Surrounded by talent

Tony Jarquin never knows when he’ll hear Latin music’s next great chart-topper.

From thumping club dance floors, to grocery store aisles, the Weslaco-based songwriter and producer is always scoping the Rio Grande Valley for new talent and inspiration.

“As far as talent goes, this place is loaded with it,” he said. “You’ll hear people in the weirdest places.”

This spring, the 37-year-old hopes to complete his first four album-length projects with music performed by local artists. Each CD features songs he wrote, produced and recorded at Weslaco’s MP Recording studio.

And although he didn’t write his first song until 2002, he’s quickly learned what separates a hit from a debut flop — time and attention to detail.

“Everything about a song is like make-up,” he said. “A really classy woman will spend a long time putting it on before she goes out at night.

“But you’re going to be able to tell the difference compared to what she would throw together for a trip to Taco Palenque,” he said.

Jarquin entered the music industry after penning an original song for a friend’s daughter, who was competing in a talent competition in Mexico.

Although he had worked in the entertainment business before — organizing concerts and cultural festivals for embassies in Houston — he knew he’d found his calling after hearing his tune “Mas Que Ayer” set to music.

Now, inspiration for his next melody comes in flashes. Waking from dreams, he says whole songs will come to him in the middle of the night.

His music incorporates influences from the diverse culvert of South Texas’ border region. There are the more classic styles like mariachi and norteño and up-and-coming genres like the synthesizer-heavy duranguese. He prides himself on his ability to craft an appropriate song for any act.

Artists like teenage mariachi standout Jesus Barrera Jr., of Hidalgo, and Baldemar Malacara, who Jarquin describes as a future Willie Nelson of banda music, have partnered with the Weslaco producer for his original take on popular Mexican-American music.

Jarquin hopes to wrap up all four projects in April and has already lined up labels interested in his artists in Monterrery and Los Angeles.

“We are defying the typical styles,” he said. “We’re charting new territory.”

Jeremy Roebuck covers courts and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4437.