Laura Canales &

Cali Carranza y los Formales
Formales, Texas
Tejano Music

Women of Mexican descent have played major roles as interpreters of Tejano music. When música norteña developed in the late 1920s and early 1930s, women sang on the early recordings. Although women have remained involved in both Texas-Mexican conjunto and orquesta music since then, Kingsville, Texas native Laura Canales, is considered one of the female pioneers of contemporary Tejano music, was acknowledged by the late Selena as an enormous influence on her work, and continues to serve as a role model for younger female musicians.

Sometimes referred to as the Barbara Streisand of the Onda Tejana, Canales made her stage debut with Los Unicos shortly after graduating from high school. She then quickly went on to win her first "Female Entertainer and Female Vocalist of the Year" award in 1981. She continued to win this award every year up to 1988 and was nominated in the same category all the way to 1990. She has recorded numerous albums and is a much sought-after performer, particularly with Hispanic audiences.

At the 2004 Great Lakes Folk Festival Canales joins veteran Tejano musician and Pharr, Texas native Cali Carranza. Cali has been in the music business since age 8, when he played drums and accordion in a conjunto band with his late father, Magdaleno "Chief" Carranza, whom Cali credits as his "driving force and best friend throughout his musical career." Cali and his band, Los Formales, maintain a repertoire that includes traditional country and conjunto sounds, as well as the progression of La Onda Tejana.

Joining Laura and Cali at the 2004 Great Lakes Folk Festival are Cali's family members: Ruben Carranza (bajo sexto), Magdaleno Carranza (vocals), Raciel Carranza (electric bass, vocals), and Reynaldo Carranza.

Links
http://www.ondanet.com/tejano/artists/Laura.Canales/
http://www.haciendarecords.com/artists/cali_carranza/main.html