Sunny & The Sunliners, led by the charismatic Sunny Ozuna, emerged from San Antonio, Texas, in 1959, blending Tejano rhythms with soulful melodies to pioneer the Chicano soul genre. Their 1963 hit "Talk to Me" propelled them to national fame, making Ozuna the first Latino artist to appear on "American Bandstand." ([tshaonline.org](https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/sunny-and-the-sunliners?utm_source=openai)) With a career spanning over six decades, their timeless classics like "Smile Now, Cry Later" continue to resonate, solidifying their legacy as trailblazers in Tejano and Chicano soul music. ([sunnyozuna.com](https://www.sunnyozuna.com/about-5?utm_source=openai))