Before I had kids and became obsessive about school politics and hockey, I used to play music. The last group I played with before laying down my saxophone was Poli Chavez y Sus Coronados. The Coronados were an innovator of the “Tex Mex” sound in San Diego, and Poli brought the band’s cumbia, ranchera and conjunto rhythms with him to Portland in 1978.

I met Poli through his son in 1996 or 1997, and played a few Quinceañeras, weddings and anniversary parties with the band. Poli’s book was thick; there were probably a hundred or more well-worn charts in the alto sax book he handed me at my first rehearsal. Most of the songs were standards, but I’d never played any of them. After one rehearsal and one gig basically sight reading, I begged him to let me take the alto book out of his sight and photocopy some of the songs I really needed to practice, like the classic Rico Mambo. He grudgingly let me take it, and I still have my copies.

The Portland version of the Coronados was a family band. I replaced his son on alto sax. Another son played tenor sax, and his son-in-law played trumpet.

Though Poli was something of a legend in the world of Tex Mex music, few in the Portland Anglo community knew about him. Their best chance to have heard him was the annual Cinco de Mayo festival at Waterfront Park, where he was a mainstay. The last time I worked with him was on the main stage there in 1997.

Napoleon “Poli” Chavez passed away in 2003. I missed it at the time, and only found out when searching for some of his recordings online the other day. My sincerest condolences go out to his large extended family, especially the guys I worked with. Poli was a larger-than-life figure, and touched the lives of many people, myself included.

After the break, there’s a photo montage tribute, featuring songs from his 1976 LP “Mi Nueva Ilucion.”

4 Comments so far

1.
andrea (unregistered) December 11th, 2007 1:42 pm Edit This

This is crazy my grandma usto listen to this singer and I loved it and my would go an see him sing on Highland Ave at place that usto be like a little night club I never though any one would know who he was I lend the tape to an aunt of mine and never got it back hoe can I get a copy of his recordings. My family And I grew up in National City so I guess we are fortunate to have been able to experience this kind of music Andrea H
2.
Steve (unregistered) December 11th, 2007 2:06 pm Edit This

I wish I knew where to get his recordings. The best bet may be used record stores in LA or San Diego. You might try calling around.

I had a cassette tape of one of his records, but I loaned it to a friend in México who played it until it wore out. His wife thought it was really funny that I was playing in a band in el norte that played the kinds of songs that were popular when she was a kid.
3.
Lorenzo J. Lopez (unregistered) December 23rd, 2007 8:58 am Edit This

Sirs,

I was stationed at Camp Pendleton between 1971 and 1973. At that time I fell in love with Poli Chavez y Sus Coronados’s music. Who can I contact about getting a music cd to purchase?

Thanks,

Lorenzo J. Lopez
4.
David Chavez (unregistered) December 23rd, 2007 2:59 pm Edit This

Thank you Steve, this is amazing, and my family will truly enjoy it. David chavez

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