SERIES INTRODUCESWORLD TOJOHNNY CANALES
“Selena: The Series,” which begins streaming on Netflix Dec. 4, puts a spotlight on Tejano culture that will be surprising for even longtime fans of the singer. And it will have viewers across the country asking, “Who is Johnny Canales?”
In the show, we see a young Selena performing on “The Johnny Canales Show,” a variety program that showcased new and established regional acts throughout Texas. At the center is Canales himself, recognized by his oversize sunglasses and pompadour.
He was a champion, a mentor, a starmaker — the Dick Clark of Tejano music.
Canales was one of the first to recognize Selena’s talent and showcase it on a bigger stage. She performed on his program throughout her career, the final time just a few months before her death, when she was already a superstar around the world.
“He truly believed she was a representation of all that could be possible for young Mexican Americans,” says Luis Bordonada, who portrays Canales on “Selena: The Series.” Bordonada was raised in El Paso and grew up watching both Selena and Canales. He’s able to capture several of Canales’ qualities in the performance.
“The Johnny Canales Show” ran from the early ’80s into the 2000s in various incarnations, including stints on Telemundo and Univision. It was a rite of passage for Tejano acts and through the years showcased the likes of La Mafia, Intocable, Ramon Ayala and Los Tigres del Norte.
Selena first performed on the show at the age of 13, long before the hits “Como la Flor” and “Amor Prohibido.” A DVD collection of her performances on “The Johnny Canales Show” is available on the Q Productions website.
Canales playfully scolded Selena early in her career for not speaking fluent Spanish. She eventually got better. And he knew she was destined for greatness. He even took her to Mexico for tapings of his show.
“Selena was always different,” Canales said during a 2015 interview on Univision. “When I saw her the first time, she sang and danced. In those times, many women just stood and sang. When I saw her, I said, ‘She has something special.’ ”
Beyond his eye for talent, it was Canales himself that made the show must-see TV. He was goodnatured and gentlemanly, and he switched effortlessly from English to Spanish during interviews. He was known for a catchphrase — “You got it, take it away!” — when introducing bands.
Canales has dealt with health issues in recent years, but he’s still showcasing talent. He’s joined by his wife on “El Show de Johnny y Nora Canales” on YouTube. And his quirky charm will be on the biggest stage yet as part of “Selena: The Series.”
Bordonada calls it “a highlight of my life” to put on the suit and, in the words of Canales, take it away.
“I think he saw himself as a mentor of that rising star that would one day shine bright above us, guiding our path,” Bordonada says. “Playing the great Johnny Canales for even a day was like walking in the shoes of a legend. A living legend.”