They won’t be writing many big obits for this guy and it’s a damn shame. Dimas Garza, one of THE voices of San Antonio’s Chicano soul bands, died of a heart attack Tuesday, Nov. 11. He was best known for leading the Royal Jesters (Sunny & the Sunliners’ biggest rivals) with his gorgeous tenor, performing in the 1960s at Patio Andaluz and other S.A. nightspots. Garza sang with other bands including the Moonlites and the Playboys, and was also a songwriter.
In Ruben Molina’s book Chicano Soul, the chapter with Garza is especially moving, and he relates how a teacher in high school read the young man’s poetry and encouraged him to write songs. Like most performers of his ilk, Garza didn’t support himself playing music full time and, until recently, had been a footnote in San Antonio’s musical history. The release of Molina’s book in 2006 and an independent interest in San Antonio-style music from Austin musician Larry Lange provided Garza with numerous high-profile appearances over the last year, including the stellar “Legends of Chicano Soul” show last Sunday night at the Josephine Theatre in S.A. Services information to follow.
Here’s a video of Dimas Garza performing his doo-wop style song, “I Want to Be Loved.”
This article appears in November 7 • 2008.