David Marez: ‘La Voz de Oro’ — A Tejano Icon Reflects on a Lifetime of Music

As the house lights dim, the stage lights explode into a frenzied rainbow across the band called People.

The drummer clicks his bandmates in. The bass and guitar settle into their groove, followed by the keyboard. Just as the band begins to cook, a tall, bespectacled man in a razor-sharp black suit, matching leather Stacy Adams shoes and felt fedora glides onto the stage.

The crowd goes wild. This is the soulful cat they came to see. This is “La Voz de Oro,” David Marez.

Music has been Marez’s muse since his earliest days growing up in Mathis, Texas. His mother once told him that when he was a baby, she would put him in his playpen and turn on the radio while she did chores.

When she returned, she would find her young son miming along to the songs he was hearing, trying to sing in a language he had not even mastered speaking yet.

Music would continue to follow him as he grew older.

🎙️ LISTEN: Full Interview with David Marez

At his Pentecostal church, Marez was “volunteered” to join the choir alongside both of his parents. While he may not have been enthusiastic about singing at first, the experience gave him an important musical foundation.

“I was a reluctant singer!” Marez recalls with a laugh. “But it was really great because I was able to learn harmonies.”

Those lessons would prove valuable later in his career. Marez also remembers the power of gospel music.

“Gospel is this powerful, powerful music. It’s an energy that is love and it just vibrates through you when you’re singing.”

That passion would eventually become a defining part of Marez’s soulful vocal style.

From Athlete to Singer

Although music was already becoming part of his life, Marez says his biggest passion as a young man was sports. He played baseball and football and originally envisioned a future as a coach.

“I was always practicing baseball, football,” Marez says. “I really loved athletics and sports. As a matter-of-fact, that’s what I thought I was going to be—a coach!”

That changed after the Marez family moved to San Antonio. At Burbank High School, other young musicians quickly discovered that Marez could sing. Before long, he was receiving invitations to join local bands.

One of those groups was The Eptones, fronted by a young, soulful bass player named Joe Jama. The two already had a connection—but not from music. They first met on the football field.

“He tackled me one time!” Marez laughs. “And that was the first time I met him!”

Years later, the two would become lifelong friends and musical collaborators.

The Eptones: The “Minor Leagues”

The Eptones became a training ground for talented young musicians who would eventually move into professional bands. Marez describes the group as something of a minor league system.

“We were like the minor leagues for the professional bands.”

Musicians came and went as larger groups recruited members from The Eptones. Among those musicians was guitarist Robert Gomez, a Burbank High School classmate who would later become a major figure in San Antonio television news.

The young musicians played sock hops, garage gigs and local dances, building their musical skills and connections. The Eptones also recorded several records, including a song Marez co-wrote with Robert Gomez.

Then came a major opportunity. Joe Jama was invited to join The Royal Jesters.

Marez was happy for his friend, believing Jama had finally landed with one of San Antonio’s most respected bands. Then the phone rang.

Joining The Royal Jesters

Oscar Lawson called Marez and offered him an audition.

“Hey, man, I hear you’re a pretty good singer,” Lawson told him.

The timing was perfect. Louis Escalante had left The Royal Jesters, and Lawson was concentrating on managing the group. The band needed another singer to help Jama lead the vocal ensemble. Marez already knew The Royal Jesters well. He had watched them perform at the legendary Patio Andaluz, one of San Antonio’s most important Chicano music venues.

The venue attracted generations of fans who came to see acts including Sunny and the Sunliners, Rudy Tee and the Reno Bops, Little Henry and the Laveers, The Dreamliners and The Royal Jesters.

Marez’s audition took place upstairs at the Salon Teá. And it was anything but ordinary. The band gave him several songs to listen to. About an hour later, they started playing and put a microphone in front of him.

Marez simply listened—and filled in the missing vocal parts.

“When they started singing, I just came in on the part that was missing. Harmonized with them.”

The response was immediate.

“‘Whoa! You’re hired!’”

Marez laughs when remembering the moment.

“It made my day. Made the beginning of my career!”

For him, The Eptones had been the minor leagues.

“The Jesters were the Major Leagues.”

Four Years in the Navy

After high school, Marez was drafted into the military. Rather than wait to be drafted, he decided to volunteer and joined the Navy.

He spent four years in the service, traveling the world, visiting his musician uncle in Corpus Christi and experiencing different cultures and styles of music. He even formed an impromptu Doo Wop group with fellow sailors who shared his love of Motown and soul.

But when he returned to San Antonio, Marez had a question. Could he still sing? He had been away from performing for several years. Then The Latin Breed reached out.

“They heard I was back and told me, ‘We’re looking for a singer.’”

Marez declined. He had not sung seriously in four years. Then The Royal Jesters called. This time, he decided to give it a shot.

“I told myself, ‘Just keep your mouth shut, man!’” he jokes. “So I went and they got me back in the band!”

Learning Chicano Music

When Marez returned, The Royal Jesters had changed. The group was moving toward Spanish-language music and a stronger Chicano sound. There was one problem. Marez did not speak Spanish particularly well.

“I didn’t speak Spanish that well!” he says with a laugh.

But instead of backing away from the challenge, Marez immersed himself in the music. He watched Chicano artists perform live and studied their sound, tone and stage presence. Among the performers who made the biggest impression on him was Joe Bravo, known as “El Playboy.” Marez also studied artists such as Little Joe and Tortilla Factory.

“We were trying to learn how to play it correctly,” he explains. “That was our classroom—‘How to Play Chicano 101.’”

Marez quickly discovered that Chicano music required a different approach than the R&B and Top 40 music he had previously performed.

“It’s got its own feel, its own flavor, its own chords. It’s a whole different vibe.”

Joe Bravo, in particular, showed Marez something important. Soul.

“When I heard him sing, I loved the soul that he put into his singing.”

Marez knew the kind of artist he wanted to become.

“If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it with my soul, with my gospel and my soul.”

Joe Posada Joins The Royal Jesters

As The Royal Jesters continued to evolve, Marez wanted another strong vocalist to help with harmonies. He knew exactly who to call. Joe Posada, whom Marez had first heard performing at San Antonio hotspot Chances Are.

Marez approached Posada, as did Gilbert Velasquez, and the young musician was invited to rehearse with the group. He immediately impressed everyone.

“When he went into the rehearsal, he nailed it. That’s how good he was.”

Marez, Posada and The Royal Jesters continued their run before the group dissolved in February 1977.

For Marez, however, it was not the end. It was the beginning of another chapter.

People: Pushing the Envelope

Within a month of The Royal Jesters dissolving, Marez formed a new band. He called it People. The idea was simple: surround himself with musicians who shared his desire to create something different.

The lineup included Rich Solis on drums, Pete Hernandez on keyboards, Joe Posada on saxophone and vocals, William Lowry on trumpet, Pete Garza on bass and Ferny Mata on guitar.

Many had previously worked with artists such as The Latin Breed, Sunny Ozuna, Jimmy Edward and The Royal Jesters.

Marez calls them the “cream of the crop.”

“We just wanted to create the music we heard in our heads and hopefully it’d be different and innovative.”

That vision resulted in the landmark 1977 People album.

A Landmark Album

Recorded at Amen Studios and produced by Manny Guerra, the 1977 People album was unlike much of the music being released within the Tejano and Chicano music scene at the time.

Latin jazz, funk, big band, bolero, disco, R&B and even country-flavored steel guitar found their way into the project. The arrangements were ambitious while maintaining a connection to the Chicano audience Marez and his band wanted to reach.

“We added a different approach to the music that was still tasty but that wouldn’t turn off the Chicano audience.”

Nearly five decades later, the album still stands as an example of Marez’s willingness to experiment.

🎵 LISTEN: People

A Career Built on Creativity

The success of People opened the door to decades of musical accomplishments.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Marez enjoyed a prolific run, earning multiple Tejano Music Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.

His career eventually earned another major honor when he received the Tejano Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award at the 44th Annual Tejano Music Awards.

For Marez, the awards are meaningful—but the creative process remains what drives him.

“With every CD, we wanted to introduce a different style and a different way of doing things.”

That willingness to experiment has remained a constant throughout his career.

Learning From the Best

Marez credits the producers and musicians he worked with for helping keep his creativity alive. One of the most influential was Manny Guerra, who allowed Marez to sit behind the studio console during recording sessions.

Instead of simply singing, Marez watched. He learned how records were built from the ground up. He also volunteered to sing background vocals for other artists so he could spend more time inside the studio.

Over the years, he continued learning from mentors including Joe Treviño and longtime friend Gilbert Velasquez, the Grammy-winning producer and guitarist.

The Royal Jesters Reunion

In 2005, Marez reunited with Oscar Lawson and Henry Hernandez for the Royal Jesters reunion album Odyssey: The Journey, produced by California guitarist Bob Gallarza.

The album earned a Grammy nomination and gave Marez another opportunity to reconnect with the musicians who had helped shape his career.

“It was pure joy, reconnecting with Oscar and Henry.”

Gallarza also encouraged Marez to explore sounds outside the traditional Chicano music scene. One unexpected selection was a new version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

Marez remembers being surprised when Gallarza played the song for him.

“Bob, man, that’s ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’!”

The result was a dynamic, horn-driven R&B interpretation featuring Marez’s soulful vocals.

Corazon de Oro and Another Creative Peak

Marez’s creative momentum continued with Corazon de Oro, recorded for Joe Posada’s Baby Dude Records and produced by Gilbert Velasquez. The project earned a Grammy nomination and reunited Marez with Posada in the studio.

“We got back into an innovative mood. We’d exchange ideas and put it into place.”

For Marez, the project represented another important chapter in his continuing musical evolution.

“I’ve Got Soul”

Marez’s reputation as one of Chicano music’s great soulful vocalists eventually led to another special collaboration.

In 2018, Grammy Award-winning guitarist and producer Adrian Quesada, known for his work with Black Pumas and Grupo Fantasma, invited Marez to participate in Look at My Soul: The Latin Shade of Texas Soul.

The project celebrated the Texas Chicano Soul tradition. The song Marez was asked to record was especially meaningful. “I’ve Got Soul.”

The song had been written and performed by his longtime friend Joe Jama during his early days with The Royal Jesters. Before recording it, Marez called Jama.

“Can I have your blessing?”

Jama gave him the green light. “You got it, brotha!”

Marez recorded the song and later performed it at Lincoln Center in New York.

“It was such a thrill ride.”

🎵 LISTEN: “I’ve Got Soul”

Chicano Rhythm Soul

Marez’s creativity continues today. His latest album, Chicano Rhythm Soul, was released in 2024 on Brown Soul Records. Although the recording process may take longer than it once did, the excitement has not faded.

“I can hardly wait! I’m loving it.”

Marez says he wants listeners to connect emotionally with the music.

“I want them to go, ‘Wow, I’ve lived through that!’”

That philosophy is at the heart of Chicano Rhythm Soul.

🎵 LISTEN: Chicano Rhythm Soul

Nearly 50 Years of People

Next spring, David Marez and People will reach an extraordinary milestone: nearly 50 years of making music together. For Marez, the number is difficult to comprehend. Looking back at his recordings, he sees each project as another snapshot of his creative journey.

“They’re all photographs, what I’m trying to do musically.”

And the journey is not finished.

“It continues. And it will continue until I can’t anymore.”

His goal remains the same: learn as much as possible, apply those lessons to his music and give something meaningful back to his Chicano and Tejano audience.

The Songs That Connect Generations

Generations of fans continue to show up when David Marez performs. They sing along to favorites including “Fijate,” “Entre Mas Lejos Me Vaya” and “Yo Soy Chicano,” along with the many other songs that have defined his career.

For Marez, that connection remains a blessing.

“It’s such a joyful feeling. It starts deep in your soul and it just comes out of you.”

That feeling has carried him from the streets of San Antonio to stages across the country and beyond.

🎬 WATCH: David Marez Performing at Tejano Music Awards

A Message to His Fans

After more than six decades of performing and creating music, Marez remains deeply grateful to the people who have supported him. His message to his fans is simple. Thank you.

“To all my fans, I want to thank you so much for this great adventure, this great ride that you’ve taken me on.”

From the 1960s to today, Marez says his fans have given him the opportunity to continue doing what he loves.

“Whenever I go to sing a song or perform a song, it is entirely for you, because without you, I’d be nothing.”

Then, with the warmth and humor that have become part of his personality, he adds:

“I’d be singing in the shower!”

His final words carry the same emotion that has defined his music.

“With all my heart and soul, con un fuerte abrazo, and with much gratitude, I say GRACIAS.”

David Marez’s story is ultimately a story about music—but also about friendship, creativity, perseverance and the power of staying true to the sound inside your soul.

From The Eptones and The Royal Jesters to People, from Chicano Soul to Tejano, and from the recording studio to stages around the world, Marez has spent a lifetime pushing himself and the music forward.

Nearly 50 years after forming People, the creative ride continues. And for the fans who have been along for the journey, the music continues to be a gift.

Thank you to Mr. David Marez for all the wonderful music you’ve given to us over the years and for taking the time to talk to Tejano Nation.

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