Jaime DeAnda Issues Statement Challenging Recent Claims Over ‘Los Chamacos’ Name

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Jaime DeAnda (legal name James DeAnda), founder and longtime bandleader of the legendary Tejano group Jaime y Los Chamacos, has released a formal statement addressing recent public claims regarding the ownership and use of the band’s historic name.

DeAnda emphasized that the group’s identity has evolved over more than four decades through several well-documented stages. The ensemble originally performed as Los Chamacos de Raúl DeAnda, later shortened to Los Chamacos, and ultimately became known as Jaime y Los Chamacos as DeAnda emerged as frontman, accordionist, vocalist, and creative leader.

According to DeAnda, that evolution represents years of artistic development and commercial use tied directly to him, including recordings, live performances, licensing agreements, and royalty payments.

“This name has been part of my life and career since 1978,” DeAnda said. “It represents my music, my work, and my legacy. I remain committed to honoring the history of the band and the fans who have supported us for so many years.”

Questions Surround 2025 Court Judgment

DeAnda’s statement comes after recent public announcements referencing an August 2025 judgment from Jim Wells County Court at Law. That ruling stated that ownership and exclusive rights to the names “Jaime y Los Chamacos” and “Los Chamacos” were awarded to Roel Joslin, who currently manages the group.

The judgment, issued following a trial held on August 12, 2025, also ordered DeAnda to pay $250,000 in damages and permanently prohibited him from claiming ownership or using the trade name for his personal benefit. The ruling was signed August 19, 2025, and is recorded under Case No. 19-06-59570-CV at the Jim Wells County District Clerk’s Office in Alice, Texas.

However, DeAnda maintains he was never properly notified of those proceedings.

According to court records reviewed by his counsel, no notice of the hearing was mailed to him and no address was provided, leaving him unaware of the case and without an opportunity to appear or respond.

Trademark Filings Spark Further Dispute

In an effort to protect what he describes as the historical and commercial identity of the band, DeAnda filed federal trademark applications in May 2025 for both “Jaime y Los Chamacos” and “Los Chamacos.”

A third party has since requested an extension of time to consider whether to oppose the applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. DeAnda’s camp characterized such extensions as routine procedural steps that do not affect the validity or progress of the filings.

The current USPTO status confirms that the application has been published for opposition and that an extension request is under review by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Los Chamacos Camp Responds

Representatives for Los Chamacos, now owned and managed by Roel Joslin, counter that no trademark has been granted and that they have retained legal counsel to formally challenge the applications.

The group asserts that Joslin legally purchased the rights to the band name from DeAnda in 2015 as part of an agreement intended to help DeAnda address personal financial obligations, including child support and credit card debt. According to that account, DeAnda officially parted ways with the ensemble in 2018, after which the band dropped “Jaime” and continued touring as Los Chamacos.

Call for Verified Information

Amid the competing narratives, DeAnda asked fans, promoters, and venues to rely on verified information and to allow legal and administrative processes to run their course.

The dispute touches one of the most recognized names in Tejano music and has generated concern among longtime supporters who associate the group’s sound and legacy with DeAnda’s voice and accordion.

About Jaime y Los Chamacos

Founded in 1978, Jaime y Los Chamacos is regarded as a pioneering force in Tejano music, with more than four decades of recordings, touring, and cultural influence. The band helped shape the modern conjunto-Tejano sound and built a multigenerational fan base across Texas and beyond.

As the legal process continues, the future use of the iconic name remains uncertain, but its impact on Tejano history is undisputed.

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