Interview by Natasha Gonzales
Article by Celinda De La Fuente

You can’t go through San Antonio Tejano weekend nights without knowing the names Emilio Navaira and Ram Herrera. They have graced us with their smooth voices and a lifetime of memories for decades and will continue to do so for generations to come. Music has always been in Ram Herrera’s blood, so much so, even when asked what his life has been like, Herrera can’t help but to answer in lyrical form stating, “It’s been like the song says ‘I’ve been up, I’ve been down’ ”
When he was a child, his madre put him up on the table at a party so he could sing.
“Canta, mijo, canta,” she would urge.
“No, mom, no.” his response, scared…timid. Yet, she stared at him the way a mama only can, speaking with her eyes, You better sing. And so, he sang a Beatles song, keeping the beat with his tiny foot and his eyes closed. Once he was done, his audience threw coins his way, thus beginning his journey into music.
Being too skinny for football, and too short for basketball, Herrera found his tribe with choir, where he continued to train and work on his skill. There, he met Emilio Navaira, and though they were opposites (Navaira the square, and Herrera the hippie) together, the two gained more popularity than any sports team in their school. Soon they began to see the product of stardom, not only fiscally, but by being recognized. After “Rosas Para Una Rosa took off”, while giving a free concert at South Park Mall, the two were seemingly attacked by screaming fans. Herrera states, “they were pulling my hair…this is fame? I don’t want this. This is scary.” When are these two icons getting their own Netflix series?
From there, nothing was ever the same, and it was never for the money. He always sang because he loved it. Ramiro “Ram” Herrera, a True Man of the Gente.