SAN ANTONIO — This year marks the end of Bobby Pulido’s celebrated career, highlighted by a Grammy and numerous Tejano music awards.
“It’s been a roller coaster. It’s been a great ride. Overall, I have no regrets,” Pulido said.
His farewell tour, “Por La Puerta Grande,” starts April 25 in San Antonio at the Boeing Center at Tech Port.
The tour will span across the country and internationally into Mexico.
Bobby’s journey started here in what’s called El Magico Valle (the magic Rio Grande Valley) a place known for agriculture because of its fertile soil.
It’s other export — musicians with deep roots in Texas music.
Roberto Pulido, his father and Tejano star, was right there beside him.
Bobby Pulido says growing up in Edinburg was normal despite having a famous father.
“My dad did a great job of letting my mom do everything,” Bobby Pulido said. “She ran a tight ship and raised us well.”
His summers and Christmas breaks were spent on the road with his father.
“I was that kid sitting behind the drummer, watching the drummer play and watching my father sing and watching the people react,” Bobby Pulido said.
A shy, politics-loving kid, he joined Texas Boys State in high school, a program that educates students on local, county and state government.
With a scholarship to St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Pulido studied political science.
“One of those vacations in December, I recorded a song with my dad that he (Roberto Pulido) was not supposed to share with anybody,” Bobby Pulido said.
The song “Contigo” did well, and a bidding war between two record labels to sign a young Bobby ensued.
“I believe in timing,” Pulido said.
The timing was right.
In fall 1995, Bobby released his debut Tejano album, “Desvelado.”
His star rose during a time when Tejano music needed some inspiration.
“At that time Emilio was the guy, Emilio Navaira,” Bobby Pulido said. “Emilio was recording country music in Nashville.”
As one major Tejano star chased country music stardom in Nashville, Selena Quintanilla-Perez, another leading star, died.
“I really thought the industry was going to continue the same, and it wasn’t and it never has been the same since,” Bobby Pulido said.
Bobby Pulido took Tejano across borders — performing in every state in Mexico.
For him Tejano is more than a genre, it’s a cultura — a culture.
“Desvelado”, his globally recognized song, may get a vinyl release this year as its 30th anniversary nears.
“That was never the goal, I just wanted to make good music and be able to gig and make money,” Bobby Pulido said.
“I’m still that guy from the small town of Edinburg, Texas.”
While he is retiring from music, Pulido is rekindling his passion for politics and plans to join the political arena.
“It is full circle; I consider myself the luckiest man in the world to be able to go out with my dad,” Bobby Pulido said.
A poetic ending for a Tejano from Edinburg.