Years ago, we had the pleasure of meeting and talking with brothers Raphael and Paquito Rodriguez of Los A-T Boyz, and we've been friends ever since. We were struck by their great attitudes and giving spirit, and continued to notice that their band was always available for any kind of benefit or jamaica or wherever else they were needed. 

During that interview, we learned that Paquito had already battled and survived neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer that typically affects children. Unfortunately, Paquito finds himself fighting cancer again. 

How about another Rancho Alegre good time at the Moose?! You've been asking, and we listened. 

We're super excited to announce a special one-night only conjunto event! See conjunto how it's supposed to be experienced! Live and in your face in a family dancehall setting.

Many thanks to Austin American-Statesman columnist Nancy Flores for a great article on us first on her regular blog, Cultura en Austin, but also in the August 24, 2015 print edition. 

You can read the entire article here and also subscribe to her blog for more columns on Austin Latino culture. 

"When Rancho Alegre Radio hit the airwaves on KOOP 91.7 FM last August, it brought Tejano and Conjunto music back to FM radio in Austin.

"We’d been disappointed for years that you couldn’t find Tejano music on FM radio here,” says Rancho Alegre co-host Piper LeMoine. Austin lost the last of its Tejano music radio stations in late 2005, which sparked a fight to get the music back on the airwaves. In 2008, Tejano music returned to the air and was soon simulcast in both FM and AM. However, today Austin has only one Tejano music station — KTXZ 1560 AM— after the FM station switched formats.

"Rather than complain about it, we saw an opportunity to change that,” LeMoine says. She and co-host Baldomero “Frank” Cuellar went through the KOOP radio training and launched the hour-long program, which now airs every Monday at 9 a.m."

Read rest of the story at statesman360.com.

On Monday, August 17th, we're beginning our "Rancho Alegre Artist of the Month" series with a special salute to the one and only Bernardo y Sus Compadres on our show on KOOP.

Jolly Ranchers, we need your help. Rancho Alegre has been nominated in the Loose Cannon category for Tejano/Conjunto music advocacy on the Austin Chronicle's Best of Austin ballot! We would appreciate the support in any category, as would the rest of Austin's Tejano industry! 

Vote today! In the Loose Cannon section, type in "Tejano/Conjunto Music Advocacy - Rancho Alegre Radio." 

As we previously posted, our very own Baldomero "El Parrandero" Cuellar was invited to participate in a panel discussion about music and community for a Music Advocacy class at the University of Texas. 

That's RIGHT! Our very own Baldomero "El Parrandero" Frank Cuellar has been asked to participate in a panel discussion alongside a couple other music organizers about music and community at the University of Texas at Austin. 

Unfortunately, due to space restrictions, this event is not open to the public. But we wanted to share with you anyway! And maybe it will lead to more discussions of this nature. 

Unfortunately, we have decided not to produce another Rancho Alegre Conjunto Festival in 2015 or any time in the near future. A variety of circumstances influenced our decision, including extreme funding challenges and lack of reliable, appropriate, and affordable venues in Austin, but most importantly, health. 

So as a lot of you may know, I have been ill since last year, and I am improving, with the hopes that by December of 2011 I will be back in action. A lot of people doubt me when I say that I have changed, from a party hungry maniac who lives for the day and could care less about tomorrow.

Tonight, I went to my first meeting of the Austin Tejano Music Coalition. During my illness, I would run into people claiming to be members, and when I would tell them my ideas, they were almost negative to what I had to offer. To be honest, I mistakenly prejudged the coalition by these people and now I’m even starting to doubt that they were ever members. Because the people we met tonight were good people, open to suggestions and willing to hear fresh ideas.