La Fiebre Looks to the New Year With Special Guest Horn Section, New Members, and Renewed Momentum

La Fiebre is turning the page and charging ahead into the New Year with a special guest horn section and a high-profile performance that underscores the band’s resilience and enduring legacy in Tejano music.

The legendary Pasadena, Texas–based group is scheduled to perform on New Year’s Night, Thursday, January 1, 2026, at TriCity Beer Garden in Pasadena. The show will feature a special guest horn section led by original member Rick Patino, La Fiebre’s first trumpet and saxophone player, alongside Rey Talamantez, a seasoned trumpet and saxophone player best known for his many years with La Sombra and La Fiebre.

The guest horn section lineup comes in the wake of recent internal changes for the “Pride of Pasadena.” Horn player Jonas Flores was dismissed from the group this past week, and longtime member and co-owner Luis Ayala later shared in a statement that he would not perform without Flores. Despite the developments, La Fiebre is pressing forward as scheduled, reinforcing the message that the show must—and will—go on.

Adding to the significance of the New Year’s performance, the night will also feature original singer Pete Espinoza, a beloved voice from the band’s formative years, performing on select dates as part of the group’s evolving lineup.

As part of its recent announcements, La Fiebre revealed the addition of several highly respected veterans of the Tejano music scene following December band tryouts. The newly introduced members include JR Gomez (accordion, vocals, studio musician), Raymond Anthony Garza (keyboards, accordion, studio musician), and Daniel Sandoval (drums, percussion, studio musician), with Espinoza returning as a featured vocalist on select performances. The band’s core remains intact, with lead singer J Angel Cantù joined by co-founders Rudy Rocha (guitar) and Joe Angel Reynosa (bass).

The announcement arrives during a period of internal matters and transition for La Fiebre, one of the most iconic and influential bands in Tejano music history. Earlier this month, the group described the lineup changes as a “new chapter,” acknowledging ongoing challenges that have drawn public attention in recent months.

In a statement previously shared with Tejano Nation, co-founders Rocha and Reynosa confirmed that the band is currently involved in litigation with co-owner and longtime member Luis Ayala.

Formed in Pasadena, Texas, in 1985, La Fiebre rose to prominence in the 1990s with electrifying live performances, bold brass arrangements, and a distinctive fusion of Tejano, rock, and big band influences. The group delivered enduring hits such as “Borracho de Besos,” “El Amor Se Acaba,” and “Eres Mi Primer Amor,” earning Grammy nominations, chart success, and a fiercely loyal fanbase that now spans nearly four decades.

In 2025, La Fiebre celebrated its 40th anniversary, released its latest album Raíces, and was named Tejano Band of the Year at the Guadalupe Awards in San Antonio in November. The band also signed a new recording deal with the legendary Freddie Records, signaling continued momentum and a renewed commitment to new music.

As La Fiebre steps into 2026, the upcoming New Year’s performance stands as both a celebration of its storied past and a statement of perseverance—proof that even amid transition, one of Tejano music’s most powerful names continues to move forward.

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