About Us

The Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame & Museum, founded in 2001, is part of the Museums of San Benito, the birthplace of conjunto music.

The San Benito Museum works to promote, preserve, archive, document, and display the history of regional conjunto music by honoring those who create it.

Detailed information on the instruments used in conjunto music, their cultural origins, and stories of San Benito’s legendary music institutions such as “La Villita” dance hall and the Rio Grande Music Company, home of Ideal Records, are among the featured exhibits.

Within our exhibit space are the accordions of conjunto pioneers:

  • Narciso Martínez
  • Pedro Ayala
  • Ricardo Guzmán
  • Enrique Vela
  • Mario Montes
  • And Gilberto Pérez.

And Many More!

Also on display is:

  • An old bajo sexto donated by Ramiro Cavazos
  • A leather jacket on loan from the family of Mario Montes
  • A suit and pair of shoes donated by the family of Ruben Vela
  • A set of drums donated by Higinio Guzman
  • And an electric Fender bass on loan from Hector Barron of Los Fantasmas Del Valle.

 

Rey Avila-Founder of Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame & Museum

Rey Avila - Founder of Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame & Museum In Memoriam Reynaldo Avila Sr. (Founder) 1942-2019

Narciso and Santiago

Narciso Martinez & Santiago Almeida

Conjunto Museum Exhibits

One exhibit is dedicated to accordionist Narciso Martínez and bajo sexto player Santiago Almeida, considered the “Fathers” of regional conjunto music.

Ethnomusicologists credit them with fusing European accordion rhythms with Mexican roots musica ranchera (ranch music).

Sourced from Around the RGV and The Globe for Hot Tejano Hits

As representatives of what has been called “working man’s music”, our premier conjunto personalities, and their spirits, live on in the Rio Grande Valley of deep South Texas at the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

Our Texas Conjunto & Museum Hall of Fame Board Members

Patricia Avila - President

Patricia Avila
President

Patrica has been President of the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame & Museum since 2020.

She has been a board member since 2014.

 

Peter Avila - Vice President of Texas Conjunto Hall of Fame & Museum in San Benito

Pedro (Peter) Avila
Vice-President

Pedro (Peter) Avila – Vice President of the Texas Conjunto Music and Hall of Fame & Museum and President of the Friends of the Museums in San Benito, Texas.

Peter Avila devotes his

Dr. Olivia Rivas - Board Member

Dr. Olivia Rivas
Board Member

Dr. Olivia Rivas is a native of San Benito, Texas, and a graduate of the San Benito Schools.

She completed and undergraduate degree in History and Political Science from Pan American

Ysenia-Gonzales---Board-Member of Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame in San Benito

Yesenia Gonzales
Board Member

Yesenia Gonzalez Costilla is a native of San Benito who works at a local non-profit organization.

Her passion for helping others is the foundation for her volunteerism and advocacy.

Hector Gonzales

Texas Conjunto

Hall of Fame

Experience history

Location

402 W Robertson St
San Benito, Tx 78586

Hours

Thursday : 10 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Friday: 10 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Texas Conjunto

Hall of Fame

Experience history

About Us

The Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame & Museum, founded in 2001, is part of the Museums of San Benito, the birthplace of Conjunto Music.

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