Recorded in 2011, we caught up with the legend himself, Ramon Ayala, before a show here in Austin, Texas. 

At the time, Ramon didn't really do interviews, so we were really fortunate to get him to talk with us. 

We spoke with him about his life and career, as we do, and he was candid and friendly, even though we didn't have as much time with him as we have had with others.  

This past year has seen the icon winding down his 60+ year career in music with a final tour. 

Here's what we played: 

Recorded in 2011 at Cuauhtemoc Hall, San Marcos, Texas.

In this interview, recorded before a show at Cuauhtemoc Hall, we talk with The Hometown Boys lineup of 2011: Elias Arredondo (lead vocals), Rosie Perea (backing vocals), Bobby Martinez (RIP, bass), Anthony Treviño (accordion), and of course, El Jefe himself, Roman Martinez Sr. (bajo sexto).

Recorded in 2011 at Cuauhtemoc Hall, San Marcos Texas.

In this interview, we first meet the dynamic Sunny Sauceda before a show at Cuauhtemoc Hall. We talk about his beginnings as an artist, important moments in his career, and more. 

Since then, Sunny has become active in the Texas Chapter of the Recording Academy, joined the staff of Texas Folklife, and has performed on America's Got Talent. He continues to be one of the nicest people in the business, relentlessly positive, and still has that trademark high-energy performance style. 

Recorded in 2011 - Tejano Ranch, Austin TX

Back in 2011, we caught up with the legendary Tony Guerrero of La Sombra, one of the most popular Tejano showbands of the 1980s and 1990s. At the time, Guerrero had had some health issues and La Sombra had been on hiatus for a few years. In 2016, they released Look Who's Back - their first album in well over a decade. 

Younger bands like Austin's Los A-T Boyz were especially influenced by La Sombra's flashy stage show, choreography, and modern style. 

Recorded in 2011 - Moose Lodge, Austin Texas

Bene Medina is one of those rare musicians who have created a lasting legacy into future generations through teaching. Known as El Maestro, San Antonio's Bene Medina has, at one time or another, probably given a lesson to every young accordion player in town. Either as an independent instructor or one of the founding instructors at the Conjunto Heritage Taller. 

Bene is also an incredibly technical musician, meticulous in his playing and known for difficult pieces that show how sophisticated Conjunto can be. 

Recorded in 2011 at the Flamingo Ballroom. 

Augustin Ramirez is a Tejano icon. Beginning his career in the early 1960s and riding the tide of the popularity of horn-driven Orquesta Tejana into the 1980s, "El Guti" has been one of the most popular musicians for over 60 years. 

Full disclosure, his music has always been a mainstay here at Rancho Alegre, so landing this interview was extra exciting for us. 

Since then, he continued touring all over the US but has slowed down in the past two years. But he still gets out there from time to time. 

Back in 2011, we caught up with Austin's own Gilbert Alba. The veteran Tejano musician has had a long storied career in central Texas and beyond, spending time in numerous bands including Dave Gutierrez y Su Orquesta, Ruben Ramos and the Mexican Revolution. and most notably, The Latin Breed, as well as his own band, The Super City Band. 

Recorded in 2011 at Cuauhtemoc Hall, San Marcos, Texas.

We met up with the legendary Jaime y Los Chamacos before a show and got to learn about the life and career of Jaime DeAnda. 

A lot has happened since this interview, notably that Jaime and the rest of the band parted ways in 2018. Tejano Nation has covered the different sides to the story, with band ownership at the heart of the dispute. 

Here's what we played:

On a lovely summer evening in 2011, we met up with Raphael and Paquito Rodriguez of Los A-T Boyz at Little Mexico on South 1st here in Austin.