John R. "Johnny" Gonzales

January 19, 1952  -  June 26, 2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of John R. "Johnny" Gonzales, a truly beautiful soul whose love, faith and kindness touched everyone he met. As the saying goes, he never met a stranger and people gravitated to his joyous nature. During his illness, he was always surrounded by the love of his family and the comfort of his deep Catholic faith. Johnny left this world too soon.

Johnny, a resident of Manor, Texas, was born in Austin, Texas to Bernardo and Leonor R. Gonzales on Saturday, January 19, 1952. He graduated from A. S. Johnston High School and continued his education graduating from St. Edwards University. He retired from the Office of the Attorney General and worked part time at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. After a private courageous battle with cancer, he entered unto eternal rest on Thursday, June 26, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernardo and Leonor R. Gonzales, mother-in-law, Louise "Licha" Guebara, and sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Navarro Garcia. His beautiful life will forever be cherished by his wife of 36 years, Cindy Guebara, who loved and cared for him, never leaving his side until his last breath. He is also survived by his sons, John Albert Pallas and John Guebara (Maria), sisters Mary Gonzales (Noel) and Eloise Mireles, his brothers Benny "Porcha" Gonzales, Albert "Bert" Gonzales (Gloria), and David Gonzales. Also surviving him are his in laws who loved him so much and along with his siblings helped care for him, Richard Guebara (Linda), Diana Capuchino (Ray) and Dan Guebara (Margo), and father-in-law Dolores "Lolo" Guebara. He will also be missed tremendously by all his nieces and nephews, Ronald, Loretta, Trey, Karen, Thomas, Kathryn, Santos, Martin, John Paul, Marco, Candace, Paul Anthony, Dominic, Christopher, Jason, Nicole, Chloe and Noel.

Visitation will be held at Harrell Funeral Home, 4435 Frontier Trail, Austin, Texas 78745 on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. followed by the recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church, 2309 Euclid Ave., Austin, Texas 78704 on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. This will conclude with his services. A private burial will follow later.

Music was Johnny's passion and love. He was a local Austinite musician who had been playing music since the age of 8 years old. In 1960, while his brothers Benny and Albert played guitar in the backyard, he taught himself how to play on their guitar. In 1962 he learned to play alto and tenor saxophone. In 1963 he formed a trio with Johnny "Buzzard" Guerra, guitar and brother David Gonzales, drums. In 1964 they added Alex Martinez on bass and named themselves Johnny Gonzales and the Sensations. In 1965 he performed at campaign fundraisers for President Lyndon B. Johnson and U. S. Senator Barry Goldwater, Hubert Humphrey, and local Austin politicians such as Richard Moya, John Trevino, Gonzalo Barrientos and Gus Garcia. Through the years he had traveled throughout the United States. In 1969 when the Austin Aqua Festival theme nights were begun, they were the first band to perform on Mexican American night. In 1970, as he graduated from high school, the band broke up when he entered St. Edward's University and there is where he learned to play trumpet and piano. In 1973 Johnny joined Ruben Ramos as back-up vocalist. In 1976 he sang for Dan Rather and performed at a fundraiser for Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign. In 1980 he was among the many artists to participate in the taping of Raul Velasco's "Siempre En Domingo" which taped during three days in front of the State Capitol along with other well-known musicians. In 1981 he performed at the Texas Capitol Rotunda with featured guest Mexican singer Lydia Mendoza. In 1988 he brought the Sensation band back as "Johnny Gonzales & New Sensations. In 2001 as Johnny was performing, Johnny Rodriguez was in the audience and instructed his manager to arrange for him to record a Mexican theme album. In 2018 he was appointed Tejano Commodore @ Austin Aqua Festival in its last two years of existence. Johnny "G" played musica suave rica caliente and plays a variety of music from good old rock and roll, blues, R&B, and jazz to Tejano, International Mexican ballads, mariachi, as well as writing and composing his own original music. Johnny "G" has had the fortune of playing alongside numerous well known artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughn, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Angela Strehli, Lou Ann Barton, Johnny Rodriguez, Flaco Jimenez, Pinetop Perkins, Marcia Ball, Joe Valentine, Matthew Robinson, Los Lobos, Hot Wax, Louis Gasca, Vicente Fernandez, Selena, Emilio Navaira, Joe Lopez y Grupo Mazz, Little Joe y La Familia, Laura Canales, David Mares, Jay Perez, Joe Bravo, Sunny Ozuna, Jimmy Edwards, Ruben Ramos, Los Dinos, Rocky Gil, Ram Herrera and others. Some of the locations he played at were Flores Restaurant, Amaya's, Little Mexico, Casa Garcia's and VFW.

Johnny was the life of the party, telling the craziest stories, a jokester, making us laugh and was always ready to sing at gatherings and birthday parties. He was an avid sports fan particularly following the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Longhorns. We will miss him tremendously. Rest in peace. We will always love you.

Pallbearers will be Trey Gonzales, Albert Gonzales, David Gonzales, Richard Guebara, Dan Guebara and John Guebara. Honorary pallbearers are Benny Gonzales, Ronald Gonzales and John Albert Pallas.

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