Trailer for Johnny Canales Documentary ‘Take It Away’ Premieres Ahead of World Debut

The official trailer for Take It Away – The Rise and Fall of Tejano Hollywood, a powerful new documentary chronicling the life and legacy of the iconic Johnny Canales, was released today (April 24). The highly anticipated film is set to make its world premiere this weekend at the Dallas International Film Festival.

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Directed by Adrian Arredondo and Myrna Perez and executive produced by Texas Monthly and Trojan Horse Media, Take It Away takes audiences on an emotional and eye-opening journey through the life of the man often called the “Mexican-American Dick Clark.” For decades, The Johnny Canales Show was a cultural phenomenon, beaming the best of Tejano and Regional Mexican music into millions of homes — and introducing the world to future superstars like Selena.

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Packed with rare archival footage and heartfelt interviews, the documentary pulls back the curtain on the show’s behind-the-scenes energy and star-making magic. Legends such as Selena, Ramon Ayala, Bobby Pulido, Intocable, Michael Salgado, La Mafia, and Sunny Ozuna are among the many voices featured, sharing untold stories and memories from their time on the show.

The film doesn’t just look back — it connects Canales’ influence to today’s chart-topping artists like Peso Pluma and Grupo Frontera, proving that Tejano never disappeared, it evolved. Take It Away captures over three decades of broadcast history, spotlighting how one man’s vision gave an entire musical movement its moment on the national stage.

Following its Dallas premiere, the film will make stops at major festivals, including Cine Las Americas International Film Festival in Austin next month, CineFestival San Antonio in July, and the Berlin Indie Film Festival later this year.

For longtime fans and curious newcomers alike, Take It Away offers more than nostalgia — it’s a long-overdue tribute to a true trailblazer. With his signature phrase, “You got it, take it away,” Johnny Canales invited a generation to sing, dance, and dream — and now, his story is finally being told.

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