El Parche! Puro Tejano!

Emmanuel C. Montoya

Self-described "Apachicano" printmaker Emmanuel Montoya created this woodcut in honor of Esteban "Steve" Jordan, also known as "El Parche" (The Patch). The Grammy-nominated artist was born to migrant-worker parents in 1939 in Elsa, Texas. Jordan was partially blinded as an infant and as a result was often left in the care of the elderly members of the community, who taught him how to play music. Jordan eventually learned 35 instruments, but his primary focus was the accordion. He became known for his experimental work using fuzzboxes, phase shifters, synthesizers, and Echoplex, and playing everything from zydeco and jazz to blues and rock and roll.

Jordan eventually became a world-renowned musician, playing concerts and festivals in the United States and Europe, and touring with such musicians as Carlos Santana. The German accordion company Hohner collaborated with the artist to create an instrument according to Jordan's specifications, eventually creating a series available to the public. Jordan appeared in David Byrne's "True Stories" and created the soundtrack to Cheech Marin's "Born in East L.A." He died of liver cancer in August of 2010, at the age of 71.