Ignacio "Nacho" Acosta Jr.

Ignacio “Nacho” Acosta, Jr., 72, passed away on October 12, 2019.

Nacho was a graduate of Burges High School and attended UTEP. During a 40-year career in communications, Nacho left an indelible mark on the local radio industry and many communications professionals and students worked with him.

From his early beginnings as executive director of ETCOM (Empowerment through Communications) Nacho had a vision of greater Hispanic participation in the communications industry. In the 70’s and 80’s, he wrote and produced many educational audio-visual programs on healthcare, housing, and poverty for local non-profit and national church organizations. As ETCOM evolved into an audio and radio production company, the organization formed a fledging team of journalists, producers and recording engineers to launch KXCR 89.50 FM in 1985. As co-founder of the radio station, Nacho was instrumental in building the station’s multi-faceted broadcast, production, and training programs.

“I think Nacho was a pioneer in creating access to communication outlets for Hispanics and other minorities,” says long-time friend and KXCR co-founder Arturo Vasquez. “ETCOM was Nacho’s brainchild,” Vasquez emphasizes. “He once told me how on a long overnight drive from San Antonio, he pulled off the road to marvel at the Milky Way and the dark star-filled night. ‘That’s when the idea of ETCOM was born, Nacho told me.’” Vasquez says that conversation also revealed Nacho’s deep interest and understanding of astronomy, science, and technology.

During his time at ETCOM and KXCR, Nacho served as executive producer for hundreds of nationally distributed news and information programs on the U.S.-Mexico border, race relations, arms and drug trafficking, healthcare, economic opportunity, and the arts and culture. In addition to the production work, Nacho integrated community outreach and training programs to provide entry level opportunities for aspiring communications professionals.

“Nacho was responsible for helping a great number of people get their foot in the door and propel their careers forward,” says John Carrillo, current development director at KTEP FM and former morning DJ on KLAQ. After eight years at ETCOM and KXCR, Carrillo, a KXCR co-founder, went on to work at National Public Radio as a recording engineer. Claudio Sanchez, KXCR’s news director, also transitioned to NPR, where he is still an education reporter.

“Efren Hernandez and Bobby Mapula, Jr., who left El Paso to work as recording engineers for A&M Records and film sound production companies in Hollywood are other examples of young talent trained and mentored by Nacho,” adds Vasquez. Many more trainees and volunteers at KXCR went on work as DJs at other El Paso radio stations.

“Nacho was tireless,” continues Vasquez. “His commitment to build a state-of-the-art broadcast and production company made it possible for El Paso to gain national recognition as a source of high-quality radio programs, including the daily Latin American News Service, which KXCR was distributed to more than 120 radio stations in the U.S.”

Nacho also created the Recording Lab at KXCR, which provided free recording studios and audio engineers for El Paso musicians who wanted to produce and record original music. Local jazz musician and educator Billy Townes recalls, “Nacho was a great man who was very kind and basically got me started in the recording business. Ever since we recorded back in '86 in the KXCR studios, I've always admired Nacho's technical abilities and good sense for recording good music for people.”

“Yes, music was his passion.” says Vasquez. “Nacho had the best personal music collection I’ve ever seen—very eclectic.” Vasquez takes time to reminisce on one of their favorite weekend outings: “For several years, we would go to the Melody Shop at Bassett Center and spend $150 at a time on new LP releases, some by artists we had never heard of. It was pure joy, those trips to the Melody Shop—I remember walking out of the store and seeing Nacho’s smile and glow in anticipation of the musical treasures we were sure to discover once we dropped the needle on all that vinyl we were carrying. From those trips together we amassed the records we donated for the initial KXCR music library.”

KXCR surprised El Paso radio listeners when it took to the air with its contemporary jazz and R&B music format in May of 1985. “We were actually only one of 15 stations in the country at the time with a music mix that the industry today calls smooth jazz, but KXCR was way more hip with R&B, pop and Latin jazz in the mix,” adds Carrillo. “Nacho was key in the development of the station’s sound.”

Another example of their obsession with bringing new music to El Paso, is Nacho’s and Vasquez’ collaboration to create the Texas Jazz Festival. The annual multi-day event showcased live music featuring jazz legends and local jazz groups. Tito Puente, Maynard Ferguson, Al Jarreau, George Benson, the Count Basie Orchestra, and David Sanborn were among the many jazz greats who performed at the Festival. KXCR was also the first radio station to make space for the burgeoning indie, punk, alternative rock, and electronica music genres of the 80’s and 90’s. Shows like STEPPIN’ OUT in turn gave rise to local venues such as Club 101.

After KXCR, Nacho was hired by EPCC in 1989 as a TV producer and recording engineer where he worked until retirement. But he continued to work as a recording engineer on independent radio programs for national distribution. One such program was the daily radio show UNIVERSO, a production of the McDonald Observatory syndicated to 150 radio stations.

“Nacho recruited me for an audition and that’s how I was selected as the host for UNIVERSO,” says Teresa Fendi de la Cruz, a former radio personality on KBNA. “He was so kind and supportive. I felt honored and touched by his trust in my abilities.” As the show’s narrator, de la Cruz worked with Nacho to produce the show for more than 15 years. UNIVERSO served as the Spanish-language counterpart to the long-running national series STARDATE, a daily radio program about space exploration, the universe, and interesting star gazing information for listeners to enjoy while looking at the night sky.

“Behind the recording console in the studio, Nacho was a kid with a big man’s toy,” says Vasquez who worked on UNIVERSO as producer. “Nacho was about precision, about creating pristine soundscapes for the listener, and UNIVERSO, a program about one of his beloved subjects was the cherry topping on the cake.”

Nacho is preceded in death by his father Ignacio Acosta and survived by his mother Aurora and son Chris (wife Claudia), brother Ricardo (wife Norma), sister Aurora, grandchildren Christopher, Caity and Cylee, nephews Aaron and Danny Madrid and nieces Sarah and Casey Acosta.

Visitation, rosary, and service for Nacho will be held on Thursday, October 31 at 9:00 am at Funeraria Del Angel Martin Central (3839 Montana Ave, El Paso, TX 79903), reception to follow at Funeraria Del Angel.

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