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America has been going
through a craze of ballroom dancing and "lounge music" for the last few years,
yet this music has been around for over sixty years and for almost as long, the Nash
Hernandez Orchestra has been playing this music, when it was "cool" and even
when it wasn't. The Nash Hernandez Orchestra is the longest running big band in the
Austin area. A twelve-piece band, the group was established in 1949 by trumpeter
Nash Hernandez. Initially comprised of all Hispanic musicians that Hernandez himself
taught, the group has had many musicians come through the ranks, but the sound has always
remained the same. Many musicians who performed in the group went on to lead their
own groups and have become prominent musicians in the Austin music scene. Musicians
such as Mitch Watkins, Tomas Ramirez, Alphonso Ramos, Tim Torres, Dave Gutierrez, John
Mills, and Mike Mordecai, to name only a few, all began their career in the Austin area
working in the Nash Hernandez Orchestra.
Nash Hernandez fell in love with the big band style while a member of
the Army Air Corp during World War II. He got to work with many musicians from the popular
big bands of that golden era of music who were also serving their country in the
war. After the war, he moved to Austin and worked with Matt Velasquez and in 1949
decided to start his own band. The band did all the popular big band swing of the
era, but in addition, the group also performed the Latin music of Perez Prado, Tito
Puente, and Xavier Cugat. This made the group popular with a wide variety of
people. Over the years, Nash performed for numerous politicians, the Austin Senators
baseball team, numerous corporate parties, and generations of weddings. In 1975,
Nash was named Ambassador of Goodwill by Governor Dolph Brisco, for whom Nash had
performed in 1973 at Governor Brisco's Inaugural Ball. In addition, Nash Hernandez
was twice honored by the city of Austin when the city council proclaimed Nash Hernandez
Day on October 26, 1975 and again on July 2, 1993. In that same year, he was also
honored by the Texas Senate with a proclamation sponsored by the Honorable Senator Gonzalo
Barrientos. In 1994, he was recognized by Vice-President Al Gore for his
contributions in the state. It was a sad day for the Austin music scene when Nash
Hernandez passed away on June 26, 1994.
Today, the group continues on under the direction of Nash's son,
drummer Ruben Hernandez, who began playing with the group at the age of eleven. It
was Nash's wish before he died that Ruben continue the band and with the help of his
family, Ruben has done that. Under his direction, Ruben plans to continue the
Nash Hernandez Orchestra well into the 21st century. Be a part of history and come
hear the band as they continue to perform in the Austin area.
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