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Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo proclaimed Sept. 17 as “Johnny Canales Day,” recognizing the late Tejano legend and iconic TV host for his impact on the genre, the local community and far beyond.
Mayor Guajardo made the declaration on Tuesday, “I do hereby proclaim September the 17th of 2024 Johnny Canales Day in Corpus Christi, Texas, in honor of his extraordinary life, his immense contributions to Tejano music and culture, and his commitment to our community.”
Johnny Canales began his career on “The Domingo Peña Show” on KIII-TV. In 1983, he launched his own program, “The Johnny Canales Show.” His wife, Nora Canales, later joined him for “The Johnny and Nora Canales Show,” which continues to air on KRIS-TV in Corpus Christi.
His wife and co-host Nora Canales, as well as his daughters, Seleste and Miroslava, accepted the proclamation.
Nora Canales said, “I think this September is our culture, our month, and he will be very proud, and he would say, ‘You got it’. So now, with a humble heart, we received this beautiful day, this beautiful honor. We are honored to receive it, and words cannot express the joy that is in my heart because he worked so hard, not only for the people, but for the musicians, the artists, so I feel that everyone and we were mourning together, and that gives us strength and support that we’re not alone in this journey of missing him and learning to live without. But in our hearts, in your hearts, in everybody’s hearts, we will carry him and honor him like today and be proud of everything that he did for his legacy.”
Seleste Canales added, “It’s awesome that he gets his own day, and words can’t express how we feel. We feel it in his room. We can feel his presence no matter where we go. He’s here. He’s happy, and for him, he would want us to be laughing right now. He’ll be cracking his jokes. He would probably make sure you have a smile on your face, so today is going to be a very beautiful, happy day.”
City of Corpus Christ Honors Johnny Canales
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Johnny Canales was a beloved Tejano music icon known for his charismatic personality and dedication to promoting Tejano music and culture. “The Johnny Canales Show” became a platform for many Tejano artists to showcase their talent. A documentary about Canales, titled Take It Away: The Rise and Fall of Tejano Hollywood, is currently in post-production. This film is expected to shed light on Canales’ significant contributions to the Tejano music scene and his enduring legacy.
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