Robert Zenteno, a Mexican trumpet prodigy who went on to lead popular big bands in Houston for five decades, died Thursday. He was 76.
Zenteno checked into a hospital Thursday after having chest pains. He collapsed and died there. He once toured with Perez Prado--known as the King of Mambo in the 50s--performed jazz, salsa, meringue, swing and other genres Thursday nights at downtown Sambuca Jazz Café with his Roberto Zenteno Band. "He's a musical icon here in Houston," said Javier Zenteno, one of Zenteno's five children and drummer for the Roberto Zenteno Band.
Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Roberto Zenteno grew up in a creative household. His parents, who were actors and dancers, traveled Mexico as a vaudeville act. Though one of his arms had to be amputated after an accident when he was 5, Zenteno excelled in many activities, Javier said.
"He started playing baseball young," he said. "He was a killer with one arm, but the doctor told him he had to quit. So he picked up the trumpet, and the rest is history." By 13, Roberto Zenteno was performing with a popular Monterrey band that traveled throughout Mexico and the Southwest United States. He met his wife, Elsa, in the 1940s at a bullfight in Mexico.
In the 1950s, he began playing at the Rice Hotel and private clubs in Houston until he and his wife decided to move here. "He was the first Latino trumpet player that white people actually used to go see," Javier Zenteno said. "He used to play exclusive clubs for lawyers, celebrities, judges and athletes." Javier Zenteno said people will remember his father for his talent, kindness and humor. "He always had great stories and jokes that were just original, things only he could come up with," he said. Thursday, the band planned to continue performing at Sambuca, Javier Zenteno said. "It's what he would have wanted." Daughter Norma Zenteno told the audience she had to perform for her father. "I'm here to pay respect to my father," she said before strumming her guitar. She said her father performed the night his father died. "Daddy, I love you," she said. "This is for my father." Fans and friends of Zenteno and his family offered condolences to his children and band mates. "There will never be another one like him," said Mark DiMatteo, a local gospel musician. Zenteno is survived by his loving wife, Elsa; daughter, Norma (Stephen), four sons: Robert (Victoria), Javier (Gloria), Ernesto and David (Debbie); grandchildren: Angela, Tony, Victor, Miles, Miranda, Matthew, Melissa, Valen and Vanessa. Visitation will begin on Monday, August 2, 2004 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at Forest Park Lawndale. Funeral services will be Tuesday, August 3, 2004 at 1:00pm at Forest Park Lawndale Main Chapel. Interment to follow at the Forest Park East Cemetery. Immediately following the interment, there will be a gathering at Knight of Columbus, 2616 Louisiana at Dennis between 3:00pm and 5:30pm. Donations may be made towards funeral expenses to Roberto Zenteno at Washington Mutual #0951391516. The family would like to thank all of the many relatives, friends and fans for their tremendous support.
Zenteno checked into a hospital Thursday after having chest pains. He collapsed and died there. He once toured with Perez Prado--known as the King of Mambo in the 50s--performed jazz, salsa, meringue, swing and other genres Thursday nights at downtown Sambuca Jazz Café with his Roberto Zenteno Band. "He's a musical icon here in Houston," said Javier Zenteno, one of Zenteno's five children and drummer for the Roberto Zenteno Band.
Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Roberto Zenteno grew up in a creative household. His parents, who were actors and dancers, traveled Mexico as a vaudeville act. Though one of his arms had to be amputated after an accident when he was 5, Zenteno excelled in many activities, Javier said.
"He started playing baseball young," he said. "He was a killer with one arm, but the doctor told him he had to quit. So he picked up the trumpet, and the rest is history." By 13, Roberto Zenteno was performing with a popular Monterrey band that traveled throughout Mexico and the Southwest United States. He met his wife, Elsa, in the 1940s at a bullfight in Mexico.
In the 1950s, he began playing at the Rice Hotel and private clubs in Houston until he and his wife decided to move here. "He was the first Latino trumpet player that white people actually used to go see," Javier Zenteno said. "He used to play exclusive clubs for lawyers, celebrities, judges and athletes." Javier Zenteno said people will remember his father for his talent, kindness and humor. "He always had great stories and jokes that were just original, things only he could come up with," he said. Thursday, the band planned to continue performing at Sambuca, Javier Zenteno said. "It's what he would have wanted." Daughter Norma Zenteno told the audience she had to perform for her father. "I'm here to pay respect to my father," she said before strumming her guitar. She said her father performed the night his father died. "Daddy, I love you," she said. "This is for my father." Fans and friends of Zenteno and his family offered condolences to his children and band mates. "There will never be another one like him," said Mark DiMatteo, a local gospel musician. Zenteno is survived by his loving wife, Elsa; daughter, Norma (Stephen), four sons: Robert (Victoria), Javier (Gloria), Ernesto and David (Debbie); grandchildren: Angela, Tony, Victor, Miles, Miranda, Matthew, Melissa, Valen and Vanessa. Visitation will begin on Monday, August 2, 2004 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at Forest Park Lawndale. Funeral services will be Tuesday, August 3, 2004 at 1:00pm at Forest Park Lawndale Main Chapel. Interment to follow at the Forest Park East Cemetery. Immediately following the interment, there will be a gathering at Knight of Columbus, 2616 Louisiana at Dennis between 3:00pm and 5:30pm. Donations may be made towards funeral expenses to Roberto Zenteno at Washington Mutual #0951391516. The family would like to thank all of the many relatives, friends and fans for their tremendous support.
Robert Zenteno, a Mexican trumpet prodigy who went on to lead popular big bands in Houston for five decades, died Thursday. He was 76.
Zenteno checked into a hospital Thursday after having chest pains. He collapsed and died there. He once toured with Perez Prado--known as the King of Mambo in the 50s--performed jazz, salsa, meringue, swing and other genres Thursday nights at downtown Sambuca Jazz Café with his Roberto Zenteno Band. "He's a musical icon here in Houston," said Javier Zenteno, one of Zenteno's five children and drummer for the Roberto Zenteno Band.
Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Roberto Zenteno grew up in a creative household. His parents, who were actors and dancers, traveled Mexico as a vaudeville act. Though one of his arms had to be amputated after an accident when he was 5, Zenteno excelled in many activities, Javier said.
"He started playing baseball young," he said. "He was a killer with one arm, but the doctor told him he had to quit. So he picked up the trumpet, and the rest is history." By 13, Roberto Zenteno was performing with a popular Monterrey band that traveled throughout Mexico and the Southwest United States. He met his wife, Elsa, in the 1940s at a bullfight in Mexico.
In the 1950s, he began playing at the Rice Hotel and private clubs in Houston until he and his wife decided to move here. "He was the first Latino trumpet player that white people actually used to go see," Javier Zenteno said. "He used to play exclusive clubs for lawyers, celebrities, judges and athletes." Javier Zenteno said people will remember his father for his talent, kindness and humor. "He always had great stories and jokes that were just original, things only he could come up with," he said. Thursday, the band planned to continue performing at Sambuca, Javier Zenteno said. "It's what he would have wanted." Daughter Norma Zenteno told the audience she had to perform for her father. "I'm here to pay respect to my father," she said before strumming her guitar. She said her father performed the night his father died. "Daddy, I love you," she said. "This is for my father." Fans and friends of Zenteno and his family offered condolences to his children and band mates. "There will never be another one like him," said Mark DiMatteo, a local gospel musician. Zenteno is survived by his loving wife, Elsa; daughter, Norma (Stephen), four sons: Robert (Victoria), Javier (Gloria), Ernesto and David (Debbie); grandchildren: Angela, Tony, Victor, Miles, Miranda, Matthew, Melissa, Valen and Vanessa. Visitation will begin on Monday, August 2, 2004 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at Forest Park Lawndale. Funeral services will be Tuesday, August 3, 2004 at 1:00pm at Forest Park Lawndale Main Chapel. Interment to follow at the Forest Park East Cemetery. Immediately following the interment, there will be a gathering at Knight of Columbus, 2616 Louisiana at Dennis between 3:00pm and 5:30pm. Donations may be made towards funeral expenses to Roberto Zenteno at Washington Mutual #0951391516. The family would like to thank all of the many relatives, friends and fans for their tremendous support.
Zenteno checked into a hospital Thursday after having chest pains. He collapsed and died there. He once toured with Perez Prado--known as the King of Mambo in the 50s--performed jazz, salsa, meringue, swing and other genres Thursday nights at downtown Sambuca Jazz Café with his Roberto Zenteno Band. "He's a musical icon here in Houston," said Javier Zenteno, one of Zenteno's five children and drummer for the Roberto Zenteno Band.
Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Roberto Zenteno grew up in a creative household. His parents, who were actors and dancers, traveled Mexico as a vaudeville act. Though one of his arms had to be amputated after an accident when he was 5, Zenteno excelled in many activities, Javier said.
"He started playing baseball young," he said. "He was a killer with one arm, but the doctor told him he had to quit. So he picked up the trumpet, and the rest is history." By 13, Roberto Zenteno was performing with a popular Monterrey band that traveled throughout Mexico and the Southwest United States. He met his wife, Elsa, in the 1940s at a bullfight in Mexico.
In the 1950s, he began playing at the Rice Hotel and private clubs in Houston until he and his wife decided to move here. "He was the first Latino trumpet player that white people actually used to go see," Javier Zenteno said. "He used to play exclusive clubs for lawyers, celebrities, judges and athletes." Javier Zenteno said people will remember his father for his talent, kindness and humor. "He always had great stories and jokes that were just original, things only he could come up with," he said. Thursday, the band planned to continue performing at Sambuca, Javier Zenteno said. "It's what he would have wanted." Daughter Norma Zenteno told the audience she had to perform for her father. "I'm here to pay respect to my father," she said before strumming her guitar. She said her father performed the night his father died. "Daddy, I love you," she said. "This is for my father." Fans and friends of Zenteno and his family offered condolences to his children and band mates. "There will never be another one like him," said Mark DiMatteo, a local gospel musician. Zenteno is survived by his loving wife, Elsa; daughter, Norma (Stephen), four sons: Robert (Victoria), Javier (Gloria), Ernesto and David (Debbie); grandchildren: Angela, Tony, Victor, Miles, Miranda, Matthew, Melissa, Valen and Vanessa. Visitation will begin on Monday, August 2, 2004 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at Forest Park Lawndale. Funeral services will be Tuesday, August 3, 2004 at 1:00pm at Forest Park Lawndale Main Chapel. Interment to follow at the Forest Park East Cemetery. Immediately following the interment, there will be a gathering at Knight of Columbus, 2616 Louisiana at Dennis between 3:00pm and 5:30pm. Donations may be made towards funeral expenses to Roberto Zenteno at Washington Mutual #0951391516. The family would like to thank all of the many relatives, friends and fans for their tremendous support.
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