Pete Astudillo discusses Flaco Jiménez all-star tribute song ‘Goodbye, Texas Tornado’ premiering at exhibition finale

One year after the passing of legendary accordionist Flaco Jiménez, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Pete Astudillo is paying tribute the best way he knows how — through music.

Astudillo’s new single, “Goodbye Texas Tornado,” featuring Chris Pérez, Louie TheSinger, and Los Texmaniacs, will receive its exclusive premiere Friday evening during the closing ceremony for “From the West Side to the World: Un Homenaje a Flaco Jiménez,” the community exhibition celebrating the life, music, and legacy of the San Antonio-born conjunto icon.

The ceremony marks the first anniversary of Jiménez’s passing and will be held at the Alamo Colleges District ACCESS Building in San Antonio. The evening includes a community conversation, special remarks, live performances, a Guadalupe Cultural Arts altar dedicated to Jiménez, and the debut of both the song and its accompanying music video.

Speaking with Bo Corona on The Bo Corona Show on Friday (July 31), Astudillo revealed that the emotional tribute was born almost immediately after learning of Jiménez’s death last year.

“I always wanted to work with him. I never got to work with him,” Astudillo said. “I was sitting in my little TV room when I got the news that Flaco passed. I was already in a really bummed-out mood because my aunt was on her deathbed. Then I just said, ‘Goodbye, Texas Tornado,’ and when I said those words, I felt something. It just had a nice ring to it.”

Astudillo said the phrase stayed with him throughout the day, inspiring him to begin writing what would become “Goodbye Texas Tornado.”

“I literally had this song written before he was buried,” he shared.

A labor of love

After creating a demo with longtime collaborator René Gasca and other musicians, Astudillo realized the song deserved a much larger production.

He immediately thought of Los Texmaniacs, whose music carries the same border-blending spirit that Jiménez helped pioneer as a founding member of the legendary Texas Tornados.

“I said, ‘Who worked with Flaco? Who represents that Texas Tornados sound today?’ It had to be Los Texmaniacs,” Astudillo explained.

Blue Cat Studios owner Joe Treviño heard the demo and quickly connected Astudillo with the Grammy-winning conjunto group.

Before long, another familiar name entered the project.

Chris Pérez, who collaborated with Astudillo last year on the Selena tribute song “El Ritmo Se Acabó,” heard the demo and immediately wanted to be part of it.

“Not even ten minutes later, Chris called me back and said, ‘Dude, I want to play on this. I love this song.'”

Pérez later suggested adding country artist Louie TheSinger, creating an unlikely but fitting collaboration.

“He said, ‘Should we invite Louie? He’ll bring a different element.’ I said, ‘Let’s bring him in.'”

Echoing the spirit of the Texas Tornados

Rather than recording parts separately, Astudillo insisted everyone gather in the studio together.

“We recorded old school,” he said. “Everybody together in the room. There was such a great vibe and great energy.”

During the recording session, another unexpected moment unfolded when Flaco’s son, Arturo Jiménez, arrived at the studio after being invited by Blue Cat Studios owner Joe Treviño.

Astudillo said Arturo became emotional after hearing what the musicians were creating.

“He was literally in tears,” Astudillo recalled. “He told us, ‘You don’t understand how happy I am that you guys are doing this for my father.’ To get that approval from the family—it was just amazing.”

Looking back, Astudillo believes the collaboration mirrors the same musical chemistry that made the Texas Tornados groundbreaking.

“You’ve got Chris the rocker, Louie bringing the country influence, Los Texmaniacs with that Tornados sound, and me kind of all over the place,” he laughed. “It’s that same fusion they created back in the day.”

More than a tribute to Flaco

Although inspired by Jiménez, Astudillo said the song evolved into something even bigger.

“It started as a tribute to Flaco, but as it came together, I realized it really represents all of the Texas Tornados.”

The song honors not only Jiménez but also the band’s other legendary members, including Doug Sahm, Freddy Fender, and the late Augie Meyers, who passed away earlier this year.

“It’s a tribute to Flaco, a tribute to the Texas Tornados, a tribute to music,” Astudillo said. “I’m just blessed that I get to do it.”

San Antonio takes center stage

In addition to the song, Astudillo and the group filmed a music video throughout San Antonio, intentionally making the city part of the storytelling.

“I wanted San Antonio to be a character,” he explained. “When people watch the video, they’re going to see San Antonio as a character itself.”

The recording also includes a special touch from trumpeter René Gasca, who used the very same trumpet featured on several classic Selena recordings, including “No Me Queda Más,” adding another layer of South Texas musical history to the project.

Premiering tonight

“Goodbye Texas Tornado” is available now on digital streaming platforms, while the official music video will make its exclusive debut Friday evening during the closing ceremony for “From the West Side to the World: Un Homenaje a Flaco Jiménez.”

For Astudillo, the project represents more than another recording—it is a heartfelt thank-you to one of Texas’ greatest musical pioneers.

“I’ve been blessed for over 40 years,” Astudillo said. “From working in the fields as the son of immigrant parents to performing on some of the biggest stages with Selena, and now getting to honor one of the greatest legends our music has ever known. I hope people connect with it, because this comes straight from the heart.”

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