Tish Hinojosa

Singer/Songwriters of great quality are very rare. They can light up and change our life. Tish Hinojosa is such a singer and songwriter -- very rare indeed. Hinojosa’s albums can be divided into three groups: 

Most important are those albums that contain her own songs. In order of quality (in my opinion), they are “Culture Swing” (1990), “Taos to Tennessee” (1987), “Homeland” (1989), and “Destiny’s Gate”. 

Next are the Spanish albums on the Watermelon label: “Aquella Noche”, and “Memorabilia Navidenia” (Christmas songs). These are lovely, but are not as compelling as the first group. But I don’t speak Spanish, either. 

And last are the theme-oriented albums, a children’s release “Cada Nino (Every Child)” and “Frontejas” -- a collection of original and traditional Tejano and conjunto border songs. Again, nice listening, but not in the same league as such classics as “Culture Swing”, an album that should be in any singer/songwriter lover’s collection.

ALBUMS

Culture Swing

With a voice that rivals Joan Baez in quality and a sense of humor all her own, Tish Hinojosa is proof that really great singer/songwriters still appear from time to time. Each generation has but a few near perfect folk albums and Culture Swing (all songs are written by Hinojosa) is one of these -- an instant classic. Recorded May 1992.

Cada Nino/Every Child

A theme album. Not for us old folks, but eleven bilingual songs (English/Spanish) for kids. With titles like “Barnyard Dance,” “Music Scale,” and “Always Grandma,” these really are for children. Although sung in Hinojosa’s clear and vibrant voice, they are too cutesy for most of us. Kids will like this. 

Frontejas

Not your standard album release, but a theme recording. This is a collection of border songs in sung in Spanish, some written by Hinojosa, some by others. The inspiration for this collection was her apprenticeship with Don Americo Paredes, the anthropologist, border historian, and professor emitus at the University of Texas at Austin. Hinojosa writes “In a series of sessions in which I listened and enriched my soul with “corridos” (ballads that tell stories, news or history), love songs, and anecdotes of the borderland where he was raised and where my family’s roots lie deeply embedded. These sessions continue still and the knowledge I receive is a precious resource from which I’ll always draw.” A number of these songs involve assistance from the likes of Flaco Jimeniz, Ray Benson, Peter Rowan, and others. This makes for enjoyable listening but is not the creative and fiery Hinojosa on an album like “Culture Swing”.

Taos to Tennessee
[recorded in 1987, release on CD 1992]

Recorded in 1987, “Taos to Tennessee” predates the more successful “Culture Swing”, but shows the same kind of style and clarity. She wrote six of the twelve songs on this album and most are outstanding, including the gorgeous “Prairie Moon,” “Taos to Tennessee,” “Amanecer,” “Who Showed You the Way to My Heart,” and “Let Me Remember.” The Peter Rowan song “Midnight Moonlight” is also very fine. Singer/songwriter Hinojosha is a treasure very rare. 

Homeland

This is her first album and a clear harbinger of what is to come. With most songs written by Hinojosa herself, already she has her own sound and style. Good songwriters are rare. Outstanding songs are “The Border Trilogy,”, “Voice of the Big Guitar,” “Who Showed You the Way to My Heart,” “Let Me Remember,” and “Amanecer"

Destiny's Gate (1994)

Another from Hinojosa (in the style of Culture Swing) includes the incredible song "I Want to See You Again."