Ahead of Thursday’s public memorial, Arthur Jiménez spoke in his first interview since his father’s death.
SAN ANTONIO — Arthur Jiménez said his father fought to the very end. Flaco Jiménez, the renowned Tejano and Conjunto musician, passed away last Thursday at age 86, surrounded by family.
“He knew it was time,” Arthur said. “He did tell us he was ready to go. He was at peace and he did what he did. He accomplished what he did and more and that he was tired.
Ahead of Thursday’s public memorial, Arthur spoke in his first interview since his father’s death.
“He was very at peace,” his son said. “We talked a lot. He shared a lot. I don’t think he realized the journey he was about to take.”
He said his dad spent a year in hospice care, battling vascular complications along with diabetes.
“He was battling a lot of vascular issues. It wasn’t full-blown diabetes but it affected other areas. It was like a domino effect,” Arthur said.
He said at first, Flaco took it hard but wanted to get better. He said he had hopes for a European tour.
“It wasn’t until he realized that he could no longer, that’s when stuff started getting real for him,” he said.
He said Flaco initially didn’t want to see his accordion. But about a week before his passing, Arthur brought the accordion to him.
“I said, ‘Hey, your buddy is here,'” Arthur recalled. “He smiled and when I put it on his lap, he grabbed it and started playing a little bit. Then he got tired and said it was time to put it away.”
“That was the hardest part,” Arthur said. “It was the moment I knew his accordion wasn’t going to talk again.”
The family home remains filled with Flaco’s achievements, awards and recordings, including a collaboration with The Rolling Stones. Arthur said he’s proud of his father’s humble roots.
“I am proud of him,” he said. “For being a Chicano from the west side, I don’t think he did too bad. His fans were everything to him, whether it was a crowd of one or a few thousand. He always took the time to talk to his fans. I think that is what he lived for. I guess that is where his humbleness comes from.”
Arthur wants his father remembered as a “kind and gentle person who poured his feelings and soul through that box.”
The full interview with Arthur Jiménez, including stories about the time the White House recognized his father with the National Medal of Arts, is available to stream now on KENS 5 Plus. Download the app on your TV to watch for free.
Flaco Jiménez’s Final Curtain Call Memorial Service is on Thursday, August 7.