@JohnCerney / Instagram
Los Palominos, the Grammy-winning Tejano band, has been honored with a wooden art piece in their hometown of Uvalde, Texas. The art piece is one of three 12 to 18 feet high wooden art pieces spread around the south Texas town, that also depict Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey and singer-songwriter and actress Dale Evans.
The Uvalde Area Development Foundation requested about $21,400 from the city council to fund the art pieces, which are to be placed along Highway 90. The funds come from the city’s hotel occupancy tax revenue.
The art piece for Los Palominos is located in the 300 block of East Main Street at the Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center across from H-E-B. The 12-foot high artwork, created by artist John Cerney, features the four brothers, Johnny, Jorge, James, and Julio Arreola wearing plaid shirts, with two in cowboy hats, holding their instruments. It’s a testament to the band’s contribution to the music industry and the family’s roots in Uvalde. The band was also featured in a commissioned mural celebrating famous people from Uvalde in 2022.
“It’s amazing. I’m really happy and surprised. I’m happy to know that the city of Uvalde considers us to be part of the background of the community of Uvalde. We were born and raised in Uvalde and we’ve been active there, with our festival contributing to the community,” said James Arreola. “It’s an honor to be acknowledged.”
Los Palominos has been in the music industry for over 30 years and has hits like “Corazón de Cristal,” “La Llama,” and “Mi Obsesión”. The group won a Latin Grammy for Best Norteño Album for “Piénsalo” in 2017, a Grammy for Best Tejano Performance with “Por Eso Te Amo” in 1999 and two Latin Grammys in 2000 and 2007, both for Best Tejano Album.
The latest album from Los Palominos, “El Orgullo de Uvalde,” (The Pride of Uvalde) was released on May 26, 2023, from Freddie Records. The album cover features the band members standing in front of a mural of themselves in Uvalde. The band also host their annual Palomino Fest in their hometown during Labor Day weekend since 1996. It raises funds for scholarships at Southwest Texas Junior College.
Source: Noted Uvaldeans are truly larger than life
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