José Roberto Pulido, born on March 1, 1950, in Edinburg, Texas, is an influential American musician known as Roberto "El Primo" Pulido. He is celebrated as a pioneer in Tejano music, particularly for integrating the accordion and saxophone into his work, which helped bridge traditional conjunto and modern Tejano styles in the mid-1970s. Pulido's musical journey began under the influence of his uncle Leonel Pulido's band, Los Cardenales de Leonel Pulido. By the age of twelve, he was playing his grandfather's repaired guitar, and by fifteen, he joined Los Hermanos Layton in Elsa, Texas. Pulido's father later bought him his first saxophone.

Pulido pursued music academically, earning several scholarships and a bachelor's degree from Pan American University in 1973. Initially, he worked as a high school music teacher before forming his band, Los Clasicos, with family members. The band achieved regional success with hits like "Copa Tras Copa" and "Simplemente."

In 1981, Pulido won the inaugural Tejano Music Awards for Male Vocalist and Male Entertainer of the Year, repeating the vocalist win in 1985. He signed with EMI Latin in 1989, boosting his visibility and sales. His 1994 album "Te Vi Partir" reached number 33 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart and number 12 on the Billboard Regional Mexican Albums chart, featuring the successful single "Ya Ahora Es Tarde." That year, a collaboration with his son Bobby Pulido on the song "Contigo" helped launch Bobby's career.

Roberto Pulido's discography includes numerous albums across various labels, contributing significantly to the Tejano music landscape. He is also the father of Tejano musicians Alma Pulido and Bobby Pulido.