Snowy road claims rising musical star

JEMEZ PUEBLO, N.M. (KRQE) - For decades Jimmy Shendo struggled to get his rock music heard, but just as he was gaining the national attention his family said he deserved his life came to an end.

Every Sunday Jimmy Shendo’s music would fill radio airwaves in New Mexico; his fans would even ask for him by name.

“The listener called and asked for Jimmy Shendo,” Lisa Romero, Shendo’s youngest sister, said as she recalled hearing her brother’s songs on the radio. His audience was growing, she added.

This year the Jemez Pueblo musician received the best musical production award for his Native American traditional piece "The Town Crier."

It was his latest song, however, that put him in the national spotlight.

“Walking the Life Road” was nominated in two categories for the Native American Music Awards   for best rock recording and debut group of the year.

“We knew he had it in himself,” Romero said.

A big-time musician; but to his family he was just Uncle Jimmy.

“They say, 'Uncle Jimmy; Uncle Jimmy is singing. He's on the radio,'” Romero said.

Shendo learned to sing on the grounds of the Jemez Pueblo when he was very young. He even played the trombone in the high school band.

The nationally recognized musician was coming home on Monday when the unthinkable happened.

Romero’s daughter called her sobbing that morning.

“She said, 'Mom I, have some bad news," Romero recalled. "'Uncle Jimmy has been in an accident."

On Monday Shendo had been teaching a choir group his songs and was driving back from Durango, Colo., when his pickup truck hit a patch of icy on snow-covered U.S Highway 550 in San Juan County between Blanco Trading Post and Counselors. Deputies reported Shendo's truck slid into the path of a tractor-trailer rigged headed the other way.

Shendo died on impact; the trucker was not hurt.

“It's very hard knowing that you're never going to see him again,” Romero said.

Still they know hearing his voice will only be a radio dial away.

Romero said his songs will do more than blare across speakers in New Mexico. They’ll inspire generations to come starting with the nephews and nieces who barely knew Uncle Jimmy.

“I’m going to tell her this was your uncle, he was a very famous musician,” Romero said.

Shendo was 59. He was buried on Wednesday morning.