Manuel Donley

Manuel "Cowboy" Donley (July 26, 1927[1] – June 28, 2020) was a Mexican-born pioneer of Tejano music.[2]

In the 1940s, Donley, who had dropped out of school in the 7th grade, took a pioneering role in the orquesta sound, combining Mexican and American popular music elements and inspired by big band. He toured the Midwest and Texas for decades.[2] In 1955, he began playing with his band Las Estrellas.[2][3] During his career, he recorded over 150 singles.[3]

Personal life

Manuel Donley Quiñones was born in Durango, Mexico to Ramón Donley and Dolores Quiñones. He had eight siblings.[4]

Awards

He was a recipient of a 2014 National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts, which is the United States government's highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.[5] He was inducted into the Tejano Music Hall of Fame in 1986.[4]

References
  1. Manuel “Cowboy” Donley Lands NEA Grant. Austin Chronicle interview. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  2. Flores, Nancy. "Tejano music pioneer Manuel 'Cowboy' Donley dies". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  3. "Tejano Music Legend Manuel "Cowboy" Donley, 87, Still Strumming". NBC News. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  4. Castillo, Juan. "At 83, Tejano music pioneer still playing". Austin 360. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  5. "Manuel "Cowboy" Donley: Tejano musician and singer". www.arts.gov. National Endowment for the Arts. n.d. Retrieved February 6, 2021.

Further reading
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