Isidro Lopez (05/17/1929-08/15/2004)
Legendary Popularizer of Tejano Music Dies

The singer and bandleader Isidro Lopez, a legendary figure in the Mexican-American community, died on August 22, 2004 at the age of 75. Lopez helped pioneer Tejano music, his contributions making him the equivalent of Elvis Presley in rock and Bill Monroe in bluegrass.

Lopez was born to Mexican-American parents in the small town of Bishop, Texas. His features—and later his nickname, "El Indio"—reflected the legacy of his Mescalera Apache father.

Lopez began recording in the late 1940s, initially playing saxophone with the big Mexican bands then popular around the US southwest. While a member of the Juan Colorado Orchestra in 1954, he got the chance to record his own song, "Díganle."

In 1956, Lopez formed his own orchestra, and began the intense schedule of recording and touring he would maintain for the next twenty years. The Isidro Lopez Orchestra quickly established itself as the leading Mexican-American ensemble, with its leader ensuring his dominance by employing many of Texas's finest Mexican-American musicians.

Without losing his Mexican roots, Lopez was able to mix jazz, Cuban boleros, rock, mariachi ballads, country music and pop flavors. By adding two accordions to his orchestra and singing with great finesse, he established the template from which modern Tejano music would flow. He was particularly known for his smooth voice, which reminded some of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. Others referred to him as the Mexican Elvis. Some of Lopez's hits included "Mi Rosita," "Todo o nada," "Por tu cariño," and "Corazón del pueblo."

Lopez continued to record until the late 1970s, when he went into semi-retirement. In 1983, he was inducted into the Tejano Music Award's Hall of Fame. In 2002, Gov. Rick Perry presented him with the Tejano Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Mr. Lopez is survived by his wife, Melba, and six children.