JUNE 22, 1939 – SEPTEMBER 10, 2022
Paulino Deanda Bernal of McAllen, Texas passed away on Saturday September 10th, 7:22PM, at the age of 83.
He was born on June 22nd, 1939 in Raymondville, Texas. He was humbly raised by his single mother in Kingsville, Texas. At 9, he started playing the guitar at local bars in order to help his mother financially with the tips he received. Soon after he learned to play the accordion and formed Conjunto Bernal.
His signature dynamic accordion playing style became the trademark which catapulted Conjunto Bernal to the highest levels of fame and popularity, establishing him as a premier performer and pioneer of the Tejano genre.
As such, he was integral in discovering and launching the careers of many other musicians and well-known for his extreme generosity, camaraderie, and work ethic. He inspired several generations of musicians to follow in his footsteps.
In 1968, Conjunto Bernal was commissioned by President Johnson to entertain the troops in Vietnam for three weeks per the request of the soldiers stationed in that country.
In 2008, Mr. Bernal was nominated for a Grammy Award for his solo album “El Maestro Del Acordeón Y Sus Polkas”`
Mr. Bernal was Senior Pastor at Valley Worship Center McAllen a church he founded along with his wife and sons, spanning congregations throughout several cities in South Texas and Northern Mexico.
He was the founder, lead accordionist and a singer with Conjunto Bernal, founder of La Radio Cristiana Network, Inc., Bernal Christian Recordings, as well as Paulino Bernal Evangelism.
He is preceded in death by his father Paulino Bernal Senior, mother Guadalupe Deanda Bernal, grandson Roland Emmanuel Bernal, brother Eloy Deanda Bernal, sister Elvira Bernal Urquizo, sister Guadalupe Benson, brother Paulino Bernal Jr., and brother Alfonso Bernal.
He is survived by his wife Mary Byington Bernal, daughter Linda (Jay)Villarreal , son Paulino Jr. (Elizabeth) Bernal , son Eloy (Annette) Bernal, daughter Sonia (D.J.) Villarreal , daughter Carilu (Chris) Bernal-Polvado, daughter Yesenia (Josué) Bernal-Saravia. Also, fifteen grandchildren, six great grandchildren and the following siblings: brother Luis Bernal, sister Julia Bernal Earnest, brother Manuela Bernal Rodriguez, sister Lydia Bernal Ortiz, sister Ramona Bernal Espinoza, brother Richard Bernal, brother Oscar Bernal, brother Héctor Bernal, brother Alfredo Bernal.