Frank "The Wild Jalepeño" Rodarte - The Return of the Wild Jalepeño (CD)

Tracklist:

1. Everybody 03:09
2. My Way Home 08:08
3. Pain, Pain 02:27
4. I Can Outdance You 02:59
5. I'm Gonna Tell You 02:15
6. Inspirational 06:25
7. Take Me Lord, Jesus 03:26
8. I'll Fly Away 08:13

At 83 years old, Frank “The Wild Jalapeño” Rodarte is releasing his debut album.

In 1957, Rodarte formed The Dell-Kings, an all Chicano R&B band in San Antonio, TX.

The Chicano Rock-n-Roller can be heard blowing tenor saxophone on recordings with Doug Sahm from 1961 with his band, The Dell-Kings (see Norton Records’ Doug Sahm comp, San Antonio Rock).

In 1964, The Dell-Kings, with Rodarte as their leader, became the house band for the first “after hours” strip club bar at The Sahara in Las Vegas for 366 weeks straight.

Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Elvis Presley, Don Rickles, and Louis Prima were his “regulars” and fans. Presley even gave them an anniversary cake to celebrate week 300.

From “My Way Home,” the second song on The Return of the Wild Jalapeño:

“Even The King and The Chairman/ I would always blow their minds”

He was also Redd Foxx’s primary left-handed tobacco dealer and partied regularly with the Harlem Globetrotters.

In 1970, The Dell-Kings changed their name to Los Blues and recorded a Jazz-Rock record for United Artists Records.

Los Blues toured the United States with Curtis Mayfield, O-Jays, and The Dells.

Frank played on Sahm’s Groover’s Paradise, four Augie Meyers records, and briefly with Asleep at the Wheel and Jerry Jeff Walker.

Since the late 1970’s, Frank “The Wild Jalapeno” Rodarte has been singing and playing his Chicano R&B around San Antonio, Texas.

In 1987, Rodarte wrote a song called “Unidos” and mailed the cassette to Pope John Paul II. 3 months later, Frank received the Papal Blessing on Vatican stationary. A spiritual highlight!!

In 1993, to combat drive-by shootings, Frank sold barbecue to raise $3500 to buy a flat-bed trailer so he and his band could perform while driving up and down the streets of violent westside neighborhoods playing his signature “Holy Spirit Rock-n-Roll."

He loves Jesus Christ, marijuana, and his family.

Cut mostly live in spring of 2024 at Blue Cat Studios (Flaco Jimenez, Los Texmaniacs) in San Antonio, TX.

5 songs were written by the album’s producer, Jerry David DeCicca, based on details of Frank's life. The other 3 songs are by Bill Callahan (a classic Smog song from Red Apple Falls), Greg Cartwright (Reigning Sound), and the country-gospel classic, “I’ll Fly Away,” which is given a Spiritual Jazz reading here.

These days, at 83 years old, Frank refers to himself as the Mild Jalapeno, but he still tears it up on stage. Watch out!