I have been in the music business for most of life.
At age 4 my father started teaching me how to play the guitar. By the time I was 8 years old I was earning a few dollars performing in my hometown of Benavides, Texas and surrounding areas. In 1967 at age 13 we moved to Kingsville about 30 miles east of Benavides where I started performing with local bands.
That year a school mate of mine Danny Zapata and I started collaborating and would get together after school and on weekends for songwriting sessions. Danny would write the lyrics and I would write the music. After high school because of busy schedules Danny and I met less frequently.
Danny went off to college and I enlisted in the Military. I continued writing on my own and in 1972 I wrote a song called “The First Time I Saw You Girl”.
In 1973 “The First Time I Saw You Girl” was recorded by Rene and Rene the bilingual duo of “Angelito” and “Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero” fame. Originally the duo consisted of Rene Ornelas and Rene Herrera. Herrera later decided to leave and Jorge Ramirez stepped in. Jorge also a songwriter wrote “Morning” which was the flip side of Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero. In 1974 Jorge went on to pursue a solo career and I became the second voice of Rene and Rene.
Besides Rene and Rene I have had songs recorded by Grupo Mazz, La Mafia, David Lee Garza, Ram Herrera, Rudy & The Reno Bops, Irene Rivas from Mexico City, and Rio Rami to name a few.
After Rene and Rene I played a few years with Rudy Tee Gonzalez & the Reno Bops and then Rio Rami Band. In 1980 Rio Rami which was renamed Rio Bravo by the record label Melody Records recorded an album in Mexico City. The album was produced by Marco Antonio Solis of Los Bukis.
In 1984 I established my own publishing company “Palaniz Music Company” and formed my own group Cañabrava”. We recorded two albums with TH Records out of Miami.
In 1990 I decided to concentrate on songwriting. In 1993 “Te Quiero Mi Amor” was recorded by David Lee Garza on Capitol Records for which I received a BMI award for being one of the most requested latin songs between 1993-1994. In 1995 Ram Herrera recorded “Ven Mi Amor” and “Mujer De Mi Vida”.
Presently, I am still writing and producing my own music while providing services for independent musicians, songwriters, publishers and record labels.
Through the years I have worked in A&R, artist management, producing, audio mixing and mastering, copyright registration, licensing and several other areas of the music industry.