"Cool Cat" Martinez Makes an Apperance
by Rene Torres
Thanks to
the Chamber of Commerce and the contributions of local merchants— the 1959
Brownsville Fourth Annual Cotton Carnival went on without a hitch.
The Carnival
was a three day event that included two parades, a beauty contest, a free show
for children, a bathing revue and swimming exhibition.
The final
affair saw throngs of people jamming the Jacob Brown Auditorium where the Grand
Cotton Carnival Ball was held.
Adding to
the excitement of activities was the performance of “Fats Domino” and his
orchestra.
Like an arrival of a Hollywood movie star,
Domino traveled to the auditorium with his 15 piece orchestra in a pink
Chrysler limousine.
Just imagine being there listening the popular
tunes of the era —“Blueberry Hill,” “Ain’t that a shame” and “I’m walking,
which were among the top 20 tunes in the country for many weeks. The $2 admission was all worth it.
Well!
Brownsville resident Elia Cantu Senteno and her two girl friends were
there. There was just one concern. Elia,
like most girls of that period had a curfew and that was always on the back of
her mind as the music played on.
Elia, who
still lives in Brownsville, recently declared that the auditorium was full and
vividly remembers that there was constant screaming with every song.
Although she
didn’t stay until the final curtain, which came down at 1:00 a.m., she danced the
night away while still meeting her mother’s mandated curfew.
Also, that
evening, a local nine year old kid shared the stage with “Fats.” David
Martinez, the “Cool Cat, “as he was known in Brownsville, was a dancing
sensation that Mr. Domino had met in a
previous visit to Brownsville. It was
then that Domino saw him dance and never forgot his name.
David, who
today is 65 years old and lives in Florida, recently, commented by phone that when
Domino saw him among the audience— called him by name to join the band on
stage. Domino was so impressed with his
talent that he extended him an invitation to travel with the band.
At first,
David’s parents supported the idea, but after some in-depth thinking decided
that a nine year old belongs at home.
The program
concluded with sixteen girls taking the stage.
Betty George was crowned queen of
the 1959 Cotton Carnival Queen. With the crown she won a trip for two to Mexico
City with $100 expense money.
Second place
went to Jeanine Sanchez, her prize was a weekend for two at El Padre Motel on
Padre Island and set of luggage. Third
place winner was Shirley Brookins, she received a wristwatch.
Others
Brownsville High participants were Corinne Anderson, Betty Delgado, Gloria
Fernandez, Carolyn Lambert, Mary Bell La Tout, Phillis Maring, and Joanne
Trickey.
A coronation
ceremony was held at 3 p.m. in the Sunken Garden of Fort Brown Memorial Center
and was followed by the Grand Ball at 9 p.m. at the Jacob Brown Auditorium.
Fats Domino
who had been drawing large audiences wherever he was booked—was just as popular
in Brownsville as the high school crowd jammed the auditorium.
NOTE:
David the “Cool Cat,” led the 1956 Charro Days Parade
in his familiar “Tin
Tan” attire—the multitudes that lined the streets give him a more than a
healthy applause at every stop. As time
progressed, David left his dancing days behind, but continued in the music
business. In 1975, he was instrumental
in forming “The New Variety Band,” a
group that after 40 years still plays today in the McAllen area.
Shown in photo: Concepcion Torres,
Arnold Torres and David “Cool Cat” Martinez
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