QEPD Janie

DESCANSE EN PAZ 🕊Juanita Gonzales Esparza affectionately known as 𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙚’𝙨 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙥 in San Antonio transitioned from this world last week on the eve of her 95th birthday surrounded by the company of her beloved family. Janie was highly regarded and admired as a true historian of all things Tejano, conjunto, Norteño, ranchera, and all around good tunes. A legendary figure in the record and San Antonio music scene, Janie was an entrepreneur that for nearly 36 years gleefully sat behind the counter of her record shop offering friendly customer service and always doing her best from her wealth of knowledge to find that tune or artist you were looking for.
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We have fond memories of Janie and perusing through Janie’s Record Shop and her well appointed jukebox. Some of us grew up going to Janie’s, while other Chulitas traveled miles and miles just to visit. Always with the radio on, her sweet voice would chime in when one of her favorite songs would be played and she’d just have to sing along. The sweet thing was that almost all of the éxitos on the radio were her favorite and before you knew it you wouldn’t only be finding THE BEST vinyl records San Antonio had to offer, but you’d also be getting a serenade by the owner herself.⁣
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She has been—and will remain—a legendary inspiration for us all.⁣
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All images shared–except for the portrait of Janie from the shop’s Facebook page–are from various visits to her shop over the years from our Chulita DJs. If you have a fond memory of a visit to⁣ Janie’s, drop it below, we’d love to learn about how this special shop left its mark on you.⁣
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Our deepest condolences to friends and family of Janie Esparza and deepest gratitude to Esparza’s son, Robert Esparza, and her daughter, Becky Deleon for keeping their mother’s vision alive in Janie’s Record Shop. QEPD Janie.