Who was Flaco Jimenez? A look into the Tejano musician’s artistry as he dies at 86

Singer and accordionist Flaco Jimenez has died at 86. The news of the San Francisco native’s death was shared by his family members on Facebook. Although they did not disclose the cause of his death, reports mention that he was hospitalized earlier this year, in January 2025. The family wrote:

“It is with great sadness that we share tonight the loss of our father, Flaco Jimenez. He was surrounded by his loved ones and will be missed immensely. Thank you to all of his fans and friends, those who cherished his music.”

The post went on:

“And a big thank you for all of the memories. His legacy will live on through his music and all of his fans. The family requests privacy during this time of sadness and grievance.”

Flaco Jimenez was a six-time Grammy Award winner. The first time he won a Grammy was for his 1990 compilation album, Ay Te Dejo en San Antonio.

In 2015, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Grammys. His 1992 album Partners was recognized by the US Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry. Jimenez collaborated with several renowned musicians like Bob Dylan, Dwight Yoakam, and others.

According to the National Endowment for the Arts, Jimenez started his music journey at age seven. By the time he was a teenager, he had shared a recording with Los Caporales. In addition to having over 100 albums, the singer also worked on films, where he showcased his musical skills.

Flaco Jimenez once spoke about his grandpa, who also played the accordion

In 2022, Flaco Jimenez sat down with Gilbert Reyes for an interview. Speaking about the recognition he received from the Library of Congress, he shared that he was surprised but happy about the honor. He felt grateful to everyone involved, including those in Congress and the supporters of music.

He also appreciated all the fans who had watched him perform on stage or supported him in other ways. Reflecting on all his recognitions, Jimenez said:

“It’s been a long journey but I've enjoyed it.”

Flaco Jimenez said that his grandpa used to go to dances and shows around New Braunfels, where he listened to bands that played polkas and waltzes. These styles came from the German, Czech, and Polish people who lived in the area. His grandpa loved the music so much that he learned to play the accordion. He said:

“He didn’t get to record because at that time there were no facilities for recording but he used to play in dances, house dance and people from the Barrio used to hire my grandpa, you know, to play on their houses. You know, they put all their furniture stacked in one room and for denser space and they had a nice time, you know, dancing and all that.”

He said his father learned by watching his grandpa and started playing a different kind of accordion. Later, Flaco himself learned to play a more advanced one. Over time, each generation used a more complex accordion. His grandpa had a one-row, his dad used a two-row, and Flaco Jimenez played a three-row accordion.

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