Synopsis of "The Broken Hearts"

In 1958 a group of young men from Seguin, TX. collaborated to form a Rock-N-Roll band under the leadership of Ramon Salazar,Jr. and its principal lead guitarist, George Soto. At first they were known as "The Playboys" but eventually at some point in time the group's name evolved into "The Broken Hearts". How and why the name changed is uncertain but it would prove to be an excellent choice because of the soulful love ballads that proved to be their trademark. However, the song that best exemplefies the band is the polka, "Las Cuatro Milpas". I say this because it accentuates the band rather than a lead vocalist. The listener gets to hear the band and the guitar riffs of their arranger, George Soto which is imitating a bajo sexto's riffs. In their music the listener gets a range of spectrum of the multi-cultural influences of "La Raza". The Mexican Music that the group played had a wide range of influences in them. In some songs there is a distinct bajo sexto sound, in others, George Soto's guitar riffs mimic the requinte of the "Trios' sound", while in still other songs there is the distinct "Rock-N-Roll sound" of the electric guitar which was the trademark of what has become known as "The Oldguard". No other guitar player of that era combined so many styles as did George Soto.

Sixto Sanchez is the lead vocalist most associated with The Broken Hearts and yet, he wasn't the only talented vocalist the group had. The Broken Hearts did some great recordings with vocalists like Gilbert Gonzales and Mike Gonzales among other vocalists that they featured as lead singers. This band had a talent for highlighting the best in the vocalists that worked with them and accentuating their vocal range.

The forgotten "roots" of Tejano Music which is the electric guitar is best exemplified in the guitar riffs of George Soto and in the diverse nature of the music recorded and played by The Broken Hearts. This was undoubtably one of the most infuential bands of that era which combined "our" cultural heritage with "our" American birthright and blended it into what became known as "Chicano" Music which has "evolved" into what is now known as "Tejano" Music.

Their induction into The National Hispanic Music Hall of Fame is very well deserved. The Broken Hearts contributed much to this style of music. Their unique comingling of one genre of music with another genre exemplifies the talent and imagination these musicians possessed. The Broken Hearts aren't the only band to do this but they were among the first. Their music caputures the heart of the diversity of our culture and birthright. What they did in their day has been a foundation for the rest to follow. Many thanks is owed to them. ----Chepe Ramirez