Santiago Jiménez Jr: "We'll do something, I guess..."

Courtesy photo

Flaco's younger brother ready to make history.

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At age 68, Santiago Jiménez Jr. still tours and records, presses, designs, and releases his albums through his own label, Chief Records. Album number 75 will be ready in time for the 2012 Tejano Conjunto Festival. "No name yet, but I want to call it Santiago Jiménez Jr. is still kickin,'" he told the Current on the phone. He knows his presence in this year's festival is linked to the possible rare collaboration with his brother Flaco. The only time they recorded together was in 1960 for the album The King and Prince of Norteña, released in 1961 by Discos Lira.

"It was actually conjunto, but the label put norteña," Jiménez Jr. said about the album that featured himself (then 16) on accordion, a 21-year-old Flaco on bajo sexto, and Toby Torres on bass. No drums, as was his father's style. The only time father and sons played together onstage was at the first Tejano Conjunto Festival in 1982, and Jiménez Jr. is open to finally join his brother this time.

"We've played on the same night and stage, him with his conjunto and myself with mine, but we've never played together [alone in concert]," Jiménez Jr. said. "This will be the first time we get together and do something, I guess..."

But will it happen? Has he discussed it with Flaco?

"No, we haven't," Jiménez Jr. said last week. "[Festival director] Juan Tejeda called me and said he spoke to Flaco and we're going to do this and that. Once we're onstage we'll decide what to do."

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