In the 1960s, 70s and early 80s, Rosina Records was an independently-owned record label based in San Marcos. Its catalog included Chicano Soul and early recordings of Tejano music legends. Now, decades after owner of Rosina Records, Ruben Ruiz Sr., closed its doors, his daughter Rhea Kimbell is working to resurrect its legacy.
In 2012, Kimbell’s mother’s health started to deteriorate, so she started spending more time at her childhood home. As she started sorting through her parent’s belongings, she ventured into the storage room, where her mother had kept the remaining inventory from her father’s record company.
Being the youngest of seven, Kimbell had always known about the political side of her father. He was San Marcos’ first Hispanic city council member and went on to become Hays County’s first Hispanic county commissioner for Precinct 1. He was also instrumental in helping fight the “poll tax,” that kept many Hispanic voters from being able to register to vote.
