This is Ramon Cantu, one half of South Texas' "Los Cuatitos Cantu" duet, a well known band that performed for a few decades. As is evident by this video performance on the legendary The Johnny Canales Show, he was a dwarf. But he wasn't just any ordinary dwarf, he was pretty talented at the squeezebox, had a good voice, and was also the lucky recipient of an extra finger. Yes, he had six fingers instead of five, and he ended up becoming an excellent accordion player (maybe thanks to that extra finger?).
Apparently, the other Cantu brother was also a six-fingered dwarf who could rock it on the squeezebox as well as Ramon. Sadly, I think by this point (I'm assuming this video is from the 1980's), the other Cantu brother had already passed away. One of the stories told of that time period was that this duet was so well known in the Rio Grande Valley, that people would innocently joke that when they saw two people who were really close together (like best friends, brothers, etc), they would say - "Ay van los Cuatitos Cantu". Here's a neat photo of this sweet duo.
Being from Michigan, I had never heard of Los Cuatitos Cantu, until moving to Uvalde, Texas, in 1976. My grandmother used to turn up the radio when she heard their music. We would dance together while cooking in the kitchen. Ever since, I've always had a special place in my heart for them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting.
Sadly, deformities are prolific when humans choose to partake in drugs...all too common amongst valley people.
ReplyDeleteHow dare you make that assumption. They are my cousins and I assure you, my aunt did not consume drugs recreationally. Their digital anomaly was not the result of recreational drug use.
DeleteHey Anonymous, I hope your comment fed the need to say something idiotic, and, that because of it, have not posted anything else on any other website site. Thank you for your intelligent contribution (sarcasm).
Delete@ anonymous. How dare you make such an accusation as to why they were dwarfs ? If you can’t say anything nice , Don’t say anything at all. It could’ve been genetic, It is evident that you are uneducated in making assumptions you know nothing about.
DeleteAlso from michigan, when I first heard los quatitos I was hooked. Real good conjunto. Puro taquachito!
ReplyDeleteI was fortunate enough,blessed if you will, to have attended R.Fulton elementary school in the 70's en Alamo. Our teacher, Mr. Baltazar Perez would invite Los Cuatitos to assist our music director Roberto Pulido every once in awhile.The name of the school has changed pero El Valle sigue siendo El Valle.Working wages and divorce transplanted my siblings and I, to Califas pero nuesto corazon esta con toda nuestra gente alla en El Valle y el otro lao (lado)...Q-VO!
ReplyDeletePerhaps it wasn't "Drugs" at all that led to these deformaties.Perhaps it was the pesticides and whatever was and is being sprayed on the crops....just sayin'
ReplyDeleteThey are from General Bravo, Nuevo Leon, Mexico...they moved to the valley when they were older..Pesticides or drugs do not contribute to dwarfism, that is a genetic disorder that skips generations and then suddenly becomes active...
DeleteMy name is Cesar, from General Bravo Nuevo Leon. The owner of the Fruteria-CANTU in town was Don Manuel Cantu (brother) of Los Cuatitos. He always spoke well about them. He and his family were very proud of the Cuatitos; and they also formed BANDS, but were not as popular as the twins. Don Manuel and his kids were not dwarfs, but all the family members resemble the cuatitos. They are all GOOD PEOPLE.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I was like Seven years old and they came to visit my Grandma Aligia Acevedo. And the where no taller then me . Lol Love the cousin's! Great Music!
ReplyDeleteThat's my padrino 😊
ReplyDeleteI was blessed to have met the Cuatitos Cantù when they came to West Texas namely, Haskell and Abilene, TX. They were very respectful and I loved their Conjunto Regional music. We were blessed to have them over at my grandparents house and we cooked for them and they spent the night.
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