Today we’d like to introduce you to Gerardo “Jerry” Peña.
Hi Gerardo “Jerry”, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My musical journey started back in 1972 when I formed my first band, Los Arcos del Norte, with some of my school friends in Marion, Indiana. A few years later, in 1977, I brought my brother into the group to play the bajo sexto, making it even more of a family thing. Then, in 1978, my family moved to Dimmitt, Texas, a place that quickly became home. That move changed everything. The band eventually evolved, and before I knew it, it was made up entirely of my brothers. That’s when I changed my groups name to Los Arcos Hermanos Peña.
In the 1980s, we had an incredible opportunity to tour Mexico for six months, playing alongside legends like Cornelio Reyna and Antonio Zamora “El Zacazonapan.” That experience opened so many doors for us. We ended up recording two albums with each of them and even got to perform on several TV shows throughout Mexico. Over the years, we recorded around 38 albums and toured all over the United States, building something really special.
Music has always been my passion, and even after all these years, that fire has never faded. I was encouraged to get back into the studio, and I’m glad I did. I arranged and we released several songs that really caught our fans attention, like Buena Suerte Corazón, Divina Virgen de Guadalupe, El Vencido, and Charanguedo. They are all doing well on the charts, but Buena Suerte Corazón really took off and it has won Song of the Year at three different award shows. And Divina Virgen de Guadalupe brought an entirely different kind of honor (my top moment) we performed it live on Univision after I was invited to write a special song for El Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe. That song went on to receive multiple award nominations as well, we received a Humanitarian Award for that song in San Antonio.
One thing that has never changed is my role in the band. I’ve always been the sole accordion player, and despite never learning to read sheet music, I figured it out by ear. My parents played a huge part in that, they took me to dances, played music around the house, and set me on the path I’m still on today. That early exposure shaped me, and I’ve been blessed to do what I love ever since.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Over the years, Los Arcos Hermanos Peña has been through a lot, some incredible moments, but also some tough losses. We lost my brother, who was our drummer, and my nephew, who was our vocalist. They weren’t just part of the band, they were family, and their absence left a huge void in our music and in our hearts. On top of that, we lost our parents, the ones who gave us this love for music and our number one fans.
It hasn’t always been easy. We’ve had accidents and breakdowns on the road, fought to get airplay only to be turned down, and faced more challenges than I can count. But we kept going. After a while, though, things slowed down, and the band became idle for several years not making music. Eventually, differences in ideas and passion led us to take different paths.
That’s when a new chapter started. I decided to continue Los Arcos Hermanos Peña, bringing in my two sons, my nephew, and my godson, what we now call La Tercera Época. My brothers continue playing as Los Hermanos Peña. It was a big change, but for me, music has always been about family, and now, the next generation is carrying that tradition forward.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I love being in the studio! Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside different music engineers on our albums, and I’ve been hands-on with every album Los Arcos Hermanos Peña has put out, from producing and arranging to mixing. Studio engineering, live sound engineering, producing music, composing music, and even tuning accordions are specialties to me.
One of the things I’m most proud of is being able to teach others who are just as passionate about music as I am. I love passing down what I’ve learned, whether it’s through accordion, bajo, bass, drums, keyboards, or the guitar. Seeing someone grow as a musician and develop their own style is something that means a lot to me.
But more than anything, I’m proud of the music I have been blessed to be able to make. Music that will live on for generations. Knowing that my grandkids and great-grandkids and beyond will be able to hear what I’ve worked on, that my family’s legacy will continue through my music long after I am gone, that is something truly special to me.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The biggest lessons I’ve learned in life are to always put God first, stay humble, show respect, and never give up on your dreams. No matter what challenges come my way, keeping my faith strong and staying true to these values has guided me through it all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://losarcoshermanospena.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/losarcoshermanospena?igsh=Z3g0eW5mNmo3M21t
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ANHdTJBo2/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@losarcoshermanospenaofficial?si=NmXgWeymvEVA96XM
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@los.arcos.hermanos.pena?_t=ZP-8vF3ballmZi&_r=1
