SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Jesse Martinez, drummer for the conjunto musical group Hometown Boys, died Saturday in Lubbock after suffering a brain aneurysm a day earlier. He was 34.
Martinez was stricken just minutes before the band was to go on stage at Lubbock's Club Dallas, Tejas Records executive vice president John Whipple told the San Antonio Express-News in Sunday editions. He died at Lubbock's University Medical Center.
Tragedy has struck the band before.
In January 1998, accordionist Joe Martinez, an older brother of Jesse Martinez, died of a heart attack while jamming with his former bandmates at a Houston Tejano club.
Joe Martinez, who had left the Hometown Boys in late 1997 to form Joe Martinez and Dream, also was 34 when he died.
In October 1997, another older brother, percussionist Roman Martinez Jr., Jesse's older brother, died of cerebral palsy.
The band was founded in 1970 in Lubbock as El Conjunto Internacional, and its members have changed over the years. The band became known for foot-stomping Tejano/conjunto polkas.
The band renamed itself the Hometown Boys in 1990, developed a loyal following and became affectionally known as the Homies.
The group was later inducted into the West Texas Walk of Fame alongside Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Butch Hancock and Joe Ely.
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