Early Years

Having been inspired by talented accordionists of the late 1940s and early 1950s like Narciso Martinez, Valerio Longoria, and Tony De La Rosa, Paulino dreamed of joining their ranks. When a friend of his received an accordion as a gift, it was Paulino who spent the most time practicing on it. Shortly after, his brother Eloy Bernal received a bajo sexto from their father, and the duo’s musical fate seemed sealed.

Born on 22 June 1939 in Raymondville, Texas, Paulino Bernal kicked off his musical career as an accordion player and singer alongside his brother, bajo sexto player and vocalist, Eloy. To support their large family, the two young brothers dropped out of school and instead traveled from bar to bar and performed the lively polkas and rancheras of Conjunto Bernal.

Having started from humble beginnings, they were soon able to contribute to their family after they attracted the attention of a musical entrepreneur Armando Marroquín who signed them with his Ideal label in 1954.

They went on to record numerous cassettes and CDs, featuring hits such as Mi Único Camino and Sentimiento Y Rencor, both from late 1958. While the group included a variety of other musicians during its 25-year history, it was the iconic sound of Paulino and Eloy that defined the group’s sound and ultimately solidified Conjunto Bernal as one of the most influential groups in the history of Conjunto or Tejano music.