[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 126 (Monday, September 20, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        LITTLE JOE Y LA FAMILIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 20, 2010

  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, as Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic 
Caucus Task Force on Communications, Technology, and the Arts, I rise 
to recognize Little Joe y La Familia, the renowned Tejano music group 
which has become one of the most popular Tex-Mex bands. My good friend, 
Little Joe Hernandez, has worked in the music industry for more than 50 
years, and his success is attributable not only to his talent, but also 
to his strong dedication to his community.
  Born Jose Maria De Leon Hernandez, Little Joe serves an inspiration 
to aspiring artists. In 1955, Joe played his first musical performance 
for $5 at a high school sock hop. He went on to make his first 
recording 3 years later and founded a number of music labels in the 
following years. With each new endeavor, he opened doors both for 
himself and his band as well as for fellow musicians and songwriters. 
His music has defined and promoted a culture unique to the Texas-Mexico 
border. His pioneering work helped make Tejano music what it is today.
  In 1992, Little Joe y La Familia received a Grammy Award for Best 
Mexican American Performance for their album Diez y Seis de Septiembre. 
They won two more Grammy Awards for Best Tejano Album for Chicanismo in 
2006 and Before the Last Teardrop Falls in 2008. This year Little Joe y 
La Familia have been nominated for a Latin Grammy for the album A Night 
of Classics in El Chuco'' recorded live during a 2009 performance at 
the Plaza Theater in my home district of El Paso, Texas. With more than 
60 albums in his discography, Little Joe continues to break down 
cultural and musical barriers and remains an influential innovator in 
the music industry.
  Little Joe y La Familia are committed to giving back to their 
community. Later this week, they will perform in El Paso at their first 
annual benefit concert, An Evening Por El Bien de la Mujer. The 
proceeds will benefit Centro Mujeres de la Esperanza, a non-profit 
organization dedicated to helping women in El Paso and the surrounding 
areas to become more self-sufficient. The Center is a multicultural and 
faith-based community that provides programs to improve interpersonal 
skills, family relationships, and instill confidence needed to pursue 
education and employment. By helping women succeed, the Center is also 
improving their families' lives and the El Paso community as a whole.
  I applaud Little Joe for lending his talent to support and raise 
awareness for a community organization like Centro Mujeres de la 
Esperanza. I am proud to see a leading Hispanic artist give back to the 
greater community, both professionally and philanthropically. I extend 
my sincerest thanks to Little Joe y La Familia, and I wish them 
continued success for many years to come.

                          ____________________