Down Memory Lane:
Not too many people remember Oscar Martinez, and probably never heard of Lefty Barrera, Golden Glove Champion from Robstown, Texas, the home of the Cotton Pickers.
As I researched for this article, I learned quite a bit about the town I was born and raised in, Corpus Christi, Texas.
Lefty Barrera
CORPUS CHRISTI, Tx — A Robstown native was in Corpus Christi on Friday, teaching residents how to “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.”
Humberto “Lefty” Barrera, a former Olympic boxer, visited the Trinity Towers downtown to share stories from his days as a prizefighter.
“I’m glad to be here talking to friends and relatives,” Berrara said.
He competed in the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Italy as a flyweight. He reportedly was affected by “bad officiating” and fell in the quarterfinals.
Barrera represented Team USA alongside boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who fought as a light heavyweight. Ali went on to win the championship in his weight class.
Barrera and Ali grew close in Rome, with Barrera even earning the name “Little One” from the legendary fighter.
He shared a story of Ali asking to comb his hair to make it curly. After initially brushing it off, Barrera finally consented.
“So he grabbed my hair and put it that way,” Barerra said. “He wanted to make me have curly hair.”
The 82-year-old had some of his old Olympic memorabilia on display at the venue for residents to peruse.
Oscar Martinez was from Corpus Christi. I remember him because I loved one of his songs, El Gallo Copeton. The first time I heard him was in La Terraza on Leopard St.
Martinez was born on January 3, 1934 in Corpus Christi, Texas, in a small barrio known as “Loma Rosa.” He joined the Corpus Christi-based Isidro Lopez Orchestra in 1954 and played for the group through 1956. In 1958 he formed The Oscar Martinez Band. In 1960 the band recorded “Makes No Difference” and “La Bamba” and the band’s popularity exploded. In 1965, Martinez composed his big hit, “El Tejano Enamorado.” The tune was recorded by Isidro Lopez, who headed one of the top orchestras of the day, and it became a hit on Tejano radio across the state. Martinez hosted a very popular radio show in Corpus Christi on KCCT Radio, every morning, from 7:00 am to 8:00 am which was later expanded to include a 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm show every week-day. Martinez wrote many songs but is best known for his hit songs “El Tejano Enamorado” and “El Gallo Copeton.” It is said that Oscar was the first songwriter to use the word “Tejano” in a song and album. Oscar, who is still active, is also known for writing tunes with catchy lyrics, a big brassy sound and a musical career that has spanned over half a century.
Known to Tejano Music devotees as El Tejano Enamorado, Oscar Martinez was born in Corpus Christi, Texas to Eloisa and Pedro Martinez in a small barrio known as “Loma Rosa.”
