Anselmo "El Chemiro" Martínez is a Tejano singer, songwriter and musician. He gained prominence in the mid-1960s by recording orchestra music influenced by Glenn Miller, and by subsequently introducing the style coast to coast as he was touring and recording his original compositions. He has released 13 albums, 248 original songs and over 200 popular song recordings. Martínez performed into his 80s and has written 261 Gospel songs releasing 5 gospel CDs. He is the President of The Guadalupanos at St. Gabriel’s Church. Anselmo “El Chemiro” Martínez, is an inductee to the TTMA Tejano Hall of Fame.
Career
Born in Dunlay, Texas and raised in the Central part of Texas, Martinez followed in his father Jesus Martínez' footsteps, originally from Morelos, Coahuila, Mexico. In 1949, he began with a small Conjunto called Conjunto Gauna and debut their performance on KVOU radio in Uvalde, Texas. He slowly began climbing the charts with his original hit "Caminos Chuecos" on 45rpm record with the recording called "Nadie Nos Separara" on flip side.
In the late 1960s, Anselmo Martínez was at the pinnacle of his career with an orchestrated sound of trumpets and saxophones combined with his own original style. Inspired by the Glenn Miller Band during his younger years, Martínez incorporated his written arrangements to accompany more than 250 Spanish compositions of his own. Traveling the United States from Coast to Coast for more than 15 years, Anselmo Martínez has performed extensively in 40 states.
Martínez released "Admirando A mi padre" under AMI Music Group in San Antonio, Texas. This recording is a father-and-son release with producer and label CEO Jonny Martinez and hearkens back to Anselmo's career by re-recording Caminos Chuecos and some of his major hits along with the orchestra style of the 1950s that Martínez recorded. As an 88 year old artist, Martínez was included in the Tejano Legends Cruise to perform on Carnival Cruise Lines in January 2016.
Discography
Albums in order from newest to oldest
Admirando A Mi Padre
- Caminos Chuecos
- Un Raton
- Hasta Que Llegaste
- El Paraiso
- Amorcito Consentido
- No Olvides Que te quiero
- Mi Nombre Completo
- Jamaican me Crazy
- Anoche
- Te Quiero Dar Mi Amor
- Mi Ranchito
- Los Laureles
Caminos Chuecos
- Caminos Chuecos
- Carino Santo
- Un Amor que se quiere
- LLoro Por ti
- Nuestros Besos
- Nadie Nos Separara
- I'm in the mood for love
- El Mar el la esperanza
- Besame
- Te Vi La Prueba
- No Me sigas enganado
Se Vale La Pena
- No Quiero Seguir Sufriendo
- Que Bonito
- Ahora Que Tengo Dinero
- La Yegua Ajena
- Volver Volver
- Hay Unos Ojos
- Tu Tienes La Culpa
- Me Toco Perder
- Cuenta Aparte
- Dile
- Mal Pasado De Amor
- Hasta El Fin
- Quedo Triste Y Abandonado
- Leyenda Macabra
- Tristes Corazones
- Me Cambio Por El Dinero
- Aunque Estes Tan Lejos
El Chemiro
- Te Quiero Te Extraño
- Dueña De Mi Corazon
- Prison De Botellas
- El Panadero
- Me Agarro Contigo
- Sirveme Otra Cantinero
- Rosalva De Leon
- Perdoname
- Morena De Mi Vida
- Pobre Desdichado
- Tu Retrato
- Entre Botellas De Vino
- Por Tu Culpa
- Corrido
- Me Ha Robado El Corazon
- Harto
El Trovador Tejano
- La Cruz De Vidrio
- La Condena
- Esta Noche Me Encuentro Borracho
- El Indio
- Maldita Suerte
- El Bilongo
- Mi Cielo Gris
- Mi Ultimo Trago
- Llore Llore
- Voy A Navegar
- Lleno De Recuerdos
- Prefiero Morir
- Copa Tras Copa
- La Ultima Botella
- La Novedad
Honors
- Tejano Music Awards (1984) - "Inducted into Hall of Fame"
- Radio Latin Charts (1964) - "Single of the Year" for "Caminos Chuecos"
- Tejano Music Hall of Fame (1987)
- Texas Musicians Museum Hall of Fame(2010)
- Austin Museum of Arts(2011)
- Gold Album Award for Lifetime Achievement (2012)
References
- Burr, Ramiro (1999). "Anselmo Martinez". In The Billboard Guide to Tejano and Regional Mexican Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York's Billboard Books, (ISBN 0823076911). pp. 64.