Leonardo “Flaco” Jiménez , the singer, songwriter, and master accordionist, has died. Across a career spanning over 70 years, which included collaborations with Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and many others, Jiménez helped to popularize the Mexican music birthed in his native South Texas alternatively called conjunto, norteño, or Tejano, though Jiménez often preferred to label it Tex-Mex. No cause of death was given in the Facebook post from Jimenéz’s family announcing his death. He was 86 years old.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, Jiménez came from a lineage of accordionists, including his grandfather, Patricio, and father, Santiago Jiménez Sr. A pioneer of conjunto who injected his sound with accordion melodies inspired by the German and Czech polkas and waltzes he heard at dance halls

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