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[4/5] Preview: Manuel “Cowboy” Donley tardeada at the Moose Lodge

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Manuel Cowboy Donley
Manuel “Cowboy” Donley. Courtesy photo.

Sunday, Apr. 5, the Moose Lodge welcomes back the legendary Manuel “Cowboy” Donley. The Austin Tejano pioneer will continue his monthly tardeada residency with another Sunday afternoon of classic Tejano, along with some trio romantico favorites as well.

Donley, 87, is an Austin icon who was recently awarded the National Heritage Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts, presented by the National Endowment for the Arts. After forming his first band in the late 1940s, his popularity really took off with his band, Las Estrellas, in the mid 1950s with a style of music called “orquesta.” With saxophones, electric guitar, and flavors borrowed from rock and roll and jazz that defined the genre, the group scored a hit with “Flor Del Rio” in the early 1960s and toured the entire state. In the past few decades, Donley has gone on to perform and record in the more traditional “trio romantico” genre as well. Even after nearly 70 (yes, 70!) years in the business, Donley’s voice is still clear and strong.

Long story short: Highly recommended for anyone who loves music history, especially Austin Mexican-American music history. Beautiful guitar, great harmonies, perfect for an Easter afternoon. The family atmosphere at the Moose is perfect for a tardeada and any kind of traditional music.

The Moose Lodge is located at 2103 E.M. Franklin Avenue, north of MLK and east of Airport Boulevard in East Austin. Cover is $5. All ages are welcome. Show starts at 4 p.m. For more information, call 512-926-0043.

[11/14] Preview: Big Band Tejano with Manuel “Cowboy” Donley and Jorge Tamayo at the Moose Lodge

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Big Band TejanoTonight Tejano returns once again to the Moose Lodge with Austin’s own Big Band Tejano, along with special guests Manuel “Cowboy” Donley and Jorge Tamayo. Conditions are perfect for another great event at the wood-paneled, intimate friendly confines of the East Side family dance hall.

Big Band Tejano is a horn-driven band in the tradition of the great orquestas of the ’60s and ’70s. The group features seasoned veteran players with impressive resumes, including bandleader Felipe Borrero. Fans of Alfonso Ramos y Su Orquesta, Nash Hernandez Orchestra, Augustin Ramirez, Tortilla Factory, Latin Breed, Joe Bravo, or Ruben Ramos and the Mexican Revolution (just to name a few) will enjoy the big brass sounds of this super-talented group.

Joining the guys will be the legendary Manuel “Cowboy” Donley and Jorge Tamayo. Donley, who began his career in the late 40’s and continues to perform, received an National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship for his contributions to folk music. Tamayo, Donley’s longtime Trio Romantico collaborator, will also be ready to jam with his beautiful voice and guitar in hand.

Long story short: Great voices, lots of sax and trumpets, and a truckload full of soul. Maybe even some boleros in the trio romantico style…Don’t miss this one!

The Moose Lodge is located at 2103 E.M. Franklin Avenue, north of MLK and east of Airport Boulevard in East Austin. Tickets are $5 per person, $8 per couple. All ages are welcome. Show starts at 8:30 p.m. Visit the Facebook event page here.

[10/17] Preview: ALMA Showcase at the Moose Lodge featuring Manuel “Cowboy” Donley, Street People and Joel Salas

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Sonidos Del BarrioTonight at the Moose Lodge, the Austin Latino Music Association (ALMA) will celebrate Manuel “Cowboy” Donley, along with other members of Austin’s Tejano community. The lineup at the eastside dance hall includes Donley, as well as Street People and Joel Salas and the Austin Tejano Music Legends.

Donley was recently honored with a prestigious NEA Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and performed at their annual concert in Washington, D.C. It is the nation’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts, and while it has been given to legends like Lydia Mendoza, Tony De La Rosa, Valerio Longoria, Flaco Jimenez, and Mingo Saldivar, Donley was the first of the orquesta tradition to be recognized.

Street People, led by Austin Tejano legend Leonard Davila, was one of the Live Music Capital’s most popular groups in early 1980s. Davila, a veteran vocalist and former member of Ruben Ramos and the Mexican Revolution, resurrected the group earlier this year after a nearly 30 year hiatus. Fans have welcomed the group and their old school horn-driven sound with open arms and many are looking forward to their new album due out later this year.

Joel Salas and the Austin Tejano Music Legends will also take the stage. Look for more old school flavor from this all-star group of seasoned veteran musicians as well. Radio legend Joe Morales will also be honored for his contributions to the scene.

Long story short: These family-friendly cultural events are always great examples of community and do a great job of instilling a sense of pride while honoring Austin music history. The Moose Lodge is a perfect venue for this and it has a huge dance floor. Plus, the music is always top-notch!

The Moose Lodge is located at 2103 E.M. Franklin Avenue, north of MLK and east of Airport Boulevard in East Austin. The cover charge is $12 at the door, presale tickets are available at Estrada’s Cleaners (2618 E 7th Street) for $10. All ages are welcome. For more information, call Isidoro Lopez at 512-563-3697.

[9/19] NEA National Heritage Fellowship Concert webcast featuring Manuel “Cowboy” Donley

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MCDTonight, Sept. 19, Austin legend Manuel “Cowboy” Donley will perform at the NEA National Heritage Fellowship Concert. The annual presentation will recognize Donley and the rest of this year’s fellowship honorees and will take place at George Washington University in Washington D.C., but will be webcast online.

Donley, 87, is an Austin icon. After forming his first band in the late 1940s, his popularity really took off with his band, Las Estrellas, in the mid 1950s with a style of music called “orquesta.” With saxophones, electric guitar, and flavors borrowed from rock and roll and jazz that defined the genre, the group scored a hit with “Flor Del Rio” in the early 1960s and toured the entire state. In the past few decades, Donley has gone on to perform and record in the more traditional “trio romantico” genre, his voice still clear and strong.

The National Heritage Fellowship is the nation’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts and is presented by the National Endowment for the Arts. Texas, which is rich in home-grown traditional music, is no stranger to this award, particularly for conjunto artists like Valerio Longoria, Tony De La Rosa, and Mingo Saldivar, just to name a few. Donley is the first of the orquesta tradition to receive this recognition.

Accompanying Donley onstage will be some of Austin’s most talented musicians including Big Band Tejano personnel Fred Soto, Felipe Borrero, Dez Desormeaux, and Marc Sustaita.

Long story short: A fantastic opportunity to show yet another side of Austin’s rich musical history on the national stage – one that’s often forgotten even in our own town. Definitely a night for Austin Tejano pride.

The webcast begins at 8 p.m. eastern time on Friday night, and can be viewed on the NEA website.

Texas Folklife presents ‘Una Noche Romantica’ Valentine’s Day Concert

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“Una Noche Romantica,” presented by Texas Folklife and featuring world-acclaimed Mexican trio Los Tres Reyes and Austin legend Manuel “Cowboy” Donley, will be held this Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. Donley will be opening the concert for Los Tres Reyes.

With a musical career of over 60 years, Tejano music legend Manuel “Cowboy” Donley, whose career began in Austin’s 6th Street and East Austin, has earned him the title of Godfather of the “Brown Sound” as well as a spot in the Tejano Hall of Fame in 1997. In the 1940s, he was heavily influenced by trio music leading him to a unique and sophisticated technique in layering musical arrangements and has since tutored many musicians.

Los Tres Reyes, or The Three Kings, is composed of Gilberto Puente, Raúl Puente, and Bebo Cárdenas. Throughout their career, they have produced at total of 19 albums. They gained a lot of international prestige in the 1950s and ‘60s and are the only surviving trio from the Golden Age of Mexican cinema and the romantic music that served as its backdrop. In the early 1990s, Los Tres Reyes regrouped with trio veteran Johnny Albino as the lead vocal and most recently Bebo Cárdenas.

The Valentine’s Day concert, “Una Noche Romantica,” presented by Texas Folklife will be held at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) on Thursday, Feb. 14. Doors will be opening at 7 p.m. with a reception that includes chocolate, wine, and hors d’oeuvres. The concert begins at 8 p.m. General admission tickets cost $50 and $35 for Texas Folklife members. Tickets can be purchased at lostresreyes.brownpapertickets.com. For more information, visit texasfolklife.org or the Facebook event page here.