With a career that spans more than six decades and includes multiple Grammy wins, Little Joe Hernandez established his musical legacy long ago.
The event is the first big fundraiser for the foundation, which strives to foster young talent and support education in various fields.
It is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Woodlawn Comedy (formerly known as Woodlawn Theatre), 1920 Fredericksburg Road. Tickets start at $80 and are on sale on the foundation website.
Hernandez will take the stage to perform several of his classic tunes, and he’ll be joined by several other Tejano stars, including Oscar De La Rosa, Elsa Garcia, Ram Herrera, Shelly Lares and Patsy Torres.
Also scheduled to be at the show is labor leader Dolores Huerta, who has known Hernandez since the 1970s when the two worked together for farmworkers’ rights in California, Texas and throughout the Southwest. Hernandez’ 1972 Tejano classic “Las Nubes” was adopted as the anthem of the Chicano civil rights movement and became a rallying cry of migrant farmworkers.
Organizers said there will be a few surprise guests who are expected to take the stage to perform a song or two with Hernandez.
“What is so beautiful is the way people have come out to support the foundation and the show. You can feel the excitement, the eagerness to support young talent. I mean, that’s what it’s all about,” Hernandez said.
Both the show and foundation were born out of an idea to organize a fundraising event that wound benefit West Side youth pursuing their education.
The foundation was established in memory of Cris Hernandez, Joe’s wife of 62 years who died in October 2024. She was instrumental in his career, working as a costumer and seamstress for his shows during the early years and later serving as president of his record label Leona Records.
The foundation has already supported young musicians with a community showcase Tejanitos Got Talent Competition earlier this month and through monetary gifts to local causes for students.
“We have some incredible talent here, some incredible minds that we need to support. We all know that education is important, and I want to do what I can to help kids stay in school and get an education,” said Hernandez, who turned 85 last year.
The singer, born José María De León Hernandez in Temple, said dropping out of school in the seventh grade and laboring in Texas cotton fields as a child made him appreciate the encouragement he received early in his career. It also has helped him better understand the importance of supporting the next generation as they pursue their education and dreams.
Lares, who met Hernandez when she was a 10-year-old performer new on the local music scene, said Hernandez has shown his support for upcoming talent long before the establishment of a foundation.
“He’s definitely been a father figure in my life,” she said. “I don’t know anyone (in Tejano music) who doesn’t like Joe and hasn’t been helped by him in some way.”