Mexican guitarist Javier Batiz, a teacher and inspiration to Carlos Santana and other musicians, passed away December 14 at his home in Tijuana, Baja California. He was 80.
Known as the “Godfather of Mexican Rock,” “La Layenda” (The Legend) and other sobriquets, Batiz came to appreciate American blues guitarists such as B.B. King and John Lee Hooker as a youngster by listening to an American radio station across the border in San Diego. In 1957, he founded his rock band Los TJs and continued to be a musical fixture in Mexico for the rest of his life.
He was known in the guitar world as the primary musical influence and mentor to Carlos Santana, who took lessons from Batiz as a teenager.
Noted musicians who performed in Batiz’s band were bassist Abraham Laboriel and Batiz’s sister, La Baby. Batiz’s wife, Claudia Madrid, occasionally played drums in his bands. Another Mexican bassist, Marco Mendoza, also claimed Batiz as an influence.
Batiz and Santana kept in touch over the decades, and occasionally jammed onstage. At a 1993 concert, Santana presented Batiz with a Paul Reed Smith guitar, which Batiz put to use immediately.
Batiz won several Mexican music awards. He was known to be in declining health when, in November, Tijuana mayor Isamel Burgueno presented him with a key to the city. The mayor described Batiz as “…a proud Tijuana native [who embodied] a legacy of struggle and perseverance, proof that if there is a will, there is a way.”
Batiz was interviewed in VG’s August 2000 issue. – Willie G. Moseley
This article originally appeared in VG’s May 2025 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.
