Placido Salazar

Plácido Salazar (born in 1939) is an American singer-songwriter, radio personality, and a retired United States Air Force airman and a recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with Valor for his actions during the Vietnam War. Salazar began performing at talent shows across the Rio Grande Valley as a young child and released his debut single around 1947 backed by Pedro Ayala on Discos Del Valle. Enlisting in the Air Force in 1956, Salazar volunteered for deployment to Vietnam from August to November 1965, serving with the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. Amid intense combat, he rescued two wounded officers, secured classified materials, and was deeply affected after discovering the remains of two children during the attack. He later battled post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and retired from military service in 1976.

Salazar turned to Tejano music and performed in local venues with his conjunto band, working as a disc jockey, and composing songs for Tejano artists such as La Mafia and Flaco Jimenez. Salazar produced his television program, The Placido Salazar Show on QVC for 15 years. He became a veterans' rights activist and was caught on live TV confronting then-presidential candidate Barack Obama on the need to build a veterans hospital in the Rio Grande Valley. Salazar was inducted into the Tejano Roots Hall of Fame and the San Antonio Radio Hall of Fame for his contributions to music and broadcasting. He was awarded the Tejano Music Award for Lifetime Achievement, along with David Marez, at the 2024 Tejano Music Awards.