Jose Moreno

Texas-Mexican Fiddle Traditionalist

Jose Moreno is a singular musician from San Benito in the Rio Grande Valley, where he alone has sustained the important tradition of Texas-Mexican fiddling that was once much more widespread along the border. He was born in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico on March 30, 1930 where he learned to play to accompany indigenous matachine dancers as a young child. Moreno is accomplished equally on the button accordion, mandolin, and fiddle and has recorded on all of these instruments. Don Jose has recorded popular and traditional tunes as well as his own compositions both solo and in various groups such as Los Patrulleros del Norte. Don Jose taught accordion and fiddle and played regularly at the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center and touted the state as part of Texas Folklife presentations. Some live performances of his were featured on the Traditional Music of Texas: Fiddle Music from the Texas Folklife Archives CD from Texas Folklife which was produced as part of the Festival of Texas Fiddling.

Moreno mostly played for a highly regional audience, but he has also released numerous cassettes, LPs, and CDs on small Texas labels like RyN Records and Chief Records, Triple E in Monterrey, Mexico. He also recorded an essential album with Arhoolie records called “El Fidelero Del Valle” which brought him national attention. He has appeared at events all over the country at places like the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Washington and the Blackpot Festival in Lafayette, Louisiana, among others.

Jose Moreno was awarded the first Master of Texas Fiddling Award by the Festival of Texas Fiddling in 2015.