- Home
- >>Entertainment
- >>
Phyllis Narromore, left, and Felix Vargas dance to the music at the Tejano Music National Convention at Paris hotel-casino on Saturday, July 1, 2017, in Las Vegas. Morgan Lieberman Las Vegas Review-Journal
Sandra Pineda applauds for a music band at the Tejano Music National Convention at Paris hotel-casino on Saturday, July 1, 2017, in Las Vegas. Morgan Lieberman Las Vegas Review-Journal
Attendees of the Tejano Music National Convention watch a musical performance at Paris hotel-casino on Saturday, July 1, 2017, in Las Vegas. Morgan Lieberman Las Vegas Review-Journal
Joel Gloria of "Texas Funk" music band performs at the Tejano Music National Convention at Paris hotel-casino on Saturday, July 1, 2017, in Las Vegas. Morgan Lieberman Las Vegas Review-Journal
Joel Gloria and Bella Gloria, 2, spend time together at the Tejano Music National Convention at Paris hotel-casino on Saturday, July 1, 2017, in Las Vegas. Morgan Lieberman Las Vegas Review-Journal
Merchandise booths line the aisles at the Tejano Music National Convention at Paris hotel-casino on Saturday, July 1, 2017, in Las Vegas. Morgan Lieberman Las Vegas Review-Journal
Reyna Gutierrez sways to the music at the Tejano Music National Convention at Paris hotel-casino on Saturday, July 1, 2017, in Las Vegas. Morgan Lieberman Las Vegas Review-Journal
More Stories
By Briana Erickson Las Vegas Review-Journal
July 1, 2017 - 6:21 pm
Olivia Cruz remembers being in her home in Olathe, Kansas, at age 10, swiping credit cards and hosting a few musicians, family and friends to celebrate Tejano music.
Fifteen years later, the homegrown tradition has become the Tejano National Convention. It celebrated its 14th year this weekend at Paris Las Vegas, with more than 50 performers, traditional Mexican food (including Menudo soup) and numerous booths to meet and talk with artists.
The weekend also featured internationally acclaimed Javier Molina for “Karaoke Showtime with Mr. Cowboy Cumbia” and traditional Tex-Mex dance instruction. Last year, 3,500 people attended and the same was expected this year, Cruz said.
“It’s more than just old music, or something your grandparents used to listen to,” she said.
The convention was inspired by Cruz’s grandparents — and her parents, David Chavez and Sarah Ruiz Chavez, who created the festival after noticing a downhill trend in the Tejano music industry.
When Cruz hears Tejano music, which she describes as “folksy-Mexican,” she thinks of her grandfathers. One played in a band in his basem*nt until he was physically unable; the other rises at dawn to feed chickens in his South Texas farm.
“The thing that they both have in common is Tejano music,” she said. “That kind of spirit is what we want to capture, and we want to keep it alive.”
The spirit seemed to thrive Saturday. Throngs of people wearing boots and cowboy hats, some red, white and blue in honor of the Fourth of July, filed into Paris Las Vegas’ convention space. Onstage, one performer sang a Tejano rendition of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it)” to appeal to the younger generation.
Sunny Sauceda from San Antonio taught 4-year-old Noah how to play his small accordion. Tapping his boot, he took suggestions from the audience and twiddled his fingers across the buttons across his chest.
Outside the Tejano experience fanfare and expo center, Yolanda Teneyuque and her husband, Domingo, stood in line for food.
“This music brings a lot of memories,” Domingo said. His wife nodded, adding that the two Texans moved to California but have been attending national Tejano music conventions for five years.
“Texan people just have a different way of talking to you,” Yolanda said. “I miss it.”
Next to the couple, Dules Fuentes stood alone, holding this year’s program, which depicts a photo of her and her husband, Marcos, dancing at last year’s convention. They come every year, she said. He died in February.
“Now, I’m here alone,” she said. “But this picture is like a miracle. He’s here today.”
Contact Briana Erickson at berickson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5244. Follow @brianarerick on Twitter.
MOST READ
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'READ MORE'; html += 'LIVE WELL'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'STORIES LIKE THIS'; html += 'CLICK HERE FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('livewell').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-sponsored-full').length>0) { return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-what-are-they-hiding')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'WHAT ARE THEY HIDING?'; html += 'Exposing officials and agencies keeping public records from the public.'; html += 'CLICK HERE TO READ MORE'; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('2023-year-in-review').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-2023-year-in-review')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '2023 YEAR IN REVIEW'; html += 'CLICK HERE FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('2023-year-in-review').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-msg-sphere')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('tag-msg-sphere').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-jeff-german-murder') || $('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-remembering-jeff-german')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('jeff_german').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-911-anniversary')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'REMEMBERING 9/11: 20 YEARS LATER'; html += 'Looking back at the 2001 terror attacks and how they affected Las Vegas and the world.'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('anniversary-911').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-class-of-2021')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'MEET THE UNFORGETTABLE CLASS'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '2021'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('class-2021').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-2022-election')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'ELECTION 2022'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'ELECTION RESULTS'; html += 'Click here'; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('election-2022').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-harry-reid-1939-2021')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'Harry Reid(1939-2021)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Senate leader and Nevada political titan'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('harry-reid').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-henry-ruggs')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'HENRY RUGGSDEADLY CRASH'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'CLICK FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('henry-ruggs').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('category-homicides')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'HOMICIDE'; html += 'A STORY BEHIND EVERY NAME'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'TRACKER'; html += 'CLICK HERE FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('homicides').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-sheldon-adelson')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'Sheldon Adelson(1933-2021)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Las Vegas visionary and Philanthropist.'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('sheldon-adelson').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-tony-hsieh')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'Tony Hsieh(1973-2020)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Ex-Zappos and Downtown Project CEO left a lasting impression on Las Vegas.'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('tony-hsieh').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-vegas-weekend')) { //vegas-reawakening html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'VEGAS REAWAKENING'; html += 'A year after the pandemic began, the first weekend of spring showed a perfect storm of promise for Las Vegas’ recovery and brought optimism that visitors would indeed return to the city'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('vegas-reawakening').html(html); return; } //add newsletters embed var default_category_to_show = ['News', 'Local', 'Life', 'Crime']; var newsletter_1st_lv = []; newsletter_1st_lv['default'] = {'id':'starting_point,pm_update', 'track_name':'StartingPoint', 'title':'LOCAL NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free daily Morning and Afternoon Update newsletters.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Sports'] = {'id':'sports', 'track_name':'Sports', 'title':'SPORTS NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free daily Sports Update newsletter.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Business'] = {'id':'business', 'track_name':'Business', 'title':'BUSINESS NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free Business Update newsletter.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Entertainment'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'entertainment', 'track_name':'Entertainment', 'title':'WANT THE LATEST ON LAS VEGAS ENTERTAINMENT?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for free entertainment email alerts'}; //newsletter_1st_lv['Nevada Preps'] = {'id':'nevada_preps', 'title':'HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Stay up to date with our free Nevada Preps newsletter.'}; //newsletter_1st_lv['Investigations'] = {'id':'rj_investigates', 'title':'INVESTIGATIVE NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free RJ Investigates newsletter.'}; var cat_has_subcat = ['News','Business','Entertainment','Sports', 'Opinion']; var newsletter_2nd_lv = []; newsletter_2nd_lv['Politics and Government'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'political', 'track_name':'Political', 'title':'LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL POLITICS COVERAGE', 'subtitle':'
Sign up for our free RJ politics email alerts.
'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['Politics and Government'] = {'id':'political', 'title':'ELECTION 2020: BE INFORMED', 'subtitle':'
FULL COVERAGE | ELECTION RESULTS
Sign up for our free RJ Politics newsletter.
'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['Debra J. Saunders'] = {'id':'44', 'title':'YOUR WEEKLY POLITICAL FIX', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free DC-LV newsletter with political stories from the swamp to the Strip.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['CES 2021'] = {'id':'ces', 'title':'CES 2021: STAY IN THE KNOW', 'subtitle':'
The Review-Journal is a media partner with the CTA. Click here for full coverage and live video from CES 2021
Sign up for our free newsletter below.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['TV'] = {'id':'tv_briefing', 'title':'GET YOUR TV LISTINGS', 'subtitle':'Your Weekly TV Briefing.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['UNLV'] = {'id':'unlv_rebel_news', 'title':'UNLV SPORTS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Stay up to date on the Rebels with our free newsletter.'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Rodeo'] = {'id':'rodeo_nfr', 'track_name':'RodeoNFR', 'title':'RODEO NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Don\'t miss any of the action! Click here for full NFR coverage or Sign up for our free newsletter below'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Raiders News'] = {'id':'vegasnation', 'track_name':'VegasNation', 'title':'WANT EVEN MORE RAIDERS NEWS?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free Vegas Nation newsletter.'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Golden Knights'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'golden_knights', 'track_name':'GoldenKnights', 'title':'WANT MORE KNIGHTS IN YOUR DAY?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for free Golden Knights email alerts for all the latest updates'}; var main_cat = ''; var m_hierarchy = []; var m_cat = []; var m_hl_cat = ''; if (window.dataLayer[0].metrics) { main_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.section; //National Finals Rodeo m_hierarchy = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.hierarchy.split(' | '); //"Sports | Rodeo | National Finals Rodeo" m_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.categories; //["National Finals Rodeo","Rodeo","Sports"] m_hl_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics['hl-category']; //Sports } var i, k, found, newsletter; newsletter = false; found = false; if (default_category_to_show.includes(m_hl_cat)) { newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv['default']; } if (newsletter_1st_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hl_cat)) { newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv[m_hl_cat]; } // check main category if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(main_cat)) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[main_cat]; } if (!found) { // check in hierarchy (main category hierarchy) i = m_hierarchy.length; while (!found && i >= 0) { i--; if (i > 0) { if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hierarchy[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[m_hierarchy[i]]; } } else { // i=0, check first level if (newsletter_1st_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hierarchy[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv[m_hierarchy[i]]; } } } } if (!found) { // check in category i = m_cat.length; while (!found && i > 0 && cat_has_subcat.includes(m_hl_cat)) { i--; if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_cat[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[m_cat[i]]; } } } if (newsletter !== false && !$('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-hide-newsletter') && !$('.rj-story-full').hasClass(' rj-story-sponsored-full')) { var alert_id = ''; if (newsletter.alert_id) { alert_id = newsletter.alert_id; } html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'+newsletter.title+'
'; html += '
'+newsletter.subtitle+'
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'By signing up you agree to our Privacy Policy and '; html += 'Terms of Service. Unsubscribe at any time.'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.'; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').html(html); } //});})(jQuery);
Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Comedy club finds a new home; Hart, Von take over Resorts World
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
Wise Guys Comedy Club is moving into the Westgate; Kevin Hart and Theo Von are expanding their schedules on the Strip.
New Elvis show rocks his original Las Vegas hotel
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
Daniel Durston and three top-notch backing singers carry the show in “The King Comes Home.”
Celine Dion comeback speculation escalates after hit documentary
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
AEG Presents says of Celine Dion’s comeback: “We are excited and ready for her to return to the stage.” So are her millions of fans.
Terry Fator is back — with everyone from ‘We Are the World’
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
Terry Fator, the “America’s Got Talent” champion with nothing left to prove, continues to go the extra mile in his new show at the Strat in Las Vegas.
Top 10 things to do in Las Vegas this week
RJ
Missy Elliott, the Battle for Vegas charity softball game and the NBA Summer League top this week’s entertainment lineup.
Las Vegas County? Clark County commissioner says, ‘It’s time’
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom commented on an X post from the Clark County account with, “It’s time to change our name to Las Vegas County.”
These Las Vegas shows are beating the trend of closures
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
The temperature is hot, but ticket-buying for productions is cool in Las Vegas. Some shows are coming back anyway.
Mirage’s famous fish find new home
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
Some 450 tropical fish are being relocated from The Mirage to Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay.
Fan favorite Spice Girls tribute show closing on Strip
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
The creator of “Spice Wannabe” says, “We haven’t had one bad review.” But the show is shutting down because of soft ticket sales.
Country superstar to celebrate milestone on Las Vegas Strip
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
Wynonna Judd, who has been performing live for 40 years, wanted to throw a party to celebrate her “milestone year.” That bash will coincide with National Finals Rodeo.
MORE STORIES
'; html += '
' html += '
'+d['title']+'
'; html += '
'; $('.rjp-related .base-'+base+' .field-story').append(html); } }});})(jQuery);
 - Shopify)