Cali Carranza (March 29, 1953 – May 1, 2012) was an American

Tejano Tejanos ( , ) are descendants of Texas Creoles and Mestizos who settled in Texas before its admission as an American state. The term is also sometimes applied to Texans of Mexican descent. Etymology The word ''Tejano'', with a ''J'' instead ...

(''Spanish for "Texan"'') musician. Born in

Pharr, Texas Pharr is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 79,715, and in 2022, the estimated population was 80,187. Pharr is connected by bridge to the Mexican city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Pharr is ...

he began playing the drums and accordion in his father's band at eight years old. Carranza joined Conjunto Bernal in 1973, before becoming a founding member of Roberto Pulido y Los Clasicos. In 1976, Carranza formed his own band, Los Formales, with his brothers, Nito and Ruben. Los Formales recorded several albums and were known for their harmonies and live performances. Cali Carranza won awards for Song of the Year 1983, 1985 and 1994. He also received nominations for multiple awards including Tejano Band of the Year, Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year from various Tejano music outlets. In 2009, he was inducted into the Tejano Roots Hall of Fame and 2010, he received the Tejano Music Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award. On May 1, 2012, Cali Carranza died at the age of 59 after a protracted battle with ALS (

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or—in the United States—Lou Gehrig's disease (LGD), is a rare, Terminal illness, terminal neurodegenerative disease, neurodegenerative disorder that results i ...

), also known as Lou Gherig's disease.

References

1953 births 2012 deaths American male singers Tejano musicians People from Pharr, Texas American accordionists American male drummers Tejano accordionists Deaths from motor neuron disease Drummers from Texas {{US-musician-stub