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As most of the world now knows, Laura Canales, also known as “La Reina,” is now singing in the Lord’s heavenly choir.
The musical queen passed on at 9:55 p.m. Saturday, April 16, the same day as Selena’s birthday. Her mother María Elena, her brother, Joél Canales and his wife Rosie survived the childless trice-married Tejano superstar.
Laura was buried to the right of her father’s tomb in what is a Canales family plot in the Santa Gertrudis Cemetery.
Canales family members included aunts, cousins, nieces Esther García, Adriana García, Linda Neilly, Cynthia Manuel, Celisse Manuel and lifelong friend songwriter Baldemar García, who wrote “Mi Ultima Parranda.”
Long before a new genre, which became known as Tejano music was born, the 50-year-old trailblazer was already the undisputed “Queen of La Onda Chicana.”
Those not familiar with La Reina quickly got a dose of Laura Canales 101 through numerous Texas newspapers, which printed from through to condensed summaries of her many accomplishments and artistic achievements.
During the three days Canales laid in state at the Kingsville Memorial Funeral Home, dozens of artists filed past her casket to pay their last respects to The Queen. Among them were two of the founding fathers of Tejano music: Little Joe, Sunny Ozuna and Freddie Martínez.
Freddie Martínez, Augustine Ramírez, Carlos Guzmán, Rubén Ramos, Steve Jordan, Abraham Quintanilla of Los Dinos, Tony “Ham” Guerrero of Tortilla Factory, Ramiro “Snowball” De La Cruz, Balde Muñoz, Armando Hinojosa, Óscar Solís, Mario Montes Jr., Cha Cha Jiménez, Eddie Pérez and Armando De La Garza were a handful of artists that represented the old school crop of entertainers during the rosary, or whom were part of the jam-packed Our Lady Good Counsel crowd, which overflowed unto the sidewalk, parking lot and street.
Add to that list of who’s who in Tejano music, Joe López, Jimmy González, Adalberto Gallegos, Bob Gallarza, Roberto Pulido, David Lee Garza, René Serrata and Juan Guerrero of Los Sheekanos. Also Joe Posada, Chente Barrera, Manuel Vargas and Greg Paredes of Grupo Badd.
Musicians included Javier González, formerly with La Sombra and now with Los Campeones; Carlos Garza, Herbie López, Joe Solís and Ernest Ruiz, the latter two both formerly with Conjunto Bernal. Luis Sílva, who wrote many of Canales’ hits, looked as gloomy as the day on which la Reina was buried.
While Shelly Lares, Stefani and Delia Gonzales had responded to media interviews, Tejano Roots Hall of Fame inductee Linda Escobar, Elida Reyna and Letty Guval were the only female artists, who attended any of the funeral services. Although not a recording artist, Diana López deserves special mention for the beautiful songs she sang at the very end of the burial.
Starting with Former CEO Javier Villanueva, who heads the Tejano R.O.O.T.S. hall of fame and museum, the entire staff – Juan Sifuentes Jr. and Manuel Ayala – were present from start to finish.
Both Rudy Treviño, host of the “Domingo Live” television program and the “Tejano Gold” syndicated radio program; and Rudy Treviño, founder of the Texas Talent Musician’s Association joined Rudy Peña, Manny García and Chayo Zaldivar, CEO the Academy of Tejano Music; promoter Margo Morones, Universal’s Frank Zuniga, and Chano Elizondo as they formed a line to give Mrs. Canales their heartfelt condolences. Add to that list Sam Zuniga, Manuel Solís, plus radio personalities A.C. Cruz and his sister Abby C plus Rey Vittonett, Canales’ ever-faithful bodyguard. Vittornett, not only stood by her casket until the end, but also had the honor of driving the Hearst from the church to the cemetery.
San Antonio Express-News reporter Ramiro Burr; and Rose Ybarra from The Monitor in McAllen plus Sandra Valerio and Imelda Ramos of Savir covered the final services for their respective newspapers.

When the many celebrities were asked for a quote, or to share their personal anecdotes with La Reina, some sobbed, some cried, some fought back tears, but all choked on their words as they talked about personal experiences that deeply touched them and their admiration for different facets of Canales’ many talents.
De La Cruz recalled her intense love for the stage and how she would always asked to sing with the many bands she used to go see at dances as a spectator and fan long before he asked her to front Snowball and Company as lead vocalist. This is a practice she continued long after she became famous.
Above all Snowball says he never ceased to be amazed and astonished by Canales magnificent voice and raved about her incredible range of four octaves.



“Laura was a trailblazer,” Little Joe said. “She physically opened the door for female singers in this genre and that credit has to be given to her.”
“She faced a lot of rejection, but she was persistent,” Ozuna added. “She got up and sang with everyone that would give her a chance. Then all of a sudden, she’s out there in front.”
Joe Posada referred to her as the Billie Holiday of Tejano music. Barrera, who revealed Canales once called him the son she never, had also nicknamed him Puffy. An interesting tidbit is that almost every artist referred to Canales as mi hermanita (little sister).
Although Canales earned many awards and honors, the Tejano Roots Hall of Fame inductee was most proud of her prized Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University.
A little known fact of this strong believer in education is that Canales was so determined to realize that dream, she was humble enough to work at the Financial Aid Office while working on her bachelor’s degree. And she didn’t stop there; before her untimely death, she also worked at the Registrar’s Office while studying for her Master’s degree.
Today, the voice of this trailblazer, whom Guzmán recalls as high-spirited has been silenced. However, as Ramos tearfully stated, her legacy will continue to live on forever through her recordings.
“Sure we’re all sad,” Barrera said. “But we have to realize she’s now without pain in another life with the Lord. She’s with Selena and they’re both singing in heaven.”
To this KEDA program director Güero Polkas added, “While a lot of people are saying pobrecita, I say, no, pobrecitos nosotros because we’re still here and she’s already in La Gloria con Diosito.”

Ramón Hernández

All pictures are courtesy of Ramón Hernández/Hispanic Entertainment