#TBT: El Veterano Conjunto Festival pays tribute to namesake musician Eligio Escobar
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As Linda Escobar prepares for the 22nd annual El Veterano Conjunto Festival, she reflected on the purposes behind the festival, named in honor of her father and musician, Eligio Roque Escobar.
Escobar was born in 1926 and raised in Ben Bolt in Jim Wells County. He served in the Army during the occupation of Japan in World War II, and then raised a family while working as a driver in the oil fields of South Texas.
In 1960, his legs were injured in an auto accident and he could no longer work in the oil field. Instead, he turned to his lifelong love of music and began his career as a professional musician.
Escobar recorded more than 250 songs for several record labels, and performed with groups such as Los Guadalupanos, Ruben Naranjo and Los Fabulosos Cuatro. He also toured extensively, singing in both English and Spanish, performing his well-known songs like "Cuando dos Almas," "Rosario Nocturno," "El Gambler," and “El Veterano.”
When Linda Escobar was a child, she begged her father to let her sing at one of his concerts. Soon she exploded onto the music scene with “Frijolitos Pintos,” which went on to earn a certified gold record with 1 million units sold by the time she was 8 years old.
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One of her greatest memories was touring every summer with her father. The first weekend after school let out for the summer, she and her father left for three-month tours around the country while her older siblings and mother stayed at home.
“I was just a very lucky little girl,” she recalls. “I got to see so much and perform with top artists. She especially remembers getting to stop at Disneyland for the first time when she was about 8, in awe of getting to go all because of her song being so popular.
Eligio Escobar died of cancer on Oct. 4, 1994, and was greatly missed by friends and family.
After her father’s death, Linda had a dream. Her father came and told her she needed to continue on performing without him and also pass on her knowledge. Linda had learned so much from her father about the music industry, and he guided her throughout her entire career, so by the time of his passing she had decades of experience. She needed to do something with all of that knowledge and experience.
After much thought, she decided to start the El Veterano Conjunto Festival.
She had three goals in mind with the festival. First, to honor her father’s memory, who she misses greatly to this day. Eligio had a reputation for caring deeply for his family, friends and even strangers. He would hand over his pay from a music gig when a friend mentioned being unable to afford to go to the doctor, Linda described.
Second, to honor veterans and their service. One of Eligio’s most famous songs is “El Veterano,” that describes his experience of serving in World War II. Linda says he never spoke of the war, like many of that generation, and instead channeled that into his music and the song that we wrote with his brother, Rogerio
And third, to help young musicians get a start. There are so many children with a God-given talent for music, and they may not have the advantages to go further with their music, said Escobar. That’s where the Eligio Escobar Scholarship Fund began.
“Just as my father helped me, I want to encourage them,” Escobar explained. “And with a scholarship, they can continue their love of music.”
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Since the festival began in 1999, organizers have awarded more than 60 scholarships to musicians 19 and younger. This year’s scholarship winners are sisters Kamila and Bella Urbina. Attendees come from all over the state, and as far as California.
Escobar describes conjunto music is a genre specific to South Texas, a blending of Texas and Mexican music styles popular with Hispanic families, and characterized by its use of the accordion. The festival is an indoor, family friendly event that gets bigger and better every year, Escobar said. She described how people get up and dance together and attendees can see the unique styles between those from the Valley, Corpus Christi and San Antonio.
“The veterans enjoy the camaraderie of the festival, and the Veterans Band [of Corpus Christi] led by Ram Chavez does a beautiful service every year.” She recalls one year two veterans reconnected who hadn’t seen each other in year and served together in Vietnam.
The 22nd El Veterano Conjunto Festival is from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, at the Columbian Civic Center, 2137 N. Business Hwy. 77, Robstown. This year eight conjunto bands will perform: Los D Boyz with a special performance with Linda Escobar, Javier Solis Y Los Unikoz, David Flores y Los Tremendos Alacranes, Mando y La Venganza, Jesse Gomez y Los Chachos, Cindy Ramos y su conjunto, Los Arias, and Budda y Conjunto Reyes. Tickets are $15 for individual or $25 for couples, and children 12 and under are free.
“It’s a lot of work but it’s all worth it,” said Escobar. Even the years of the pandemic and a bout with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma didn’t derail Escobar. The festival committee rallied together and continued to host the festival and award scholarships. But Escobar, who was declared cancer-free in July, said all the work is completely worth it.
“It all comes together and even though we’re all exhausted, we are so happy,” she said. “It has a lot of meaning, a lot of heart.”
Allison Ehrlich writes about things to do in South Texas and has a weekly Throwback Thursday column on local history.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: El Veterano Conjunto Festival honors namesake musician Eligio Escobar
