Houston Ground Zero For Tejano Music Resurgence At Livestock Show And Rodeo Event

A protest and march planned against organizers of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo upcoming event for not including Tejano music at their major event arena.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

February 20, 2015

Houston, Texas - Tejano music enthusiasts (TME) in Houston have announced that a major protest and march will take place on Saturday, February 28, at 9:30 a.m. at the City Hall Reflection Pond. The protest is being organized by José Vega, William Morris and Melissa Flores who posted a "Houston Rodeo Protest" Facebook page and more than 359 people and students, including Tejano/Conjunto artists, musicians and known singers are planning to attend. The protest was organized against the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) Board/Executive Committee who decided not to include Tejano music at their major arena venue for the March 3 to 22 event. 

The major TME protest, which coincides with the HLSR Saturday's parade in Houston has become Ground Zero for the resurgence of Tejano music at the HLSR event.

Tejanos and Tejano music enthusiasts are taking a stand and are speaking out against the HLSR discriminatory decision not to show case Tejano music in its main venue. 

Over the weekend, Oscar de la Rosa, the lead singer for La Mafia band made news after a video circulated on the social networks targeting the HLSR for not including Tejano music at the major arena. De la Rosa had a few words to say to the HLSR, "...F_ck Them...I feel that there is some f_cking asshole there that is so anti-Tejano, you know what I'm saying..." The ear catching remarks were made by De la Rosa at the El Dorado St. Valentine's Day dance that drew an over capacity crowd and lines of fans outside trying to get into the dance.

In 1991, La Mafia was featured at the HLSR major event arena and broke the audience attendence record drawing more than 55,000 fans. In the last seven years, the HLSR has failed to add a Tejano headliner in the major or main stage at the arena resulting in criticism and protests. The HLSR allows Tejano music on the side because it doesn't attract revenue, but Tejanos attending the 19-day event and Cook-off do spend money at the event and do support funding for student scholarships, but the HLSR discriminates against the very people (Tejanos) it depends to generate funding.

The HLSR released a statement that they do include Spanish language or Mexican bands, but failed to mention that Tejano/Conjunto music was actually excluded from the main concert event arena once again.

The protest is generating support from Tejanos and Tejano music enthusiasts in the tri-county area and is spreading to other parts of Texas as well. The organizers of the protest say, that they are now working to contact sponsors of the HLSR to let them know that as consumers of their products, they shouldn't be discriminated by the same group (HLSR) that they sponsor.

The protest supporters are also concentrating in boycotting the HLSR pre-party Houston Rodeo Cook-off, which runs from February 26 thru the 28. If most of the Tejano participants at the Rodeo Cook-off boycott the event, it will cause a major economic loss and setback for the HLSR.

The HLSR controversy even resulted with Univision 45 news commentator Laura Sierra to say, like Tejano music is no longer popular, como quien dice "La musica Tejana ya no pega." Well, Sierra missed the crowd at the El Dorado indicating que Tejano music si pega (Tejano music is alive and kicking)!
Sierra's Univision 45 News video: http://youtu.be/8RjNC3VGeTw

HLSR contact e-mail:
questions@rodeohouston.com, lyons@rodeohouston.com or 832-667-1000

HLSR Chairman of the Board

● Jack A. Lyons

Executive Committee

● Jim Bloodworth

● Brady F. Carruth

● Wayne Hollis

● J.P. "Hap" Hunnicutt

● Don D. Jordan

● Ed McMahon

● Chris Richardson

● Charles R. "Butch" Robinson

● Paul G. Somerville

● R.H. "Steve" Stevens Jr.

● P. Michael Wells

● James A. "Jim" Winne III

Chief Executive Officer/President

● Joel Cowley 

Chief Operating Officer/Vice President

● Dan Cheney

There are between 190 to 350 HLSR Board members.

According to an IRS 990 filing for September 2012, annual revenue and expenses for fiscal year starting September 1, 2012 and ending August 31, 2013, the HLSR, Inc., a non-profit organization reported a total revenue of $117,546,534 and expenses of $99,132,642. For the same fiscal year, the HLSR Educational Fund revenue filed was $19,107,404 and expenses $19,106,747. In attendance, the HLSR reported that in 2014, the general attendence was 2,485,721 and Rodeo attendence was 1,377,416.

Online petition to restore Tejano music at event, link: http://alturl.com/t9urz

Video: Oscar de la Rosa from La Mafia said it and we all agree: http://youtu.be/LhG-CEsbk7c

Video of Houston's Fire Marshal shutting down La Mafia St. Valentine's Dance at El Dorado at link: http://youtu.be/jSn5NrGWh74


Editors note: The difference today between Tejano music and other music genres that the HLSR should consider in making their decision to keep Tejano music outside of the major arena lineup is that Tejano music doesn't proliferate on drugs, gangs, murders or drug cartels. Tejano music is about life experiences, love, culture, success, values, family and etc.