tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8783969302315257415.post343850526715609342..comments2024-03-16T01:00:19.876-05:00Comments on The Mad Monarchist: German Monarchists in TexasMadMonarchisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08083008336883267870noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8783969302315257415.post-32364111558551131162016-10-20T16:43:23.642-05:002016-10-20T16:43:23.642-05:00A couple of years ago Flaco Jimenez, accordian pla...A couple of years ago Flaco Jimenez, accordian player for the Texas Tornados told me that when young his took would take him along to visit dance places in New Braunfels and San Marcos to listen to German polka music. Santiago Jimenez Sr. is considered to be one of the fathers of Texas conjunto music. Doug Sahm, formerleader of the Texas Tornados, traces his German roots to the same area. His great, grandfather(?)was a band leader of a German "oompa" orchestra. I find it ironic that Flaco Jimenez many years later would join Sahm in a Texas/conjunto/rock and roll/ conglomeration known as the Texas Tornados. Doug Sahm, Flaco, and Augie Meyers are considered the originators of Tex/Mex music.Frank Maciashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08431445517829165948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8783969302315257415.post-44397667160337391812011-09-30T21:30:15.743-05:002011-09-30T21:30:15.743-05:00I couldn't very well list every ethnic group o...I couldn't very well list every ethnic group of the Austro-Hungarian Empire but I would certainly not forget the courageous Croats. I have always been a fan of Croatia -a tenacious bunch of people.MadMonarchisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08083008336883267870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8783969302315257415.post-73683231094144794092011-09-30T21:17:05.303-05:002011-09-30T21:17:05.303-05:00shhhh don't tell anyone but some of the "...shhhh don't tell anyone but some of the "Austrian" royalists weren't necessarily "Germans" shhhh don't tell anyone about us Croats who were here on Austrian passports .....The Crazy Californian Croatian American https://www.blogger.com/profile/08344886945493646759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8783969302315257415.post-46926931557547419212010-12-24T11:33:50.210-06:002010-12-24T11:33:50.210-06:00Alas, good sir, those residents of the Hill Countr...Alas, good sir, those residents of the Hill Country conversant in German, or the Alsatian flavor thereof are mostly elderly. I met an gentleman at one of my book signings who was about 75 or so, and only knew a little German, but his brother, eight years older spoke it well. In about 1920 his parents made a firm decision to only speak English at home. All things German not v. popular at that time. During WWII I have been told it was actually illegal to speak German in public.Celia Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16261103494038415027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8783969302315257415.post-70938617037524203742010-12-23T14:11:40.537-06:002010-12-23T14:11:40.537-06:00Mdme Hayes,
I was aware of that and I find it rat...Mdme Hayes, <br />I was aware of that and I find it rather depressing that such is no longer the case. A few years ago I spent several months in the Kerrville-Fredericksburg area and I was constantly trying to find someone who spoke German; only ever found a couple. Similarly in Castroville Alsatian was once the dominant language but, alas, no longer. I like areas having their own distinct flavor and I detest how everyone these days increasingly looks, acts and sounds just alike. Painfully dull.MadMonarchisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08083008336883267870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8783969302315257415.post-12963130950915892002010-12-23T12:25:59.229-06:002010-12-23T12:25:59.229-06:00I did not know the accordion was German. You learn...I did not know the accordion was German. You learn something new everyday. It is true that you would not expect German influences in Texas of all places.Aurelien Nicotnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8783969302315257415.post-31700442833086529492010-12-23T11:36:28.126-06:002010-12-23T11:36:28.126-06:00Actually, German was pretty much the common langua...Actually, German was pretty much the common language in Gillespie County until shortly after WWI: newspapers, churches, schools -- all in German. There was a traveler who came through Fredericksburg in about the 1880s and complained afterward that in all the town he could only find one person who spoke English, and that was the sheriff and he spoke it very badly!<br />Good that you will have more on this - it's a fascinating story!<br /><br />Celia Hayes,<br />The Adelsverein TrilogyCelia Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16261103494038415027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8783969302315257415.post-25148111660635040632010-12-23T10:43:47.935-06:002010-12-23T10:43:47.935-06:00Indeed, no Tejano band would be complete without o...Indeed, no Tejano band would be complete without one.MadMonarchisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08083008336883267870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8783969302315257415.post-65519870981097430092010-12-23T06:05:38.714-06:002010-12-23T06:05:38.714-06:00And the accordion, so instrumental in Tex-Mex musi...And the accordion, so instrumental in Tex-Mex music, was a gift from the Germans.Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11940394016528488881noreply@blogger.com