Ricardo Dávila
(51 pages)
Listen to the interview
Biography:
Radio station owner and program manager at KEDA in San Antonio, Texas. Born in 1945 in San Antonio, Mr. Dávila has been in radio since 1959 and has hosted KEDA's "Guero Polkas" program since 1967. His program is the longest running Chicano Onda music format, featuring almost exclusively Conjunto music, in the country. Mr. Dávila's family has owned and operated KEDA AM radio station since March 17, 1966. In addition to KEDA, the Dávila family owns KCCT AM and K-BESO in Corpus Christi.
Interview Summary:
Mr. Dávila discusses the evolution of Tejano music, his intention to expand into the California radio market, and his plans to syndicate his program via satellite. He briefly discusses the purchase of one of the Corpus stations from Dr. Hector Garcia. The interview provides insight into how stations choose music to play and the role of radio stations in creating and introducing hits. While numerous performers and bands are mentioned throughout the interview, those discussed in most detail are Michael Salgado and his group, Michael Salgado y los Salgados del Norte; David Lee Garza; Isidro Lopez, and his influence on the cross over of early bands from singing in English to Spanish; Margo Ramundo; Valerio Longoria, whose influence as an accordion teacher on young Tejano bands is described; David M'arez; and Little Joe and his opening of doors for Tejano music. In a discussion of female vocalists, the ground-breaking role of Laura Canales is emphasized and the all-female band Las Illegales is prominent. Mr. Dávila briefly mentions the increased acceptance of Tejano music in Mexico; the inability of many Spanish-language singers to speak Spanish and the need for Mexican-American children to grow up bilingual; non-Mexicans in Tejano music; his membership as a musician in the band, TC Review, in the 1960s; and his naval service in the 1960s, during which he worked at the radio station on the U.S.S. Saratoga.
Locations of residence or activity:
San Antonio
Interview Date:
7/4/1996