MCALLEN, Texas - It is not part of its mission statement but McAllen Economic Development Corporation is promoting the local music scene.
Susie Flores, McAllen EDC’s director of US business recruitment, booked Los Diamantes to play a set at the EDC’s Holiday Open House event. The four-piece band, whose ages range from 13 to 18, learns and practices music at Creative Arts Studio in Mission.
It was not hard for Flores to connect with the band. Her son, Arturo, is the band’s accordion player.
“They have only been together for less than a year,” Flores said of the Los Diamantes (The Diamonds in English). “And the drummer is only 13. We are very proud of them.”
Jorge Augusto Contreras introduced the band at the beginning of their set. As well as being an Hidalgo City Commissioner, Contreras is co-founder and director of development of Creative Arts Studio, a fine arts school for children and young people that has campuses in Hidalgo, Mission, and McAllen.
“They are young, they are trying, they are energized and they are ready to take to the stage,” Contreras said of Los Diamantes.
With mostly business folks in the audience, Contreras wanted to make the point that arts and culture is economic development. Just like he did at a conference at UT-Rio Grande Valley recently, Contreras referenced the success of a top Valley export, Grupo Frontera.
“Grupo Frontera is from El Valle. They are the number one band right now in the world, top of the Billboard, top of the Grammys, top of the right now. They are from the Rio Grande Valley,” Contreras said.
“We (the Rio Grande Valley) do a lot of business and have an economic boom. But we also export a lot of talent. And you know, guys, fine arts is part of economic development. Ask Broadway, ask Hollywood, right? Ask the Washington national museums and the fine arts in DC.
“We can bring a little bit of that to the Valley because in the Valley we have a lot of talent.”
Contreras thanked MEDC for allowing Los Diamantes to play their music. He said it was a great experience and great exposure for them.
Interviewed after the band had concluded their set, Contreras said the Valley is the epicenter for Conjunto, Norteño, and Tex-Mex in the nation.
“We have so much talent. We have been showing it throughout the years, as I mention in every sin gel event that I go to. We are the home of Ramon Ayala, Bobby Pulido, Solido, Intocable, and now Frontera.
“And the composer of Frontera, Edgar Barrera, is from Miguel Aleman/McAllen. He was raised in Miguel Aleman but he was born in McAllen.”
Asked if Los Diamantes have the talent to get to the top, Contreras said: “They do. They do because they are so young and they are way ahead. When I was their age I was like, still playing with my toys. It is incredible, their talent.”
Asked for any wrap-up remarks, Contreras said: “Thank you to the McAllen Economic Development Corporation. Thank you to Ms. Susie Flores for the invitation. These kinds of events really make a tie, a bridge and a connection between business development and fine arts development.”
Footnote: Ron Whitlock of Ron Whitlock Reports told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service that Diane Milliken Garza, a member of the Texas Commission on the Arts, wanted to be at the McAllen EDC event to support Jorge Augusto Contreras and the Creative Arts Studio. “Diane shared the stage with Augusto at a recent UT-Rio Grande Valley conference on the arts. She wanted to network here to help bring the world of business closer to arts and culture. Unfortunately, she was in meetings in Austin and could not get a flight back in time. She wanted me to tell you this,” Whitlock said.
Editor's Note: Here is a video recording of some of the first songs played by Los Diamantes at the McAllen Holiday Open House event:
https://youtu.be/Xb8MSMAWhJA
