Jerry

From Ramiro Burr, San Antonio Express-News

August 27, 2007
Tejano keyboardist Jerry De La Rosa dead at 41

Veteran Tejano keyboardist Jerry De La Rosa, who played with Gary Hobbs and the Jay Perez Band, passed away Monday morning at 41.

Exact cause of death has not been released but De La Rosa had suffered from diabetes in recent years and had been on dialysis.

Details on visitation and funeral services are pending but it is expected De La Rosa will be buried in his hometown of Laredo, Texas. Services will be handled by the Hernandez-Lopez Funeral Home, 800 Boston St, in Laredo.

"Jerry was a keyboardist who played with Gary Hobbs and was part of the (original) Jay Perez band in 1992," said producer Gilbert Velasquez. "He was an outstanding keyboard player and instrumental in the beginning with Jay's band. He also worked with me on several CD projects including one for Laura Canales and Ramiro Herrera."

Velasquez said De La Rosa was on more than 10 Jay Perez CDs, including his self-titled debut, "Steel Rain" and his "Christmas" album. He added that plans

called for several members of the Jay Perez band to serve as pall-bearers including: Chente Barrera, Jay Perez, Gilbert Velasquez, Gilbert Escobedo, "Speedy" Villanueva and Johnny Salazar.

According to a funeral home representative, tentative services include a visitation from 4-9 p.m. Tuesday Aug. 28, and a religious service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home. Funeral service is tentatively scheduled at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29 at the funeral chapel.

Again these are tentative service details.

We strongly advise that final details be confirmed with the funeral home, which can be reached at (956) 723-2978.

De la Rosa's widow Yvonne, from San Antonio, said De La Rosa was born on Nov. 11, 1965 in Laredo. His first name was Gerardo, but he was known as Jerry to everyone. The couple had no children.

De La Rosa, who was also part of Los Big Chihuahuas, and was nominated several times for various music awards, was an integral part of Jay Perez's early success

From the San Antonio Express-News

The Lord called Gerardo (Jerry) de la Rosa to his side on Monday August 27th, 2007 after years of battling with poor health. Jerry was gifted with musical talent and is an inspiration to many keyboard players in the Tejano Music genre. Nominated many times for Tejano Music Awards, he came home with the trophy twice. His talents shared the stage of many musical groups' performances. His abilities are chronicled in hundreds of recordings as he was a much sought after studio musician for recording artists. His wonderful, ever-present sense of humor and jovial personality will be greatly missed. Among those surviving Jerry are his wife, Yvonne de la Rosa, brother, Luis (Velma de la Rosa), sisters, Bernice (Jesus Garza) and Linda (Pedro Olvera), four nieces, Melva Garza, Linda Garza, Gabriella (Eliel Acuna), Ashley Olvera, one nephew, Luis de la Rosa III and newborn great niece, Scarlett Madison Acuna. Services will be held on Wednesday, August 29th, 2007 at Hernandez-Lopez Funeral Home in Laredo, Texas. He is now rejoicing in the Gates of Heaven with his parents as all three of them smile down upon us. We miss all three of you so much...
Published in the Express-News on 8/28/2007.