Jay Perez | Photo by Lorena Rodriguez / LCR Photography
Jay Perez was the big winner at the 42nd annual Tejano Music Awards last week winning three awards, the most of any artist this year. “The Voice” won Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year with El Maestro, which contained the Song of the Year “Eres.” The iconic Tejano singer spoke about his experience at the TMAs, his highly-anticipated new album, and advice for the next generation of Tejano stars in an interview with legendary Tejano morning personality Jonny Ramirez on Tejano 95.7/103.3 FM in San Antonio this week.
During his acceptance speech for Male Vocalist of the Year, Perez said today’s emerging Tejano artists should “be creative, not created.” He expanded on that comment during the interview speaking about his own experience in the music industry. “Had I known that back in the day, I kind of let everybody tell me pretty much what to do because I didn’t know any better. That follower became a leader. I’m hoping and I pray that I’m a mentor to some of these cats coming up so they can mentor someone else later on in life.”
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Perez recently said his forthcoming album with Freddie Records will be the best album in his 30-year solo career. “I made that comment because I believe not only in the project but the work that went behind making this album. I believe in myself, I believe in everything that went behind it,” said Perez. “We just put a Jay Perez and The Band old-school style to every song that is recorded on this brand new album.”
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The album is expected to be released in early 2023, but the lead single, “Necesito Odiarte,” was released last month, including a music video, Jay’s first video in almost three decades.
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