Leonardo "Flaco" Jiménez (March 11, 1939 – July 31, 2025) was an American singer-songwriter and accordionist from San Antonio, Texas. The nickname 'Flaco' means 'skinny'.

Over the course of his seven-decade career, he received numerous awards and honors, including Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Grammys, Americana Music Awards, Tejano Music Awards, and Billboard magazine.

Early life

Jiménez, who was of Mexican descent, was born in San Antonio, Texas, on March 11, 1939. He is descended from a line of musicians, including his father Santiago Jiménez Sr., and his grandfather Patricio Jiménez.

He began performing at the age of seven with his father, a pioneer of conjunto music, and began recording at age fifteen as a member of Los Caporales. Jiménez's first instrument was the bajo sexto, but he later adopted the accordion after being influenced by his father and zydeco musician Clifton Chenier.

He was given the nickname "Flaco" (which translates in English as "Skinny"), which was also his father's nickname.

Jiménez appeared on the November 13, 1976 episode of NBC's Saturday Night with Cooder.

thumb|upright|Jiménez on stage at Farnham, U.K., 1985 (on tour with Peter Rowan)

In 1988, he performed on the hit country single "Streets of Bakersfield" by Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens. The song reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1988.

Jiménez won his first Grammy award in 1986 for his album Ay Te Dejo en San Antonio, whose title song was composed by his father. with Augie Meyers, Doug Sahm and Freddy Fender.

Starting in 1998, he was a member of Los Super Seven, a supergroup that won a Grammy Award for their eponymous album.

Jiménez was one of the featured artists in the 1976 documentary film Chulas Fronteras, directed by Les Blank. His music has been featured on the soundtrack for other movies, such as Y Tu Mamá También, El Infierno, The Border, Tin Cup, and Striptease.

He was one of the artists featured in archival footage in the 2013 documentary film This Ain't No Mouse Music about Arhoolie Records and its founder Chris Strachwitz.

The Hohner company collaborated with Jiménez to create the Flaco Jimenez Signature series of accordions.

Jiménez also received acclaim for his performances of Texas-Mexican Conjunto music, in addition to Tejano (Tex Mex) music.

Personal life

His brother, Santiago Jiménez Jr., is also an accomplished accordionist and has recorded extensively.

In March 2015, Jiménez suffered a broken hip and two rib fractures from two separate falls. By May of that year, he returned to performing and was one of the acts on closing night of the 34th annual Tejano Conjunto Festival in San Antonio.

Jiménez and his wife once owned a food truck in the San Antonio area, named Tacos Jimenez.

Even during his time as a global ambassador for conjunto, Jiménez kept his home in San Antonio.

Death

Jiménez died following a long illness on July 31, 2025, at the age of 86. He had been living at the home of one of his sons.

Discography

thumb|upright|Jiménez and Baca, 2013

Studio albums

  • Una Sombra, 1972, D.L.B. Records, San Antonio, TX
  • El Papa Del Caminante, 1973, D.L.B.
  • Mis Polkas Favoritas, 1973, D.L.B.
  • Corridos Famosos, 1973, D.L.B.
  • Clavelito Clavelito, 1973, D.L.B.
  • La Otra Modesta, 1974, D.L.B.
  • El Rey De Texas, 1975, D.L.B.
  • A Mis Amigos Cariñosamente, 1976, D.L.B.
  • El Principe Del Acordeón , 1977, D.L.B.
  • Flaco Jiménez Y Su Conjunto, 1977, Arhoolie Records
  • Flaco '79, 1979, D.L.B.
  • Mis 25 Años, 1980, D.L.B.
  • El Sonido de San Antonio, 1980, Arhoolie
  • Polkas De Oro, 1983, D.L.B.
  • Ay Te Dejo en San Antonio, 1986, Arhoolie
  • Flaco's Amigos, 1988, Arhoolie
  • Flaco's First! (with Los Caminantes), 1995, Arhoolie
  • 15 Exitos, 1995, Joey
  • Best of Flaco Jiménez, 1999, Arhoolie plus an additional three nominations.

In 1999, Jiménez was awarded the Billboard Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2001, both Flaco and his brother Santiago were included among the first group of recipients of the Texas Medal of Arts in the folk arts category.

Jiménez was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 31st Tejano Music Awards ceremony in 2011. He received his plaque at the ceremony from longtime collaborator Ry Cooder, with whom he also performed at the event.

Jiménez was one of five artists to receive the inaugural Distinction in Arts honor from the City of San Antonio in 2015. Also in 2015, his collaborative album with Max Baca titled Flaco & Max: Legends & Legacies won an award in the Latin Album category at the 14th Annual Independent Music Awards.

Additionally in 2015, Jiménez was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame.

In 2017, a photograph of Jiménez taken by Al Rendon in 1987 was added to the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Images in the Gallery "represent the numerous individuals who have made a significant impact on the history and culture of the United States".

In 2018, the Houston Chronicle listed him as number 19 of the Greatest 50 Texas Musicians of all time.

Jiménez received the Top of Texas Award from the Country Music Association of Texas in 2019. Earlier in the same year, he also received the History-Making Texas Award from the Texas State History Museum Foundation.

In 2021, Jiménez's album Partners was selected as one of 25 works to be inducted into the National Recording Registry's class of 2020, with the registry calling Jiménez "a champion of traditional conjunto music and Tex-Mex culture who also is known for innovation and collaboration with a variety of artists."

In 2022, Jiménez was awarded the National Medal of Arts from U.S. President Joe Biden. However, he did not attend the award ceremony, citing illness.