Raul "El Ruco" Martinez

Known as an accordionist and vocalist, Raul "El Ruco" Martinez ranked among the pioneers of conjunto music on record, cutting sides for Falcon and Ideal during the closing years of the 1940s and throughout the 1950s, frequently alongside bajo sexto specialist and singer Juan Gonzalez in the act Dueto Alegre. As the nephew of esteemed conjunto accordionist Narciso Martinez, he received instruction from his father Santos Martinez beginning when he reached roughly five years old. His introduction to Gonzalez occurred in Harlingen, Texas, during 1947, prompting the two to establish Dueto Alegre. That collaboration ended by 1954, after which Gonzalez performed in various ensembles and cut tracks with Flaco Jimenez along with additional artists. In the 1950s and 1960s Martinez issued several recordings under his own name. His passing came in 1978.