Rancho Alegre Interview: Johnny Degollado

Recorded in July 2012 at Johnny Degollado's home in Montopolis.

In July 2012, Rancho Alegre met up with the legendary Johnny Degollado. We had just produced our first Rancho Alegre Conjunto Festival in February of that year and finally got a chance to sit down with the guy who had been producing Austin's only Conjunto music festival for several decades before we came on the scene.

We got to know about the life and musical career of a bonafide Austin music legend and prolific songwriter. From first learning from Camilo Cantu in the 1940s and beginning his professional musical career in the early 1950s to his Austin Conjunto Festival, “El Montopolis Kid” has been a tireless advocate for Conjunto music in his hometown.

He was inducted into the Conjunto Music Hall of Fame in San Antonio in 2014 and has recorded nearly 500 songs over his career, including many of his own compositions. One of his most famous songs, “El Pintor,” became a massive hit for The Hometown Boys and remains one of the most frequently played songs on Tejano music radio. The original is included here.

In 2022, we released Musica Al Estilo de Camilo, which may be Johnny's final studio album (never say never!) honoring his mentor, Camilo Cantu who famously never recorded any music. It is available on all streaming services and on CD through our online store. We have included a few tracks here.

Every year, we dedicate the Sunday of the Rancho Alegre Conjunto Music Festival to Johnny and the legacy of his annual festival, which always took place on the Sunday of Cinco de Mayo weekend. We are honored to pick up the torch and continue preserving and promoting conjunto for many years to come. Johnny is always invited as a guest of honor and the attendees are always happy to see him.

Here's what we played: 

• Lavando Los Trastes
• Mi Perlita
• El Pintor
• Los Piscadores
• Una Sola Mirada
• La Calabaza
• Me Trais Loco