Agapito Zuñiga:  A Pioneer of Conjunto Music Genre

Conjunto music is as festive as the people who perform it.  The sound of conjunto music continues to be enjoyed by young and old alike.  Back in the day, it carried a lot of "soul" in the hearts of the rural, working class citizens residing in Texas. It was a given that Texanos, as well as first and second generation Mexicans from Mexico, would find the "giddy up" to go and dance the night away even after a long day in the fields.  Today, Mexican-Americans throughout Texas and the United States continue to enjoy this very unique music genre.

For Agapito, learning to play the accordion at a very early age was not only an escape after ending an arduous work day in the fields in the northern plains of Mexico, but it was also a tremendous sense of gratification.  He enjoyed playing and singing, and the people loved to listen to him.  Without question, it was a reward for everyone to partake in and enjoy. 

To learn more about conjunto music, go to:

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/benson/border/arhoolie2/raices.html

http://www.guadalupeculturalarts.org/xicanomusic/tcfhist.htm

The following albums are some of Agapito's artistic interpretations of the music he composed, sang, and played for a vast part of his life.  The songs are as diverse as the musicians who compose and sing them.  The songs range from powerful and electrifying polkas, rancheras, guapangos, redovas, shotis, and corridos to the ever-loving romantic and heart-stopping boleros performed so beautifully by Agapito and Pato.

Los Desveladores   

(Circa 1950s; Bronco Records)   

• Soy Un Tonto (Cesar Suedan); Ramms: BMI
• Enseñante a Querer (Juan J. Barrientos) Ramms: BMI
• Desplante (Jose Flores Montes)
• Leccion De Amor (Roberto A. Bravo)
• Bien O Mal (O. S. Jaramillo); Ramms:  BMI
• Amor Y Corazón (Johnny Herrera)

• Qué Ganas Tu (Ramon Flores C.)

• Esperame En El Cielo (F. Lopez Vidal)

• Para Qué  (Juan J. Barrientos); Ramms: BMI

• Oyes Morena (Agapito Zuñiga)

Vuelve Agapito Zuñiga Y Los Desveladores

(Circa 1955;  Disco El Toro)

• En Donde Estas
• Inutil Es Volver
• Elisa Polka
• Estoy Perdiendo Un Amor
• Desdichada
• Falsa Moneda
• Recuerdo Que Dejiste
• Que No Habra Modo?
• Por Ella
• Babe Juarez Polka

Estrella Norteña

Los Desveladores (Circa 1957; Falcon Records)

• El Buque de Mas Potencia
• Juan Guerrero
• Tres Puñaladas de Muerte
• Carcel de Santo Domingo
• Tu No Has de Ser Mi Costilla
• El Ojo de Vidrio
• Como Me Pagan Pago
• El Remate
• Alondra Pa Que Volviste
• Con Tu Desprecio
• Estrellita Norteña
• Maldito Tu Amor

"The accordion was a visible symbol at festivities enjoyed by a multitude of folks after a long day’s work." 

       -- Biography of Agapito Zuñiga