Tigres’ rep to attend HOF ceremony

By RAY QUIROGA
publisher@sbnewspaper.com

After much speculation, officials with the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame & Museum (TCMHFM), located in San Benito, confirmed this week that a representative from Los Tigres del Norte, the famed Tejano group and 2004 Hall of Fame inductees, will be on hand to accept the honor during the Hall’s 2024 induction ceremony slated for Saturday, Jul. 27, 2024, in San Benito.

Peter Avila, son of museum founder Rey Avila, confirmed this week that Jorge Hernandez Jr., son of band founder and living legend Jorge Hernandez, would be on hand to accept the honor on behalf of the group. Hernandez, Jr. is also part of the group’s management team, which made contact with the Avilas when Los Tigres visited the Valley for an Island concert in late March of this year.

It was through industry contact that the Avila were able to connect with the group’s management and see Los Tigres live during their island visit. It was at that time that the Avilas also shared the news of the honor with the band, but up until this week, Hall and induction ceremony organizers were unsure if Los Tigres would have a representative on hand to accept the honor.

Other inductees on the night include Johnny Degollado, Gilberto Rodriguez, Martin H. Solis, Frutoso “Fruty” Villarreal, Gilbert Reyes Jr., Hilario “Layo” Jimenez, Max Baca, Japanese Conjunto artist Kenji “El Gato” Katsube and Nicholas Z. Villarreal.

“We are extremely excited to host this event that will honor the pioneers and legends in the Conjunto community,” said TCMHFM President Patricia Avila at the time of the initial announcement of this year’s induction class.

The 20th Annual TCMHFM Induction Awards are being held Saturday, July 27, 2024, at the ABC Event Center, located at 923 E. Stenger St., San Benito, with the event starting at 7 p.m. and ending at midnight. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Immediately following the induction ceremony, attendees will enjoy a dance with live entertainment. The headliner is Conjunto pioneer and legend Ruben Garza y Su Conjunto, presented by Betancourt Ventures LLC Productions-Wrecking Crew Jam Dance Hall Series.

Tickets for the award ceremony and dance are $20 each. For table reservations and ticket information, contact Avila at (956) 945-5005 or via email at texasconjuntomusicmuseum@gmail.com.

The TCMHOFM has been a non-profit 501 © (3) organization since 2001 and is dedicated to promoting, archiving, documenting, and permanently displaying the history of Texas Conjunto regional folk music for the benefit of generations to come. Since its inception, the TCMHOFM has inducted 93 inductees into its hall of fame.

In 2023, the TCMHFM relocated from the San Benito Community Building to the Aztec building, located at 402 W. Robertson St. in San Benito’s historic Robertson St. District.

In late April of last year, the hall of fame and museum were designated as a Blue Star Museum, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America to offer free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel, including National Guard and Reserve servicemen and women and their families each summer.