Music that lasts

Some songs never really leave. 

Long before playlists and streaming services, they became the soundtrack to backyard barbecues, quinceañeras, weddings and family gatherings across the Southwest. Next month, many of those memories return to Las Cruces when Sonny Ozuna and Tierra Legacy headline the Oldies Show & Dance Party at the Las Cruces Convention Center. 

Presented by Premiere Entertainment, the Aug. 8 show will feature Ozuna and Tierra Legacy, along with opening act S.A. Xcitement. Doors open at 7 p.m., with live music beginning at 8 p.m. Organizers say the evening is designed as much for dancing and reconnecting with old friends as it is for celebrating music that has remained part of family traditions for decades. 

For Ozuna, returning to southern New Mexico means reconnecting with an audience that has followed his career for generations. 

“We miss them quite a bit,” Ozuna said. “Our fans from Las Cruces come to see us all the time. We were there in the days of the Enchilada Fest, and I kind of miss it because that was a little closer contact with everybody.” 

Ozuna launched his recording career in 1963 shortly after graduating from high school in San Antonio. His first recording, “Talk to Me,” became an early hit and earned him an appearance on Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand.” His career later expanded into Tejano music, motion pictures and Grammy-winning work while continuing to perform for audiences across the country. More than six decades later, he believes the music has endured because families never stopped sharing it. 

“Our music got played from party to quinceañera to anniversary,” Ozuna said. “It was passed down from generation to generation.” 

That same idea of carrying music forward defines Tierra Legacy. The band traces its roots to 1972, when brothers Rudy Salas and Steve Salas helped establish Tierra as one of the pioneering Chicano groups to reach mainstream audiences. After Rudy and Steve died during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rudy’s son, David Salas, reunited original and longtime members to continue performing the music his father and uncle helped create. 

“We’ve been keeping their memory alive,” Salas said. “The legacy continues, and I’m just fortunate to still be honoring their memories through touring and recording.” 

Each performance, he said, is both a tribute to the band’s history and an opportunity to introduce those songs to new audiences. 

“We pay homage to everything that my dad and uncle created and honor their memories at every stop that we go,” Salas said. 

While Ozuna and Tierra Legacy arrive in Las Cruces with different histories, they share something in common. Now, they’re hoping to create a few more memories. Carlos Flores, owner of Premiere Entertainment, said that’s what separates this show from a typical concert. 

“This is a party,” Flores said. “We have a dance floor and everything, so it’s not like a sit-down concert.” 

Flores said the show has already drawn interest from people traveling from El Paso, Albuquerque, Silver City, Colorado, and other surrounding communities. He expects many attendees will spend as much time catching up with old friends as they do enjoy the performances. 

“People hadn’t seen each other in 40 years,” Flores said of a previous event. “It was just really exciting to reminisce with people you grew up with.” 

Ozuna said those shared experiences have kept him inspired throughout a career spanning more than 60 years. 

“We’re still working on new memories,” he said. “People will remember them later on and be able to tell their children.” 

Salas has watched that tradition continue as longtime fans now bring younger family members to concerts. 

“You see grandma, grandpa, their sons and daughters, and then their sons and daughters,” Salas said. “It’s a beautiful thing.” 

For anyone attending the Las Cruces performance for the first time, Ozuna hopes the evening becomes more than a night of entertainment. 

“I can guarantee you that you’re going to have not only a fun time,” he said, “but go away with something that’ll stick with you as a memory.” 

Tickets for the Oldies Show & Dance Party are available online at Las Cruces Convention Center ticket website