Texas Jazz Festival celebrates the life of Bobby Galvan Sr., a founding member, as the community reflects on his impact on Corpus Christi’s music scene.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — This year’s Texas Jazz Festival took on a different note, one of remembrance, as the community honored the late Bobby Galvan Sr., a founding member of the long-running event.
Surrounded by fellow musicians and community members, Judge Bobby Galvan Jr. took the stage to pay tribute to his father, who helped lay the foundation for Corpus Christi’s musical legacy.
In the audience, cousin Bobby Gonzalez proudly recorded the emotional moment.
“The Galvan brothers were some of the greatest musicians in the history of Corpus Christi,” Gonzalez said.
The Galvan family’s love for music spans generations. It all began when Bobby Galvan Sr.’s father, Rafael Galvan, built the Galvan Ballroom in 1949. Located at the corner of Agnes Street and Crosstown Expressway on the city’s West Side, the venue hosted legendary jazz performers like Duke Ellington and Count Basie.
“It’s been a family of music, of happiness. We lived in the Galvan house right next to us and it was a beautiful home that was filled with music,” Gonzalez added.
Nick Martinez with the Texas Jazz Festival says Bobby Galvan Sr. was one of the event’s founders in 1959. What started as a simple jam session eventually grew into the formal jazz festival by 1961.
“When they created this, the Galvan family, they had nowhere to play, they had nowhere to be, and so they created – not even just a festival – it was just a jam session,” Martinez said. “It didn’t become a jazz festival until 1961.”
Martinez also shared how Galvan worked to ensure music was accessible to younger generations.
“They used to lease out instruments to the high school. And even some of the elementary schools got violins,” Martinez said. “So all these things that they produced for the schools and the families that couldn’t afford it, the Galvan family made it happen.”
Luis Reyna, a friend of Judge Galvan Jr., said he came to the festival this year to support the family and honor their contributions.
“Being here with Judge Galvan and his father’s legacy, they are a pillar of our community, and they’re also the people who have served our community. Just very good people,” Reyna said.
Though Bobby Galvan Sr. has passed, Gonzalez said his uncle’s legacy continues to inspire.
“It’s just great to be here on these grounds watching Bobby Galvan honor his father and his uncles right next to the Galvan house, where we all grew up listening to some of the greatest music,” he said.
The Texas Jazz Festival celebrates one more day of music Sunday, Oct. 19, from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
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