Flaco Jiménez, Icon of Conjunto and Tex-Mex Music, Dies at 86

San Antonio, TX — August 1, 2025 — Flaco Jiménez, the legendary accordionist whose pioneering role in Tex-Mex, conjunto, and roots music left an indelible mark on American music, has died at the age of 86. He passed away on Thursday, July 31, in his hometown of San Antonio.

Over a career spanning more than 60 years, Jiménez helped bring the lively rhythms of the button accordion from the Texas-Mexico borderlands to the global stage. He earned five Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, a National Heritage Fellowship, and the National Medal of Arts in 2022.

A prolific recording artist and sought-after collaborator, Jiménez was a bridge between cultures and genres—equally at home in country, rock, blues, and folk. He recorded with Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, Carlos Santana, The Rolling Stones, Los Lobos, and Emmylou Harris, among many others.

A Signature Sound with Dwight Yoakam

Among his most celebrated collaborations was his long-running musical partnership with country artist Dwight Yoakam. Together, they highlighted a seamless fusion of Bakersfield country and Tex-Mex tradition.

Jiménez's unmistakable accordion work was featured on Yoakam and Buck Owens’ hit “Streets of Bakersfield” (1988), which topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and helped reintroduce Owens to a new generation of fans. Jiménez’s warm, vibrant playing added a distinct Southwestern flavor that elevated the song beyond its original roots.

Another standout moment in their partnership came with their recording of “Carmelita,” a song originally written by Warren Zevon. The version featuring Yoakam and Jiménez stands out as a poignant showcase of their chemistry—melding country heartbreak with the rich textures of Tex-Mex instrumentation.

Jiménez was a frequent collaborator not only with Yoakam but with a wide array of prominent artists across multiple genres. His intuitive musicianship and humble demeanor made him a beloved figure in recording studios and on stages alike.

In a tribute following Jiménez’s passing, Yoakam wrote:
"It was one of the greatest honors of my career to know Flaco and to make music with him. His spirit was as generous as his sound was unmistakable. The world lost a giant, and I lost a friend."

A Life Steeped in Music

Born Leonardo Jiménez in 1939, Flaco was raised in a musical household in San Antonio. His father, Santiago Jiménez Sr., was a pioneering conjunto artist, and Flaco joined his band by age 7. He cut his first recordings at 15 and quickly became a fixture in local dancehalls and television shows.

By the 1960s, Jiménez had begun collaborating with Doug Sahm of the Sir Douglas Quintet. That relationship would later lead to his involvement in the Texas Tornados, a Grammy-winning “supergroup” formed in 1990 with Sahm, Freddy Fender, and Augie Meyers. With their bilingual, genre-blending approach, the Texas Tornados helped bring Tejano and Tex-Mex music to mainstream audiences.

Jiménez’s solo work spanned decades, with albums released on respected folk and roots labels including Arhoolie, Rounder, and Smithsonian Folkways. He toured the world with Ry Cooder and appeared on Cooder’s Chicken Skin Music (1976) and the soundtrack for The Border (1981). He contributed to The Rolling Stones’ Voodoo Lounge (1994) and earned multiple Grammy Awards for his work both as a solo artist and in collaborations like Los Super Seven.

Honoring a Musical Giant

Known as the "Tex-Mex Accordion King," Flaco Jiménez helped define and elevate the sound of conjunto music while introducing it to wider audiences through fearless experimentation and heartfelt collaborations.

In 2012, he received the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. He was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame in 2014 and honored with the National Medal of Arts in 2022 for his lifetime contributions to American music.

Flaco Jiménez is survived by his wife, Adela; sons Arturo and Gilbert; daughters Cynthia Jiménez and Raquel Fernandez; and his brother, Santiago Jiménez Jr., also an acclaimed accordionist. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.