Third Man Records releases unearthed recordings found by late Detroit 'Tex Mex' Tejano music star's family

MELVINDALE, Mich. (FOX 2) - The late Detroiter Martin Solis Jr. is known as the founding father of the Tex-Mex sound.

Now, rare recordings are being released nearly a year after his death.

Third Man Records helps family restore rare recordings of dad’s Tex-Mex music

The late Detroiter Martin Solis Jr. is known as the founding father of the Tex-Mex sound. Now his recording are getting released.

FOX 2: "What's your favorite song?"

"All of them," said Anna Solis, his wife. "It’s unbelievable."

The Tejano musician sang and played the guitar and 12-string guitar, moved from Texas and serenaded Michiganders in the 1950s with his band Los Primos.

"He was already playing music as a young boy but he really started, once he got back to Michigan," said Frank Solis, his son.

Martin was inducted in the Tejano ROOTS Hall of Fame in Texas, without having any recordings.

"They had the Mexican style with the orchestra sound of horns," Frank said. "But my dad also blended the accordion."

Working on an album over the last couple of years, Frank Solis says he only had three recordings of his father's music. One was in-studio and two others on an old K-Mart tape.

"I was 10 years old when I recorded it, and that was the only recordings I had of him," he said.

Martin Solis Jr. passed away in his sleep last August at the age of 90. It was Frank, who made a discovery cleaning out his mother's attic.

"I found a bag and I thought it was garbage. I was going to throw it away, I happened to open it up, and I looked at it. It was tapes, about seven reel-to-reels," he said.

"I know there was something upstairs in the attic. I hadn't looked at them since the day I wrapped them up, and that was many years ago," Ann said.

"I said my God these tapes are so old are they going to last?" Frank said.

Now with 34 songs, Frank Solis called childhood friend Ed Gillis - the older brother of Detroit's Jack White, who owns Third Man Records.

"We couldn't believe it when we heard them," Frank said. "They were clear and they didn't break. They were very clear."

Third Man Records produced and restored a new album, which will be released for the first time ever on Friday.

"It's a historical document that captures the era of Detroit and the Mexican-American community," Frank said.

The hard-working, humble man's passion for music shines through on each of the 12 songs on the album. A bittersweet - but proud moment for Frank and his family.