 Back in Texas he formed the band Joe King Carrasco and El Molino, which included many of the future members of the Texas Tornados.He released "Tex-Mex Rock & Roll", his first LP in 1979.In late 1979, he joined up with Kris Cummings "(née" Kristine Anne Cummings; born 1951), Brad Kizer and Mike Navarro to form Joe King Carrasco and the Crowns and soon after releasing their first single, "Party Weekend", "the band was playing chic New York venues and generating lines around the block".