Bobby Martinez | Photo: Thomas Vasquez
Bobby Martinez of the legendary Conjunto band The Hometown Boys passed away on Saturday. The cause of death for Martinez is not immediately known.
Tejano Nation radio affiliate Magic 106.5 FM in Lubbock, Texas, reported the death of the musician via social media on Saturday. “It’s with heavy hearts that we inform Hometown Boys fans of the passing of Bobby Martinez. R.I.P.” No other information was given.
Martinez, who is a founding member and bass player of the Grammy-winning group, was critically injured in an auto accident in 2019 from which he never fully recovered.
One of the most celebrated groups of their era, The Hometown Boys started out as a family band many years ago and went on to become one of the most popular conjunto acts in the Southwest. They have been known for hit songs “Mi Ranchito”, “Somos Dos Gatos”, “El Pintor”, and many more great songs. In 1996, they were the first Hispanics to be inducted into the “Buddy Holly Walk of Fame” in Lubbock, Texas, alongside Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Waylon Jennings, and other Texas legends.
However, just a year later in 1997 Roman Martinez, Jr. died unexpectedly at the age of 45. Joe Martinez suffered a heart attack not long after Roman, Jr.’s death, and he died after a performance in January 1998, at only 34 years old. In 2002, an aneurysm claimed Jesse Martinez‘s life, also at age 34. Maria Dolores Martinez, the group’s matriarch, succumbed to lingering illness in 2007. That same year, Ricky Martinez also passed after a period of ill health. Despite struggling with tragedy after tragedy, Roman Martinez, Sr. kept the group together, still playing bajo sexto and recruiting other family members and like-minded musicians to keep the lineup together.
This is a developing story. Tejano Nation is working to gather additional details.
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