Javier Batiz

Mexican guitarist from Tijuana and precursor of rock in Mexico. In 1957 he founded a group called Los TJ's with which he picked up musical influences that were received in the Mexican border cities of black music, blues and R&B from people like T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Howlin' Wolf, James Brown, among others. Bátiz moved to Mexico City. By 1968 Javier Bátiz became a famous figure in the Mexican blues world and was hired to play at the Terraza Casino bar, which turned out to be a successful season. Personalities from all walks of life gathered there every night to draw impressive crowds, including politicians, artists and intellectuals. That popularity led him to perform in 1969 at the first massive open-air concert in Mexico held by authorities of the then Mexico City Department in the Alameda Central, where according to eyewitness estimates, Javier played to an audience of at least 18,000 people. Known as a teacher of people such as: Carlos Santana, Alex...