunto consisted of Lupe Lopez and Hernan Chapa.  His third conjunto included Manuel Soliz.  His fourth included Fito Flores vocals and Ruben Naranjo on 2nd accordion. His 5th conjunto consisted of Toño Vasquez and Fidel Cavazos, Ernesto "Teto" Cadena-bass.  His 6th Conjunto included Rodolfo Leal and David Rodriguez, Ernesto "Teto" Cadena-bass, Mando Cantu-drums.  His 7th conjunto included Ernesto “La Negra” Cadena and Lupe Treviño, Ernesto "Teto" Cadena-bass, Mando Cantu-drums.  His 8th conjunto consisted of Fidel Cavazos, Ernesto "La Negra" Cadena, Mando Cantu-drums. His 9th conjunto consisted of Genaro Perez II, his son Genaro Perez III, Joe "Pico" Ramirez, Ruby Franco, Ernesto "Teto" Cadena-bass and Joe Cantu-drums.  His 10th conjunto consisted of Genaro Perez II, his son Genaro Perez III, Ysidro Gonzalez -bajo sexto, Ruby Franco, Ernesto "Teto" Cadena-bass, Omar Cadena-drums. His newest conjunto consists of Ernesto “La Negra” Cadena and his son  Ernesto Cadena Jr., Ysidro Gonzalez -bajo sexto, Ruby Franco, Ernesto "Teto" Cadena-bass, Omar Cadena-drums.  Chano has been playing for 53 years  consecutively sin parar.  Cincuenta años en la musica su Conjunto asido el marco musical de muchos artistas: Carmen y Laura, Elijio Escobar, Roberto Suslaita, Gaston Ponce, Chelo Silva y muchos mas.  Fue enstalado en el Salon de la Fama Tejano Roots.  Muchos de los musicos del Salon de la Fama Tejano Roots fueron musicos de su Conjunto como Amadeo Flores, Rodolfo Leal, Juan Sifuentes, Manuel Soliz y Ruben Naranjo. 

Chano con su Conjunto a tocado por todo Texas.  Desde Laredo hasta Houston.  Desde Brownsville hasta Dallas y Fort Worth.  En Florida, Michigan, Colorado, New Mexico y California.

Originally Written by Ernesto “Teto” Cadena

1992 Inteview with Chano Cadena

DISCOGRAPHY - Chano Cadena y su Conjunto

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