Tierra Tejana is a group of brothers and musicians that performed Tejano music the way it was played in the 1960s but learned to modernize their sound to keep up with times while still maintaining the same drive and soul.
Hailing from a musical family, their father, Francisco B. Gonzales, played guitar, violin and sang while their mother, Gregoria Canales Gonzales, also sang with her brothers before teaching her sons how to sing and harmonize.
They grew up listening to groups like The Sunglows, Alfonso Ramos, Little Joe, and Augustine Ramirez but were really influenced by Sixto Sanchez and the Broken Hearts because he was from Seguin and he inspired and encouraged them to keep going. Back then, in 1964, The Miracles were five brothers: Frank on guitar, Joe on vocals and accordion, Jesse on bass and saxophone, Lupe on vocals, saxophone, and guitar and Mike on drums.
Two years later, their baby brother Pete, then 4-years old, alternated on lead vocals with Joe. Pete became the youngest Tejano to sing professionally. To top it off, he began touring before he went on his first kindergarten school trip.
That same year they recorded "Ay Mi Prietita" written by Lupe and "Quiero Cuidarte" written by Joe as Little Pete and The Miracles on Joey Lopez's ZAZ label. When Pete was 12, he learned to play bass, but preferred to just sing and put that instrument aside forever.
Three vinyl albums followed: "El Pequeno Gigante," "El Unico" and "Little Pete & The Miracles" on Joey Records. That kept them in demand until 1975 when they recorded "El Quibole" and "Cuantas Veces," written by Lupe as The Miracles, for Guti Records.
The following year they joined forces with the label owner of Guti Records and they became Augustine Ramirez, Pete Gonzales Tierra Chicana. After this musical merger in 1977, the Gonzales brothers decided to go on their own and formed Tierra Tejana.
The name was Jesse's idea, "Because we were born here in Texas and wanted to represent Texas and anything that had to do with our state. When we toured out-of-state, we wanted the people to know we were from Texas," he said.
From the very first album released, Tierra Tejana became an instant hit in Texas, U.S., and in all the Latin countries. Eleven more vinyl records were released from 1978 thru 1989 and one of those was the "8 Anniversario" album even though they already had 20 years in the business.
From 1983 to 1989, Los Hermanos Gonzales, Lupe, and Pete were nominated for vocals of the year at the Tejano Music Awards, The Mike Chaves Chicanos Music Awards, The Simon the Diamond People's Choice Awards, The West Texas Hispanic Music Awards, The Tejano Vida Awards and The Latin Times Music Awards. Pete received two Male Entertainer of The Year nominations. Tierra Tejana was also nominated "Orquesta Of The Year" during the 1984 KFLZ, "Que Feliz" Music Awards. Later they were also inducted in the Tejano Roots Hall Of Fame, S.A. Tejano Hall Of Fame, and Austin Hall Of Fame.
As a turning point in their career, Lupe wrote a song now considered the biggest song in Tierra Tejana's history called "Las Hijas De Don Simon" that went "Gold." Later they recorded "Celebrate" and "Yo Quiero Bailar" ("I Want To Dance With You") which had rap. "Prende El Radio" and "Outer Dormir Con Luz" tunes put Tierra Tejana on the national map and added more awards to their resume. In the 90s they toured all over the U.S. and Mexico.