Michael Salgado, Take It Away director Adrian Arredondo, and Bobby Pulido. | Credit: Armando Barraza / Tejano Nation
AUSTIN, TX — Two of Tejano music’s most iconic voices, Bobby Pulido and Michael Salgado, walked the red carpet at the 27th Annual Cine Las Americas Film Festival last week to honor a man who helped shape their careers — legendary TV host Johnny Canales.
The powerful new documentary, Take It Away – The Rise and Fall of Tejano Hollywood, premiered in Austin to a packed and emotional audience. The film, directed by Adrian Arredondo and Myrna Perez, and executive produced by Texas Monthly and Trojan Horse Media, paints an intimate portrait of Canales — the beloved host of The Johnny Canales Show, which catapulted countless Tejano and Regional Mexican artists into the spotlight.
Among those featured in the film is Bobby Pulido, who shared heartfelt reflections with Cinema Sound Off on the red carpet. “Johnny was a friend since we were younger. I had a lot of love for Johnny,” said Pulido. “When I first started, he was there giving me a chance to be on his show. He was always very, very kind and very real, very neta with my dad. He was very close to my dad. My dad and him were very good friends. I have a lot of respect for him.”
Fellow Tejano trailblazer Michael Salgado also attended the premiere, echoing Pulido’s sentiments and recalling his own early days with Canales. “Remembering a gentleman who gave me the opportunity. One of my first debuts on his show in 1989… He had me on his show before I was a known artist and after, and so it was great to be able to, I guess, share the experience with him all these years and really be able to be here today,” said Salgado.
Take It Away is a celebration of a cultural pioneer whose bilingual, high-energy show was more than just entertainment — it was a unifying force for Mexican-American families across the U.S. and Mexico. With never-before-seen archival footage and candid interviews from musicians and fans, the film explores Canales’ lasting impact and the behind-the-scenes struggles that led to his sudden disappearance from the airwaves.
The documentary traces over three decades of broadcast history and the vital role The Johnny Canales Show played in the rise of stars like Selena, Ramon Ayala, Intocable, La Mafia, and Pulido himself. More than just a nostalgic trip, Take It Away connects Canales’ legacy to today’s Regional Mexican music explosion, where acts like Grupo Frontera and Peso Pluma dominate global charts.
Take It Away – The Rise and Fall of Tejano Hollywood Official Trailer
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Take It Away will continue its festival run with a scheduled screening at San Antonio’s CineFestival this July, offering another opportunity for fans to rediscover the legacy of the man once dubbed the “Mexican-American Dick Clark.”
For Tejano fans — and for anyone who understands the power of music to bridge cultures — Take It Away is not just a documentary. It’s a long-overdue tribute to the voice that told a generation: “You got it, take it away!”
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