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Lalopalooza SOLD OUT

November 22, 2016
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Lalo Guerrero Publicity Photo from the 1950s.
Lalo Guerrero Publicity Photo from the 1950s.
Lalo Guerrero Publicity Photo from the 1950s.
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Due to overwhelming support, this show has been sold out!

Friday, December 9th from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm   El Casino Ballroom 437 East 26th Street

Tucson Federal Credit Union and KXCI present Lalopalooza on Friday, December 9th at El Casino Ballroom as we celebrate the upcoming 100th Anniversary of legendary Tucson Born Musician Lalo Guerrero who was born on December 24th, 1916. With Lalopalooza, we celebrate the joyous life and work of the father of Chicano Music – Lalo Guerrero – a prolific composer, musician, comic and inspiration to all. We also celebrate KXCI Community Radio’s 33rd Anniversary (having gone on the air on December 6, 1983.)

KXCI Sabor Del Barrio host Pepe Galvez and mariachi historian Daniel Buckley have helped to curate a night of music and memories celebrating the heritage of Lalo Guerrero. Special guests and musical performances for the evening include Lalo Guerrero’s sons Dan Guerrero and Mark Guerrero, Ersi Arvizu with Ry Cooder, Rene Camacho Band with Adalberto Gallegos, Los Nawdy Dawgs, Ismael Barajas, Ted Ramirez, Bobby Benton, and more.

Not to be missed, Ry Cooder will perform a selection of songs with Ersi Arvizu on vocals and a band put together by esteemed international bassist, and Tucson native, Rene Camacho. That same band will also back Adalberto Gallegos, a Tejano Music Hall of Fame singer and leader of Latin Breed.

Lalo Guerrero recorded three songs on the 2005 release Chávez Ravine: A Record by Ry Cooder; which was the twelfth studio album by Ry Cooder. It tells the story of Chávez Ravine, a Mexican-American community demolished in the 1950s to build public housing, which instead became Dodger Stadium. Ry collaborated with Lalo on those recordings as well as with Ersi Arvizu, an East L.A. singer who had hits with ’70s band El Chicano. Ry and Ersi went on to record 2008’s Friend For Life (Anti-) by Ersi Arvizu. The backup band on that album also included Rene Camacho.

Ry Cooder is a musician, songwriter, film score composer, and record producer. He is a multi-instrumentalist but is best known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries which have led to the albums such as Buena Vista Social Club and Talking Timbuktu.

KXCI’s popular House Rockin’ concert series at El Casino Ballroom in the 1980’s helped get the station on the air beginning with the very first benefit to raise scratch to buy the initial broadcast equipment. On Friday, December 9th, KXCI pays tribute to this rich heritage with Lalopalooza: Celebrating A Century of The Father of Chicano Music, Tucson’s Own Lalo Guerrero.

The show starts at 7pm with doors at 6pm. ON LINE TICKET SALES ARE COMPLETED. THIS EVENT IS NEARLY SOLD OUT. YOU ARE WELCOME TO TAKE YOUR CHANCES AT VENUE.

Every Wednesday, Pepe Galvez hosts Sabor Del Barrio from 6-8pm on 91.3 KXCI Tucson featuring lots of great Latin Jazz, Salsa, Brazilian, and Mexican music- including Lalo Guerrero. Bob Diaz hosts Chicano Connections from 8-10pm with Ranchera, Norteno, Latin Folk, Oldies, soul, and more. Stream at https://kxci.org.

Lalo Guerrero was born on the SE corner of Simpson and Meyer in Tucson, Arizona on Christmas Eve, 1916. He was still in his teens when he wrote Mexico’s unofficial national anthem – Cancion Mexicana, which would become a hit for Mexican ranchera singer Lucha Reyes. In a career that lasted almost 70 years, Guerrero would write literally hundreds of songs, including the classic Nunca Jamas (a hit for Javier Solis, and Trio Los Panchos). His corridos (ballads) celebrated the likes of Cesar Chavez and Bobby Kennedy, while “No Chicanos on TV” and “Wake Up Chicanos” expressed a voice of his people.

But Guerrero was as much known for his humor as his serious side through such comedic favorites and parody songs as “Pancho Lopez,” “Tacos for Two,” “La Minifalda de Reynalda,” and “There’s No Tortillas.”

For generations of Spanish speaking children, his Las Ardillitas de Lalo Guerrero (Lalo Guerrero’s Squirrels) were what the Chipmunks were to English speaking kids. And with Los Lobos, he was nominated for a Grammy for the children’s record “Papa’s Dream.”

His Pachuco songs, such as “Los Chucos Suaves” and “Vamos a Bailar” became the backbone of the hit musical “Zoot Suit.” And in the final decade of his life, Guerrero penned what would become a song of remembrance for Mexican Americans from displaced communities all around the United States, “Barrio Viejo.” It was a song written about his boyhood neighborhood in Tucson, Arizona, but one that resonated strongly far beyond, causing Ry Cooder to seek him out to record the song on Cooder’s “Chavez Ravine” CD.

Lalo’s many recognitions include the National Medal of Arts (1997), the National Heritage Award (1991) and being named a National Folk Treasure by the Smithsonian Institute in 1980. In 2002 his autobiography, written in collaboration with Sherilyn Mentes, “Lalo: My Life and Music” was released by the University of Arizona Press. In addition, Guerrero was inducted into both the Tejano hall of Fame and the Mariachi hall of Fame.

Lalo Guerrero died in Palm Springs, California on St. Patrick’s Day in 2005, but his memory remains strong in the city of his birth – a city he visited regularly throughout his life, generously offering his talents to fundraisers for many causes. His ashes are interred at Holy Hope Cemetery in Tucson.

Dan Guerrero is an award-winning producer of diverse programming for network and cable television and of live arts and culture concert events. He’s helmed talk shows and music specials for NBC, PBS, HBO, Univision and Telemundo and directed large-scale concert events at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, the Cite de la Musique in Paris, France and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC among other prestigious venues.

The eclectic artist also tours with his autobiographical solo show that chronicles his journey of discovery across the lines of ethnicity and gender. ¡Gaytino! travels through decades of Mexican-American/Chicano history and the gay experience from a unique and personal perspective. The storytelling performance piece has been widely embraced by critics and audiences nationwide. http://www.danguerrero.com/

Mark Guerrero began playing in rock & roll bands at age 12.  He led the popular East Los Angeles band Mark & the Escorts, who recorded two singles for GNP Crescendo Records.  Mark has also recorded as a solo artist for Ode Records (produced by the legendary Lou Adler), Capitol Records, and with his group Tango, for A&M Records.  His songs have been recorded by artists such as Herb Alpert, Trini Lopez, Chan Romero, and his father, Lalo Guerrero.  Mark has performed on stage with Redbone, Eric Burdon, El Chicano, Tierra, Lalo Guerrero, and many others.  As a Chicano and East L.A. music historian, Mark has written over a hundred articles, hosted an internet radio show, been a guest on numerous radio and television programs, consulted for museums, and lectured at universities.  http://www.markguerrero.net/

Ersi Arvizu is a voice from the past. Not in the dust-and-mothballs fashion, but in that tugging, gooseflesh-raising way – something wholly familiar yet seductively un-pinpointable. Her voice is a trigger, prompting associations – shaggy avocado trees, a mother’s perfume, resin, gym sweat or black-top-tar. All of it’s there in its worn grooves, its pitched valleys. Line-by-line, verse-by-verse, it’s a voice that threads you back to something thought completely faded: a wood-frame house with a long-driveway, a party in motion, a moment – a lost feeling – somehow intact, frozen in time. Ersi, Rosella and Mary Arvizu made up the 1960’s female group The Sisters. Ersi went on to sing with El Chicano where she provided the lead vocal to their classic recording of “Sabor a Mi.”  Ersi’s father, Arturo, was raised in Tucson’s Barrio Libre, where Lalo Guerrero also grew up and he is mentioned in Lalo’s classic song “Barrio Viejo.” Ersi Arvizu now lives in Mesa, AZ  http://www.anti.com/artists/ersi-arvizu/ http://www.markguerrero.net/29.php

Adalberto Gallegos’s distinctive vocal stylings have added a unique dimension to the songs he has sung for many years. Influenced by both jazz and mariachi music, he coined the term “Contemporary Vaquero” to describe his style. Gallegos began singing at eight years old, and at twelve he joined the Tucson-based group Los Changuitos Feos. In 2014, he was inducted into the Los Changuitos Feos Hall of Fame. Gallegos is the proud leader and vocalist for the Latin Breed in San Antonio, Texas. http://tucsonmusiciansmuseum.org/2016/04/06/adalberto-c-gallegos/

Legendary Latin Blues band Los Nawdy Dawgs believe that the Arizona desert, Tucson Sunsets and Bacanora create a magical time. Los Nawdy Dawgs are George Landa, Eddie Mansfield and great sidemen, LND has shared the stage with many legendary bands such as ZZ Top and Santana and more big shows are in the works, their music is also on 3 movie soundtracks and various documentaries. In December, Los Nawdy Dawgs will release la Tamalada, a single in honor of Lalo Guerrero. http://www.losnawdydawgs.net

Teodoro Ted Ramirez is an Arizona troubadour performing the folk music of the Southwest – classic Mexican and American folk songs & stories. A solo concert performer and songwriter from Tucson, Arizona. http://www.santacruzriverband.com/

Rene Camacho is an Acoustic and Electric Bassist living in Los Angeles. Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Rene received a Degree in Jazz Studies and Composition from The University of Arizona. While Trombone was his first instrument he always had an affinity for the Bass and in his college years the switch was made. Since moving to Los Angeles in 1996 Rene has had the opportunity to explore many musical ventures, both live and recording.

When Rene first arrived to Los Angeles he began working with many Latin artists, most notably, a five-year stint with Celia Cruz. There were also brief appearances with artists such as Tito Puente and Poncho Sanchez. From there Rene began branching out to different genres such as Jazz, Soul, R&B, Country, as well as Rock.

This has enabled him to record and tour with a wide variety of artists from different musical backgrounds. Such artists include Sergio Mendes, Ry Cooder, Kevin Eubanks, Oscar Castro Neves, Angelique Kidjo, Linda Ronstadt, Carol Welsman, Raul Malo (The Mavericks), Rickie Lee Jones, Juan Gabriel, The Fifth Dimension, The Pointer Sister, Susie Hansen, and Rebeca Mauleon. Rene continues to actively tour with Draco Rosa, Kevin Eubanks, Canadian Pianist Carol Welsman and record with artists from all over the musical world. http://www.joeynavarromusic.com/index.php?page=10

Mariachi Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson (the ugly little monkeys) are widely regarded as the first youth mariachi group, and the seed to the whole youth mariachi movement in the United States. In 1964 Father Charles Rourke originated the idea of youth mariachi. Inheritors of a five-decade legacy of musicianship and dedication, today’s Changuitos play for college scholarship money. Over $480,000 in grants have transformed former Changuitos into college graduates in law, medicine, science, education and technology. http://loschanguitosfeos.org.

Ismael Barajas began to study guitar in the Classical and Flamenco styles at the age of thirteen. Less than one year later, he gave his first public concert. The response was so overwhelming that art patrons formed an organization to sponsor his formal training. Ismael’s introduction to advanced learning was to study under the Romeros, known as “Spain’s Royal Family of the Guitar.” He was awarded a scholarship to attend the University of Arizona, School of Music. In conjunction with his studies he began teaching guitar in the Tucson, Arizona public school system, and the University of Arizona. http://tucsonmusiciansmuseum.org/2016/05/30/ismael-barajas/

Robert Lee ‘Bobby’ Benton, Jr. sang at Lalo Guerrero’s funeral. He recorded three songs including “El Corrido de Nogales” on Heroes and Horses (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings 2002) which was curated by Tucson folklorist Big Jim Griffith, (Ph.D., musician, co-founder of Tucson Meet Yourself.)

El Casino Ballroom

“El Casino Ballroom has been Tucson’s Favorite place for weddings, Quinceañeras, and other celebrations since 1947.” El Casino Ballroom has hosted family milestones as well as touring musical acts, including traditional Hispanic musicians such as Tito Puente and other world-renowned performers like James Brown and Fats Domino. The ballroom continued filling its 1,200-person capacity until 1991, when a windstorm blew off the roof. The wood floor, once the largest spring-mounted floor in Southern Arizona, was almost destroyed by the summer monsoon. Fortunately, thanks to the dedicated efforts of many, the El Casino Ballroom re-opened in 2000, and has been the destination for weddings, quinceañeras, and other special events ever since. http://www.elcasinoballroom.com/

 

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