By Danielle Estrada
Let me tell you a little story to honor the ESTRADA BROTHERS as a whole for all that they were, all they have accomplished, and all they have contributed to our Latinx community. The “they” consisted of five (5) brothers: VALENTE (Vale), ALFREDO (Fred/Freddie), EUSTACIO (Tacho), LUCIO, and FRANK (kiko), SR., who, without any professional training, could play anything just by listening to a song. The Estrada Brothers built their musical career on hard work, dedication, and a pure love and passion for music and their culture. Their craft was a big door opener for them.
The Estrada Brothers Orchestra was a dream that came to life in Carrizo Springs, Texas, in 1946.
The Estrada Brothers played many instruments but the ones they were known for was saxophone, guitar, bass, and the singing… oh the singing! All the brothers sang but Valente had a powerhouse voice that could definitely carry through a room. They started off performing in Texas for family, friends, and playing small gigs like weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries. The wives of the brothers were equally as talented as they would sew on any embellishments, make any changes, and fix and make their apparel.
By the 1950’s, their musical career started to take off and the Brothers decided to move to Toledo, Ohio, where they gained a bigger audience and performed in places like Cleveland, Columbus, Lorain, Wauseon, Defiance, Fremont, and into Michigan, Indiana, Chicago, and many of the surrounding areas. They then began doing both large and small festivals, local events, private events, and even television, as they had a spot on WGTE Channel 30. Some of the venues they frequented included places like the Civic Auditorium, the Exhibit Hall by the Sports Arena, and many local VFW halls. They were among the first Mexican American bands of their kind to perform in this area. They did so well, they eventually opened a club on the south end of Toledo on S. St. Clair street called EL TROPICAL where they performed gigs, and their wives ELOISA (Valente), AUGUSTINA Tana (Kiko), HORTENCIA (Lucio), ANN (Tacho), FILIVERTA Bertha (Alfredo), would do all the cooking for the restaurant part of the club.
The Estrada Brothers and wives were also heavily involved in the community and church. They were all a part of the Good Shepherd Parish for many years. They were all also heavily involved in the Oasis Club that was created in the early 70’s which BERTHA ESTRADA (Alfredo) was the co-chair. The Oasis Club was created to involve, educate, and fellowship with the Latino community. They often took trips, helped local festivals, and did fundraisers. The brothers had many talents and with that came many other opportunities, i.e., in 1960, LUCIO ESTRADA took part in a Mexican music radio station where he spun the hits of what was current in the industry. And, talent didn’t run short in the Estrada family, as the children of the Estrada brothers got older, they also took part in the family fun.
Once the sons got older, they formed their own smaller band and would play during the ESTRADA BROTHERS intermission. Two of the sons of Valente joined the band as they learned to play music and multiple instruments, DAVID ESTRADA known for bass and guitar and ALBERT ESTRADA best known for the drums took their places in the family band learning all they could and helping out with gigs until the day the 5 original brothers retired and/or passed on, after that they both continued to play music throughout their lives including forming a band with younger brother Robert Estrada on drums, grandsons of Valente, Martin Potter on bass, Gabriel Potter on guitar, and, Joshua Potter on vocals. Linda Estrada (Romero) daughter of Valente and mother to Martin, Gabriel, and Joshua also had her turn in music as she sang and recorded with the band “Last Chance.”
The daughter of AUGUSTINA and FRANK ESTRADA SR also had a big contribution to make. EVANGELINA better known to her friends and family as BENJI or EVA added her talents and creative skills by making the beautiful custom pedestals that can be seen in the many pictures of the ESTRADA BROTHERS ORCHESTRA, son of FRANK SR and AUGUSTINA also caught the musical gene TONY ESTRADA had learned the piano, guitar, and trumpet. He even did a trumpet solo during an ESTRADA BROTHERS performance at the Civic Auditorium at the young age of 10 being put up on a chair and he played the well-known mambo hit “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White.” Tony has also continued music throughout his life long after his father FRANK ESTRADA SR passed on.
The ESTRADA BROTHERS’ ORCHESTRA’s sound was mambo, cha cha, bolero, and as they got older, they mixed in other Latin sounds. In the end, it was the beautiful memories that were made, the gatherings of the band in a small house to play music, the smells of amazing food made with love by the wives, the sounds of cousins playing, the laughter, the togetherness, and the unity, that’s what always pulled everyone in along the way. The opportunity to record was passed on as the brothers didn’t want to be apart from their families, that’s what mattered most to them FAMILY. They instilled that into all of us.
My name is Danielle, I was born Danielle Estrada and I’m the granddaughter of Valente and Eloisa Estrada and daughter of Dalia Estrada. I wrote this with the idea to honor my grandpa. All the children of the Estrada brothers told their stories and shared their pictures and life with me, thank you mom, aunt Linda, Benji, Tina, Angie, Tony, uncle Dave, uncle Albert, Lupe, and last but not least thank you to my grandpa Valente and his brothers Tacho, Kiko, Lucio, and, Alfredo for teaching us all that love, respect, and, family is the foundation of a beautiful life.
Valente Estrada 93 passed away on Dec 7th, 2024, in his home surrounded by his family.
