Noe Pro and the Semi-tones, 1964 from left: Jesse Salinas, Noe Pro, Gonzalo Gonzales, Alfonso Saenz, Gregorio Reyes and David Garcia
Jesse Salinas, rhythm guitarist for Noe Pro & the Semi-tones writes about his time with Noe’s band and his later group, the Staffs:
I joined Noe Pro’s band in 1963. Original members started with inexpensive instruments mostly Sears Silvertone, Harmony or Alamo guitars and amps. Guitars, bass and microphone were plugged into one Silvertone amplifier. What started out with mostly high school musicians, Noe turned into “Noe Pro and the Semi-tones”.
“I’m Gonna Leave This Town” excellent soul-funk number
The band recorded several 45s on the Pharaoh label in McAllen, Texas in 1963, ’64, ’65 and ’66 at a small two or four track studio owned by Jimmy Nicholls. English record “Yesterday’s Dream” and flipside “Come Along My Baby” was the first recording for the Semitones, picked up by the Mercury label. The band also recorded the single “I Know” and its flipside “Reina De Mi Vida” and “I Know What’s Been Going On” and flipside “I Love You My Darling” at the Pharaoh Studio. All records had some local success.Noe Pro and the Semi-tones recorded most of the Spanish 45s at Ideal Records Studios in San Benito, Texas. I recall recording engineer and owner of Ideal, John Phillips had Baldemar Huerta (Freddy Fender) working the recording equipment. We spent numerous nights at the Ideal studios recording until 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning. The LP was done at Falcon Studios.
Semitones, L-R, front: Gabriel (Gaby) Garza (sax), Gilbert Colunga (trumpet), Bobby Vill (bass); back: Jesse Salinas (guitar), Noe Pro (singer, drummer) and Carlos Cantu (sax)
Noe was also a great guitar and bass player, he could play numerous instruments, he arranged all the melodies for our horn section. Noe was known as the singing drummer which was unique for that time. Everyone loved to hear Noe sing and could dance to the music we played in English and Spanish.
In 1965 Noe was picked up by an orchestra service agency in Dallas that arranged for him to tour. They used their musicians. Some of us were either still in school or were not hired. Noe Pro’s band had new beginnings, and his music played on. Noe’s roots are in the Rio Grande Valley where he continues to record, and entertain his fans with tejano, country, rock, blues and big band music. Though it’s been over 40 years, this is some of what I recall about the early years of Noe Pro and the Semi-tones.
I played bass guitar with another school band The Staffs. By the middle of 1966, most of us were drafted into military service. It seems everyone left Brownsville, Texas.
Sadly, we have lost two of the early years Semi-tones, Gregorio (Goyo) Reyes: trumpet and Guadalupe (Lupio) Hernandez: lead guitar.
I ask anyone with knowledge of the band to submit photos, stories or any information about Noe Pro’s band “The Semi-tones”.
Jesse Salinas
Q. Were you part of the Blue Valiants with Noe? “I Know (You Don’t Love Me Anymore)” / “Reina de Mi Vida” is credited to Noe Pro and the Blue Valiants.
Jesse: I was never with the Valiants. Noe joined the Valiants as a drummer. The Blue Valiants did record for Jimmy Nicholls at Pharaoh when he was with them. Later Noe formed his own band the Semitones and we recorded “Yesterday’s Dream” and its flip at Pharaoh, it was the first recording for the Semitones. Noe tells me that “I Know” and its flip was actually the second recording. We all noticed the error on the label at the time we got copies but it was too late to change.
Noe Pro’s 1960s record releases
45s:
Noe Pro and the Semitones:
Mercury 72341 – “Yesterday’s Dream” / “Come Along My Baby (and Dance with Me)” (1964)
Pharaoh 118 – “I Know (You Don’t Love Me Anymore)” / “Reina de mi Vida” (credited to Noe Pro and the Blue Valiants) Pharaoh 124 – “I Know What’s Been Going On” / “I Love You My Darling”
“Para Ti” for the Bego label, a wild adaption of the Animals “I’m Crying”
Bego BG-167 – “Para Ti” / (as Noe Pro y Los Semitones)
Benja 103 – “Oh Darling” / “What Shall I Do” (both written by Benny C. Mendez and credited to Noe and the Semitoness)
Norco 110 – “If You Would See Me Tomorrow” / “I’m Gonna Leave This Town”
Ideal 2163 – “En Que Pierde una Mujer” / “Gracias” Ideal 2285 – “Usted” / “Quizas, Quizas, Quizas” Ideal 2370 – “Gorda” / “Mi Baby” Ideal 2372 – “Extraños en la Noche” Ideal 2382 – “El Destgastado” / “El Soltero”
Falcon 1656 – “Yo Te Daria Mas” / “Llora”
Album:
Falcon FLP-2055 – La Voz Internacional de Noe Pro
songlist: Llora, Mi Razon, Sin Verte, Incomprendida, Humo en los Ojos, Yo Te Suplico, Yo Te Daria Mas, Yo Soy Aguel, Aunque Me Hagas Llorar, Ya No Me Quieres, Cuando Comienza Elamor, Que Injusticia
Thank you to Jesse Salinas for the photos and scans in this article, and to Chad Burnett for the scan of the Bego 45 “Para Ti”.
15 thoughts on “Noe Pro and the Semi-tones”
I remember Noe back then and man he was hot, fats domino, Mike Sanchez, Carlos Cantu was a good friend, Noe is still good freddy with only him and drummer sounded like a complete band., those were the days., my brother Mike Cantu also had a band, and my brother in law, the Swinging Kings also were related to me from Santa Rosa [longorias] Mike Sanchez and Noe Pro, along with san benitos Baldemar Huerta or freddy were the very best in those days except for Sunny Ozuna and a few others from San Antonio.
Hello Bobby, My name is Emmanuel X Garza and I lived in Santa Rosa till I was eighteen. I went to school with Robert Longoria. I liked the way he played. We were friends. In the meantime, back in 1966, Me, Ray Gomez,Johnny and Lupe Garza and Rene Hinohosa formed a band called The Misfits.Some of our favorite stuff to play was your music especially The Fires Gone, Baby Doll and An Angel Like You. Great band and great music. I left the Valley in 1969 and moved to Detroit where I have continued to play. I had been trying to get a copy of your music and finally I got a CD from Ray Gomez. Sadly he died not to long ago. Any way I know I am in Noe Pros’ page but I saw the Bobby Ledesma comment by Monte Cantu and I just had to write. If at all possible write me a letter. If not just happy to say Hello.
I saw your comment on Noe Pro’s music on garage hangover website. Is it possible for me to get the original 45 record / original recording (tape or Cd) of “I Know” ? I appreciate your help in this. Thanks…….Gilbert
Desde hace algun tiempo he buscado la cancion ´´Porque volviste a mi´´ ya que tengo el disco de 45 rpm. pero no tengo en que tocarlo, si me pudieran ayudar en conseguirla, saludos desde Cd. Juarez Chih.
I played with NoePro and the Semitones while I was in high school in Harlingen 1967-68. I came on right as he cut his last few songs for an album with Falcon records. We played the Brownsville civil center with Freddy Fender and did a tour up thru El Paso I player the Tenor sax. I would sure like to get pictures of the band while I was in it
excelente información, me gustaría conseguir las grabaciones de Pharaoh records , ya que las he buscado en varios lugares y no he podido rescatarlos. Si hay alguna persona que las tenga , podríamos intercambiar ya que poseo mucho en los sellos IDEAL y FALCON RECORDS
Actualmente si recuerdo bien Noe se hizo integrante de Los Blue Valiants. Yo me hize parte de los valiants, cuando Alfonso Saenz y Noe me echaron el envite. Meses despues Noe formo Los Semitones, y el grupo empezo. Las grabaciones primeras fueron con Ideal, Pharoah fue despues…..
Tengo algunas dudas con respecto a los datos de sus grabaciones: la primera es cual fue su primer grupo LOS VALIANTS o los SEMITONES ??? la segunda es ; cual fué su primera grabación las de PHARAOH o la de IDEAL ?? Existe un disco IDEAL # 2129 que trae EL PECADOR grabada en 1963 con los VALIANTS y por otro lado señalan que grabó en 1963 para PHARAOH las canciones I KNOW y REINA DE MI VIDA, pero antes hay otro disco en la marca MERCURY 72341 que contienen Yesterday’s dream y come along with my baby…..en este disco con que grupo grabó….y cual fué primero ????
I trying to find out who Jose Adan Salinas played with back then. I heard he played with The Cavaliers, but can’t find anything. Does anybody have any information on him?
I remember when Noe Pro used to practice near my house. They would sell us 45s. I remember Hit Me With The Stroll. I think they practiced on Shary Avenue 2 blocks from my house
Yea David I remember, you replaced me when I got drafted by the military. Roberto villegas was the bass player, Gpe Hernandez was the guitar player, Gilbert Colunga was on trumpet , Carlos Cantu on alto sax, and I was on tenor sax. The last gig for me was in Harlingen, the night before I left for basic training. Clearly that night we wore some big glasses that night. I had the pictures but through the years I have lost them, sorry, by the way did you keep your corvette?????
I remember listening to Noe Pro on KGBT-AM and watching Noe Pro on television on Sundays when we used to live in Harlingen, Texas. We now reside in Washington state and where I have my on internet radio and do a Tejano radio show on a local FM radio station. Im glad Noe and the rest of his music band members are still active performing. Greetings from Walla Walla, Washington. Your Truly Adan Escobar
I played with Noe Pro and the Semi tones for about one year summer of 1968 through spring 1969. Albert Theis and Eddie Fuentes on trumpet and I played the trombone so we had a very brassy background for Noe’s great vocals. Kelly Ramirez was the organist, Lupe Hernandez on guitar and I cannot remember the bassist or drummer names but they were brothers. We started a tour in Lubbock TX and then continued to New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Washington, California and Arizona before heading back to the Valley. Eight guys in a VW van and a trailer, those were the days. On our return we played weddings, quincineras and any gig we could get. Playing in the band was fun but I was falling behind in my college studies so I thanked Noe for the opportunity and quit to concentrate on school. I have lost touch with him but I am grateful he gave me an opportunity.
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Jesse Salinas, rhythm guitarist for Noe Pro & the Semi-tones writes about his time with Noe’s band and his later group, the Staffs:Noe was also a great guitar and bass player, he could play numerous instruments, he arranged all the melodies for our horn section. Noe was known as the singing drummer which was unique for that time. Everyone loved to hear Noe sing and could dance to the music we played in English and Spanish.
In 1965 Noe was picked up by an orchestra service agency in Dallas that arranged for him to tour. They used their musicians. Some of us were either still in school or were not hired. Noe Pro’s band had new beginnings, and his music played on. Noe’s roots are in the Rio Grande Valley where he continues to record, and entertain his fans with tejano, country, rock, blues and big band music. Though it’s been over 40 years, this is some of what I recall about the early years of Noe Pro and the Semi-tones.
Q. Were you part of the Blue Valiants with Noe? “I Know (You Don’t Love Me Anymore)” / “Reina de Mi Vida” is credited to Noe Pro and the Blue Valiants.
Noe Pro’s 1960s record releases
I remember Noe back then and man he was hot, fats domino, Mike Sanchez, Carlos Cantu was a good friend, Noe is still good
freddy with only him and drummer sounded like a complete band., those were the days., my brother Mike Cantu also had a band, and my brother in law, the Swinging Kings also were related to me from Santa Rosa [longorias] Mike Sanchez and Noe Pro, along with san benitos Baldemar Huerta or freddy were the very best in those days except for Sunny Ozuna and a few
others from San Antonio.
Hello Bobby, My name is Emmanuel X Garza and I lived in Santa Rosa till I was eighteen. I went to school with Robert Longoria. I liked the way he played. We were friends. In the meantime, back in 1966, Me, Ray Gomez,Johnny and Lupe Garza and Rene Hinohosa formed a band called The Misfits.Some of our favorite stuff to play was your music especially The Fires Gone, Baby Doll and An Angel Like You. Great band and great music. I left the Valley in 1969 and moved to Detroit where I have continued to play. I had been trying to get a copy of your music and finally I got a CD from Ray Gomez. Sadly he died not to long ago. Any way I know I am in Noe Pros’ page but I saw the Bobby Ledesma comment by Monte Cantu and I just had to write. If at all possible write me a letter. If not just happy to say Hello.
I saw your comment on Noe Pro’s music on garage hangover website. Is it possible for me to get the original 45 record / original recording (tape or Cd) of “I Know” ? I appreciate your help in this. Thanks…….Gilbert
Desde hace algun tiempo he buscado la cancion ´´Porque volviste a mi´´
ya que tengo el disco de 45 rpm. pero no tengo en que tocarlo, si me pudieran ayudar en conseguirla, saludos desde Cd. Juarez Chih.
I played with NoePro and the Semitones while I was in high school in Harlingen 1967-68. I came on right as he cut his last few songs for an album with Falcon records. We played the Brownsville civil center with Freddy Fender and did a tour up thru El Paso I player the Tenor sax. I would sure like to get pictures of the band while I was in it
excelente información, me gustaría conseguir las grabaciones de Pharaoh records , ya que las he buscado en varios lugares y no he podido rescatarlos.
Si hay alguna persona que las tenga , podríamos intercambiar ya que poseo mucho en los sellos IDEAL y FALCON RECORDS
Actualmente si recuerdo bien Noe se hizo integrante de Los Blue Valiants. Yo me hize parte de los valiants, cuando Alfonso Saenz y Noe me echaron el envite. Meses despues Noe formo Los Semitones, y el grupo empezo. Las grabaciones primeras fueron con Ideal, Pharoah fue despues…..
Tengo algunas dudas con respecto a los datos de sus grabaciones:
la primera es cual fue su primer grupo LOS VALIANTS o los SEMITONES ???
la segunda es ; cual fué su primera grabación las de PHARAOH o la de IDEAL ??
Existe un disco IDEAL # 2129 que trae EL PECADOR grabada en 1963 con los VALIANTS y por otro lado señalan que grabó en 1963 para PHARAOH las canciones I KNOW y REINA DE MI VIDA, pero antes hay otro disco en la marca MERCURY 72341 que contienen Yesterday’s dream y come along with my baby…..en este disco con que grupo grabó….y cual fué primero ????
I trying to find out who Jose Adan Salinas played with back then. I heard he played with The Cavaliers, but can’t find anything. Does anybody have any information on him?
I remember when Noe Pro used to practice near my house. They would sell us 45s. I remember Hit Me With The Stroll. I think they practiced on Shary Avenue 2 blocks from my house
I was the saxophone player in 1967-68 and I’m looking for pictures of the band with me in it. Lived in Harlingen Texas and went to HS there
Yea David I remember, you replaced me when I got drafted by the military. Roberto villegas was the bass player, Gpe Hernandez was the guitar player, Gilbert Colunga was on trumpet , Carlos Cantu on alto sax, and I was on tenor sax. The last gig for me was in Harlingen, the night before I left for basic training. Clearly that night we wore some big glasses that night. I had the pictures but through the years I have lost them, sorry, by the way did you keep your corvette?????
I remember Noe Pro competing in a big talent contest in the 1950s in Corpus Christi. I think he was one of the finalist.
I remember listening to Noe Pro on KGBT-AM and watching Noe Pro on television on Sundays when we used to live in Harlingen, Texas. We now reside in Washington state and where I have my on internet radio and do a Tejano radio show on a local FM radio station. Im glad Noe and the rest of his music band members are still active performing. Greetings from Walla Walla, Washington. Your Truly Adan Escobar
I played with Noe Pro and the Semi tones for about one year summer of 1968 through spring 1969. Albert Theis and Eddie Fuentes on trumpet and I played the trombone so we had a very brassy background for Noe’s great vocals. Kelly Ramirez was the organist, Lupe Hernandez on guitar and I cannot remember the bassist or drummer names but they were brothers. We started a tour in Lubbock TX and then continued to New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Washington, California and Arizona before heading back to the Valley. Eight guys in a VW van and a trailer, those were the days. On our return we played weddings, quincineras and any gig we could get. Playing in the band was fun but I was falling behind in my college studies so I thanked Noe for the opportunity and quit to concentrate on school. I have lost touch with him but I am grateful he gave me an opportunity.