Flaco Jiménez, who has died aged 86, was a master accordion player who transformed the Tex-Mex music scene in the US. A virtuoso performer of tejano conjunto – a fusion of Mexican styles and the polkas of German immigrants to the south-western states – he updated the form by adding rock, blues or country influences. He said he wanted the accordion to “yell and scream, and make it happy”.
He worked as a soloist, with his own bands including the supergroup the Texas Tornados, which he co-founded, and with a remarkable range of musicians, including Ry Cooder, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones. His many accolades included five Grammys, one of which was a lifetime achievement award in 2015.
