Texas Tornados

The ultimate Tex-Mex super group is back - Augie Meyers and Flaco Jiménez reunite with the son of Doug Sahm, Shawn Sahm in a new recording that includes five previously unreleased vocal performances from the legendary Freddy Fender. The collection, entitled “Esta Bueno,” includes new songs written by Fender such as the swamp pop ballad “If I Could Only,” an instant new Tornados-style classic written by Doug and Shawn Sahm “Who’s to Blame, Señorita?” and several Augie Meyers songs recorded for the first time by the Tornados, such as “Velma from Selma” and “My Sugar Blue.” The album was produced by Shawn Sahm and will be released nationally by Ray Benson's Bismeaux Records on March 2, 2010.
Playing together again for the first time since the ‘90s and feeling what Shawn calls “the Tornado vibe,” the group enlisted Shawn to take over and “drive the bus” for their first album in over a decade. His goal for the record was “to keep it a straight up Tex-Mex rock and roll record.” When they first began recording, Shawn was very pleased but not surprised to hear them “sounding like they are playing at the top of their game.” He states, “When you hear this record, you hear why they are the legends they are.”
Shawn Sahm has been around the music since he was 13 and was the perfect person to entrust with preserving the Tornado’s legacy. He fine-tuned each track according to the group’s feedback giving each detail serious attention. Throughout the process, he insisted to all of them, “It is not done until you are happy.” For the release of the album, Ray Benson’s label, Bismeaux Records in Austin, was an obvious choice. Shawn comments, “Everyone knew they had a great record and they felt it would be important to go with someone who understood the legacy of the Texas Tornados. I knew Ray was the right guy. They have been friends for a long time. If anyone understood the legacy of the band, it was Ray.”
“Having known the original Texas Tornadoes, I was delighted when Shawn brought me the tracks of the NEW Texas Tornadoes CD,” said Ray Benson. “Besides the wonderful Freddy Fender songs recorded shortly before his passing, Augie, Flaco and Shawn have recorded an album true to the Tornados sound and vision. I am honored to present their CD on Bismeaux Records for old fans and I am sure a host of new ones, too.”
In addition to the featured members, the recordings include Tornado original musicians Louie Ortega, Speedy Sparks and Ernie Durawa. Flaco Jiménez states, “The groove is back.”