Paulino Bernal

Who is Paulino Bernal?

Paulino Bernal is an accordion player and Christian evangelist. He was a member of the Tejano Tex-Mex group Conjunto Bernal.

In 1972, Paulino converted from the apostolic Christian denomination of Catholicism to Evangelical Protestantism and founded Bernal Christian Records in order to evangelize his Protestant Christian beliefs. Through his La Nuevo Cristiana ministry, Bernal currently owns and operates more than a dozen Spanish Language religious radio stations located in Texas carrying a satellite-fed programming schedule. In 2008 Paulino Bernal released a new CD of polkas produced by Grammy-winning producer Armando Lichtenberger Jr., "El Maestro Del Acordeon Y Sus Polkas" on Urbana Records and received his first Grammy Nomination for Best Polka Album for the 51st Annual Grammys.

Chicanos have always been prolific music makers. They have been the music trendsetters among Mexicans in the Southwest throughout most of the 20th century. In fact, beginning in the 1930s, the Texas-Mexicans created the two most powerful regional styles ever to emerge among Mexicans anywhere – orquesta and conjunto.

The best of the conjuntos is, beyond a doubt, El Conjunto Bernal.