Tejano ROOTS Hall of Famer Joel Silva passes away at 71

Tejano R.O.O.T.S. Hall of Fame musician Joel Silva passed away on June 28 at the age of 71.

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The talented musician toured and recorded classic albums with Tejano giants of the 1970s and 1980s including Freddie Martinez Sr., Augustin Ramirez, Joe Bravo, and Pio Trevino Y Majic, earning him a Tejano Music Award in 1985 for Keyboard Player of the Year, according his obituary. He was also performed with Crossroads, La Onda Airways, Momento and his own project Los Jokers.

He received legendary status when he was inducted into the Tejano R.O.O.T.S. Hall of Fame in 2015.

Joel Silva in 1975 at Galvan Ballroom in Corpus Christi, Texas. | Photo: Facebook

In 2005, Silva stretched his talents and arranging creativity by performing with local R&B, old school and dance band, Another Level, for the past 16 years and most recently also began performing with Motif band.

Three years ago, what started as a couple of fellow musicians/friends having breakfast, turned into the (original) Chapter of Tejano Legends Breakfast Chat. Today, the group meets once a month to reminisce about the good ol’ days. From Joel’s vision, other chapters have formed throughout Texas in the valley, San Antonio and Houston.

Funeral services for Joel Silva will be held on Saturday, July 3, 2021, in his hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas at Memory Gardens Funeral Home & Cemetery, 8200 Old Brownsville Rd, beginning at 2 p.m.

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