Henry Arnold Castillo Sr.

Henry was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on October 23, 1950, to Luis Castillo and Celia Castillo. He attended Foy H. Moody High School in Corpus, Christi, Texas, where he graduated in 1969 and sought out his dream of playing the saxophone professionally.

Henry took up the saxophone in middle school, played in his high school band, and went on to tour professionally with the Freddy Martinez Orchestra directly out of high school. He was incredibly talented, and loved to share his passion for Tejano music.

Henry toured with the Freddy Martinez Orchestra across the United States and Mexico from 1969 until 1976, with notable stops including The Hollywood Palladium and The Million Dollar Theater, both in Los Angeles; as well as the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. Henry was honored with a solo performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City in July 1975, a career highlight. Known affectionately as “Supa”, short for “superman”, Henry was inducted into the Tejano Music Hall of Fame in 2011.

Henry’s love of music gave way to a love of his family later in life. He married Helen Aguilera in 1977 in Corpus Christi, Texas. The two shared a son, Henry II, born January 4, 1979. Henry later married Anita Villareal in 1990 in Victoria, Texas. He married Yolanda Badillo in 2003 in Reynosa, Mexico and settled down together in McAllen, TX. Henry spent more than 30 years working for Exxon, traveling all over South Texas. Henry’s family remembers him as gentle and kind. He loved to be around people and share laughs with those he loved.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents, Luis and Celia.

He is survived by wife Yolanda; brother Louis Castillo; brother James (Debra) Castillo; son Henry II (Amanda) Castillo; grandson Isaac Castillo; nieces and nephews Cindi Vasquez, Louis Castillo Jr., Benjamin Castillo, Christina Castillo, Debbie Vasquez, Ashley Fox-Castillo, Matthew Castillo.

Memorial services for Henry will be held Friday, January 16 at 11 a.m. at Memory Gardens Funeral Home, 8200 Old Brownsville Road, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78415.

Memorial contributions may be made in Henry’s name to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, https://themmrf.org. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Memory Gardens Funeral Home, Corpus Christi, Texas.