Photo: Facebook / Bobby Pullido
Latin Grammy winner Bobby Pulido recently opened up about his exciting halftime show performance, his retirement from music, and his future political aspirations in an exclusive interview with Tejano Nation. Over the past 30 years, Pulido has created countless memories for his fans, with one recent highlight being his unexpected performance at NRG Stadium, home of the Houston Texans.
Pulido became the second Tejano artist to perform during an NFL halftime show, following La Mafia’s performance in September 2010 in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. The buzz and positive feedback from the Tejano industry highlighted the excitement of having a representative from the genre on such a prominent stage.
“You know, we just got a call. Believe it or not, this was not planned for a long time. In fact, they didn’t even know what game it was going to be or what time because they were still waiting for the regular season to finish. So we were on standby, and it could be one day, another day, or they had no time. But luckily, like I’m on vacation, so I’m like, ‘Well, I’m available any of those days.’ So they called us and said, ‘Okay, it’s going to be this day,'” Pulido shared.
Bobby Pulido / Facebook
Pulido admitted that he initially feared not being accepted or welcomed. “I’m happy that the people responded really well. I mean, we can talk about how it’s a cool experience that people would, you know, to be there and to be able to sing. But the response was the thing to me because I could have performed at the halftime show and the response would have been not good. I would have been not happy. Not everybody there speaks Spanish. Luckily they were very nice, and the people respond to that cause you hear them singing the song.”
Pulido’s band members, including seasoned musicians like Gilbert Zamora (accordion), Leroy Esparza (guitar), Greg Enriquez (drums), Joe Almaguer (congas), Art Guillermo (keys), and Memo Rincon (bass), were equally thrilled. Each band member received a Houston Texans jersey with their last name as a gift. Notably, Pulido’s performance was entirely live, with no tracks or playback.
Bobby Pulido with his band. | Courtesy photo
In November, Pulido surprised his fans with a retirement announcement after a successful 30-year career and a planned farewell tour in 2025. He will focus on his political aspirations in 2026, with Democrats eagerly recruiting him for a South Texas House seat.
“I’ve never seen this politics. I see it as public service. Cause at the end of the day, you end up working for the people and you end up trying to make their lives better. And that the whole idea of that was something that I wanted to do when I was younger. I went to study political science in college, and I got a scholarship to go there to do that, but I tried music out and it went really well, and I started getting offers. And so, I became a singer, right? But my life has come full circle. That’s what I wanted to originally do,” Pulido explained.
Pulido’s legacy in the Tejano genre will always remain, and his impact on the music industry and his fans is undeniable along with the emotional legacy left for his four sons. As he embarks on his political journey, his supporters will continue to cherish his classic hits like “Desvelado,” “Móntame,” and “Para Que Baile Mi Pueblo.” The “Por la Puerta Grande” Farewell Tour is sure to be a memorable send-off for this Tejano icon.
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