Lonnie & Chuck Launch New Era with High-Energy Cumbia ‘No Vas a Jugar’

EDCOUCH-ELSA, TX — Lonnie & Chuck, the veteran South Texas duo formerly known as Los Badd Boyz Del Valle, are stepping into a bold new chapter with the release of their new single, “No Vas a Jugar.”

The track is an energetic, tropical-inspired cumbia crafted for dance floors, late-night celebrations, and anyone ready to move from the first beat to the last. While the name Lonnie & Chuck may signal a shift in branding, the heart of the group remains the same — rooted in Tejano and conjunto, but now expanding into a broader, more modern sound.

Now fully independent, the Gonzales brothers are embracing creative freedom and leaning heavily into original music.

“Even though we’re building from the bottom again, right?” Lonnie Gonzales shared during an appearance on the Capturada podcast hosted by Tejano singer Sammy Torres. “We’ve been doing conjunto music for 25 years, and now that I have my son in the band, we’re trying to expand, we’re trying to grow, and we’re trying to go to places we’ve never been.”

That growth starts with “No Vas a Jugar,” a nightclub-style cumbia that introduces a fresh sonic direction. The single features two saxophone players — Rigo Ruiz and Lee Cabrera — marking a new dynamic for the group.

“We’ve never had saxophones in our band,” Lonnie explained. “The first song we recorded, it’s my song, but it has a lot to do with the way they played. It wasn’t completely me coming up with the style. They helped a lot.”

While some fans have questioned whether the duo is stepping away from conjunto altogether, Lonnie made it clear that’s not the case.

“We’re not getting rid of Conjunto. We’re adding to the Conjunto — more styles,” he said. “I want people to know me for what I can create. Conjunto does not belong to me. I didn’t create Conjunto. I’m playing Conjunto. But I want to show people who I am as a songwriter.”

That songwriter-first mindset is central to their 2026 plan. Lonnie revealed the duo intends to release approximately eight original songs this year — dropping a new track every two to two-and-a-half months, accompanied by music videos.

“We’ve been doing it the right way, without a record label, on our own,” Lonnie said. “I get all the freedom to do what I want. I don’t have to go record songs that they want me to record. I can do all of mine. And that’s what we’re going to do this year.”

A major influence behind the evolution is Lonnie’s son, Tommy, who plays keyboards — an uncommon choice in traditional conjunto, which typically centers around the accordion.

“When my son started learning music, I wanted him to be a keyboard player because I knew he would have a producer mindset,” Lonnie explained. “If you learn the keyboard, you understand music — not just your instrument. You understand music.”

The duo’s renewed energy also comes after a period of separation nearly a decade ago. Carlos “Chuck” Gonzales reflected on their time apart and the realization that brought them back together.

“Me and Lonnie had parted ways there for a while,” Chuck shared. “But I realized after being on the road with all these people, helping other people, that there’s no other place like being home. So I came back — and this is where I belong.”

Though they are promoting themselves as Lonnie & Chuck, the legacy of Los Badd Boyz Del Valle remains intact.

“We’ll never get rid of the name Los Badd Boyz Del Valle,” Lonnie emphasized. “It’s just that we are the main guys. We’re the owners, the singers, the songwriters. I want to leave a legacy for my children.”

For Lonnie, that legacy extends beyond performance — it’s about recognition as a versatile songwriter capable of crossing genres.

“As a songwriter, you should be able to write any kind of song,” he said. “I’m going to do a mariachi one. I’m going to do a conjunto one. I’m going to do one that you wouldn’t even know what to call it. We want to be like The Beatles. We want to play all styles of music.”

With “No Vas a Jugar” leading the charge, Lonnie & Chuck are proving that reinvention doesn’t mean abandoning your roots — it means building on them.

The new single, available on digital platforms, marks just the beginning of what promises to be a prolific and defining year for the South Texas duo.

Follow Tejano Nation on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with everything Tejano. Listen to new Tejano music first with our Spotify playlists and iHeartRadio podcast.

---

---