At just 12, Dagoberto Rios IIIhas more discipline than musicians twice his age.

FRONTeras Magazine Vol. 1 No. 2 Issue

At just twelve years old, Dagoberto Rios III plays with more than talent-he plays with vision. People call him Daguito, but there's nothing childlike about what he does with an accordion in his hands.

He didn't grow into music. He was born into it. On his father's side, his grandfather, José V. Rodríguez of Huatempo-a small community in the municipio of Ciudad Mier-played the accordion with soul and instinct. On his mother's side, Alejandro Garza of Arcabuz, Tamaulipas, passed down the same obsession. Daguito inherited both.

As a baby, he called the accordion la tuta. He couldn't say "accordion," but he already knew what it meant. At seven, he began private lessons with a friend of his father's. By the time COVID shut everything down in 2020, Daguito had time-and no excuses. While the world paused, he practiced. He emerged better, sharper, and more connected to the instrument than ever before.

He's now in 8th grade at Ramiro Barrera Middle School, his third year in the school's conjunto program under Mr. Jaime Lozano.

Outside of school, he plays in garages with friends. But this isn't just fun. Its formation. He doesn't see music as a hobby. He sees himself as part of the conjunto industry. He's not dreaming about being involved-he's already in it.

He's not the type to brag, but when Daguito plays, people lean in. There's something about the way he handles the accordion-measured, confident, and natural. He doesn't rush the rhythm or chase the melody. He lets the music breathe, and somehow it listens to him. It isn't just skill. Its presence.

Daguito owns four accordions. His first one was passed down to him, a Hohner Corona II, that he played until the buttons wore smooth. The second was a cherry-red Gabanelli, which he fine-tuned during quarantine. Last year, he received a blue Pedraza as a Christmas gift. This year, at the 9th Annual Texas Best Conjunto Competition, held April 5, 2025, in Brownsville, Texas, he won a Hohner Panther-along with front-row tickets to see Los Tigres del Norte at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg.

Hohner didn't just give him a seat-they gave him a moment.

Backstage, he met the legends. He still remembers the way Hernán Hernández looked at him and asked, "¿Cómo vas con la acordeón?" Then came the words that all aspiring musicians want to hear: "A la mejor un día tocas con nosotros."

That was more than a compliment. It was fuel.

Daguito doesn't just play-he studies. He knows the difference between German and Italian accordions. German models have 31 treble buttons. Italian ones have 34, giving him three extra notes to work with. He switches instruments depending on the style he's playing. Corridos, huapangos, and conjunto all demand something different.

He hears it. He feels it. And he delivers.

His musical influences span generations. He studies the techniques of Ramón Ayala, Lupe Tijerina, and Javier Ríos. He listens closely to Los Cadetes, Los Invasores, Grupo Secreto, Intenso, Grupo De Parranda, and Los Hermanos Espinoza. He doesn't idolize them blindly. He breaks down their playing, imitates their phrasing, and adds his own touch.

At home, Daguito is the third of four siblings. He has two older brothers and one younger sister. His grandmothers spoil him, and his mother, Brenda, is his fiercest cheerleader. His father, Dago, supports him wholeheartedly, never missing a chance to remind him he's doing something special. Daguito is naturally shy. La musiquita la lleva por dentro. He may play the accordion, but he knows how to sing, too-though for now, that voice is a gift reserved only for his immediate family.

Daguito doesn't want viral fame. He wants a future. He wants a band. A career. A place among the greats. He's not pretending to be in the industry-he's learning how to stay in it.

Twelve years old. Four accordions. A fire lit by family, sharpened by hours of practice, and fueled by the belief that one day, he'll take the stage not as a fan, but as a headliner.

@Santitos

@salinasmariasantos

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