Men charged with extortion
in ‘Army of God’ kidnapping
United Press International
EAST ST. LOUIS. III. —
Three men arrested in the
“Army of God” kidnapping of
The Diamond Store
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VALENTINO
B> LEON BEC K
Sentinel Reporter
C'ountrs entertainer Valentino Enrique Hernandez is being
touted by his management. Pro Media, and by his label. RC‘A
Records, js country music's first teen idol The teen market is
ripe lor a country idol, ami it just might be 21-year-old
\ alcntino. who was discovered by Happy Shuhan who brought
Johnny Rodriquez to country music Valentino
romance, he says), recently played Gilley's on a Saturday
night, the lirst dale on his current lour He just wrapped up
m New York with a blitz ol teen mags —
Teen Magazine. Tiger Beat and Teen Bag "They told me that
they’re getting a demand and a push for country artists m their
magazines." says the artist who calls himself a romantic
country music singer "
Valentino was born on Feb 13 and he landed his lirst
recording contract w ith RC A Records on Feb. 1.3. I‘ISO His
first release. "She Took the Place of You." made a dent on the
national chans but failed to lire up his career. His next release.
"Somebody's Heaven Is Missing An Angel Tonight." is the
one that is going to fuel his career, his management says
He was born in Toledo. Ohio, but his family moved to San
Antonio when he was a year old. he recalls between shows in a
trailer parked behind the club My father is Spanish and my
mother is German and he met her in England. He didn't like
the cold weather in Toledo so we moved to San Antonio. " His
mother named him Valentino, he says, "because she vs anted a
star in her family."
From the beginning. Valentino seemed destined to be an
entertainer Little Valentino used to stand in Iron! ol the mirror
with a hairbrush when he was 4 and 5 years old and sing the
songs of Elvis and Jim Reeves "All my life they trained me
and pushed and prepared me." And in the last three years.
Happy Shahan has held the reins on his career
Happy Shahan owns Alamo Village, the site where several
films, including "The Alamo." "Bandolero." and "Barhar-
osa" were shot The village is located in Bracketts die. and
features a western town, gunfights. a stagecoach and other
forms of entertainment When Valentino was 1.3 he met
Happy I auditioned for him and he told me to keep in
touch." Valentino says. At the age ol 19. after playing the
music circuit in San Antonio and chalking up a year of college.
Valentino returned to Alamo Village
He performed in gunfights and live music shows a day lor
the tourists Other work I did was anything from building
fences to riding horses, riding the stage, cleaning bathrooms
and working movies, " But Valentino and Happy didn't neg
lect his development and potential as an entertainer
"Over the last three years he has been working with me.
couching me and getting me ready . We've been taking one
Johnny Rodriquez was a happening. Valentino says Tsc
been played like a football team. We've made our game plan
and we followed it and we re going lor a touchdown
And part of that game plan to make that touchdown was
Nashville The first journey for Valentino and Happy was in
the winter of 1979 “He thought it was time to introduce me to
Nashville and to his people " Valentino made demo tapes and
contacts on his first trip Then they returned during the w inter
of 1980 This time RCA like one of his demos. "She Took the
Place of You" and he latched on to a recording contract
His producer is Norm Wilson, who has produced records lor
the likes of John Anderson. Jerry Reed and Charley Pride But
Valentino does not have the country edge that those singers do
"He has an entirely different feel with the cuts that we have
done compared to some of the people he's worked with."
Valentino says
He defines his music us "Valentino." "For the simple
fact." he says, "that I don't do just ballads and I don’t do just
country I like to do everything And that includes an
uptempo Mexican song, he says, along with country and rock
n' roll His stage show is "high energy and upbeat" and
"covers all bases Valentino's exposure to country music
was rather limited during his early years In I9PK. he recalls,
he was listening to 5()s rock n' roll His knowledge ol
country music was restricted to Bob Wills and Hank Williams.
I listened to all the rock n' roll and then when disco came
out. I really went country Influences on the young singer
were rather a blend of artists From Elvis and Bobby Darin to
Hank Williams. Faron Young and Ray Price
When he was 11. he learned how to play the guitar Then he
played the dance and wedding circuit My grandmother had
2.3 children so we had lots ol weddings." he grins
Then Valentino evolved from the concert stage to television
in San Antonio and Monterrey when he was 12 "During the
break I would come out with my guitar In luet I didn't know
the guitar well enough, and I had to have someone tune it lor
me It I broke a siring, someone would have to change it lor
me. I didn't know how
The hands that Valentino played included Valentino and the
Cosmic Armadillo Band. Sundance, the Branded Men and
Sagebrush He has appeared as an extra in several films,
including Willie Nelson\s new film. Burbarosu." and The
Code of Josey Wales " His lirst acting role was in the PBS
production of "Juan Sequin '
• It didn't last very long." he laughs 'I got up against the
wall and I was shot That was quick
SOUTHERN COUNTRY
NOW OPEN
Across from Texas World Speedway
Hwy. 6 (formerly Mickey’s)
Harrelson ‘despises’
United Press International
SAN ANTONIO — An irate
Charles Harrelson said Monday
that his testimony “doesn’t mat
ter” and contended he was
framed in the shooting death of
federal Judge John H. Wood.
Harrelson, who lost his tem
per several times during cross-
examination, told Assistant U.S.
NOTICE
What are you really earning on j
variable annuities. Call Larry]
and Swede to find out
693-6030
Attorney Ray Jahn that he “de
spises” federal authorities.
Wood was shot to death out
side his San Antonio apartment
the morning of May 29, 1979.
Testimony in the trial was to
resume Tuesday.
“I wouldn’t tell you people
the time of day if you were dying
needing to know,” Harrelson
said Monday. “I despise you
people.
“It doesn’t matter what I say
or said in the past. You can turn
it around to where I was setting
up an alibi or withholding infor
mation. You’re very adept at
that.”
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AGGIES!!
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS
IN AGGIELAND
December 6-8
MSC Arts Committee
sponsors
CHRISTMAS
GIFT SALE
24K gold plated
jewelry items
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
November 29-December 3
MSC Hallway
The outburst was triggered
when Jahn pointed out inconsis
tencies between Harrelson’s tes
timony to a grand jury in Octo
ber 1979 and his testimony at
the trial.
The accused hitman com
plained the most damaging testi
mony in the trial came from Joe
Chagra, his former attorney and
cocaine connection, who
pleaded guilty of conspiracy in
Wood’s death and then agreed
to testify in return for a lenient
sentence.
Chagra, of El Paso, testified
Harrelson told him he tried to
kill Wood in Midland before
making the hit in San Antonio,
using a Weatherby Mark V
hunting rifle.
Harrelson has maintained
that a gambling buddy, Pete Kay
of Huntsville, framed him by
making it appear Harrelson
stalked Wood and then killed
him with a gun Harrelson’s wife
had bought.
“From your own informal
Pete Kay was shopping aro
for someone to
Wood,” Harrelson said. “K|
ing the kind of heat iui
come up with and knowM
reputation, my past (as ad
victed hitman), 1 can’t (
anyone better to take thej
than myself.”
Harrelson said Kaywasjl
$200,000 by gambler .
Chagra, Joe Chagra s brotlif
Las Vegas, for having Woodl
led. Chagra faced a drugsi®
gling trial in Wood’s cowl;
feared a life sentence.
Harrelson claimed Ka) i
him to bring his wife’s tat
Midland May 15 when 1ft
was holding court, there)
then sent him to San Ar|
the week before Wood wa]
led, Harrelson said.
“I believe someone
conscious effort to have]
there,” he said.
Hostages freed
from hospital
United Press International
HOUSTON — A former
mental patient, who walked into
a private psychiatric hospital
and then demanded to see a doc
tor, held 33 patients and staff
members hostage before releas
ing them and surrendering to
police.
There were no injuries in the
incident Monday, although the
unidentified former patient had
a .22-caliber pistol. He had been
a patient at the Spring Shadows
Glen Hospital two months ago.
Houston police SWAT team
officers said the man releast
but one hostage after aid
but kept registered muse 11
Blackwell with him until:
tor would agree to speak 1
him. Blackwell described|
man as slightly agitated;
slightly depressed.
Hospital administratoijl
Mueck said the man entereJf
hospital about 3:45 p,m.anl
gan arguing with hospital'
cials.
He surrendered topoliul
out 8 p.m. No charges havei
filed.
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December 6
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December 8
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The Symphonic Band will perform holi
day music.
The Revelliers continue the festivities
with a variety of songs.
The Women’s Chorus closes out the pro
gram with a medley of Christmas carols.
Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
December 6 8 p.m.
with
Dr. Vandiver; Miss TAMU, Miss Gina Geiger;
and an open concert by ..
The Singing Cadets
Tr sponsored by the MSC Christmas TT
Program Committee
at Northgate
Above Farmer’s Market
We do all kinds
of Typing!
AGGIELAND PICTURES
(Jrs., Srs., Grad Students)
being taken at
Yearbook Associates
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