Monthly Archives: March 2012
Rita Vidaurri Keeps Setting Goals
Rita Vidaurri may be 87-years-old, but that does not stop his still incredibly beautiful living legend from slowing down and setting new goals.
“My next project is to record another compact disc,” Vidaurri said during an interview at her Northwest side home.
Vidaurri was the Alamo City’s ambassador to Mexico three decades before the birth of la Onda Chicana and what is now known as Tejano music. Her accomplishments are countless, yet today’s generation is not aware of her achievements.
For example, San Antonio has had three female vocalists that achieved international fame and fortune when Mexico opened its doors them. They were Rita Vidaurri, Gloria Rios and Eva Garza; and before anyone starts calling us about CheloSílva and others, remember the ‘key word’ is San Antonio.
During her heyday, from the mid-1940s to the late ‘50s, Vidaurri was one of Mexico’s most famousranchera music singers.
“In 1938, when I was 14, I recorded my first 78 rpm single for Bluebird Records with my sister Enriqueta. Three years later, singer-songwriter Lorenzo Barcelata was so impressed with her voice that he gave her his own guitar and taught her how to strum a few chords. He became her padrino and nicknamed her “La Calandria.”
After her mother, MaríaJesúsa“Susie” Castillo, and strongest supporter died, and Vidaurri went to work at an arsenal as a weapons inspection. Then her father, Juan, took her to Monterrey where she auditioned and was hired at XEMR and she worked with Lalo González before he became known as El Piporro. Next Mario “Cantinflas” Moreno personally signed the necessary papers for her to obtain a work permit.
Vidaurri’s new goal became to conquer Mexico City, where it wasn’t long before actor-comedian Germán “Tin Tan” Valdes landed her a job at El Patio Nightclub, the Mexican capital’s most elite venue during their glamour era. Her life became a fairy tale come true as she was billed as “La UltimaSensación en Ranchera” and began to share the same stage with Jorge Negrette, Pedro Infante, Toña La Negra, Tito Guízar, Pedro Vargas, Antonio Aguilar, LuchoGatica, Gloria Marín and Adalberto “Resortes” Martínez was her opening act.
Next, four films – “México En La Pantalla,” “Ay Jalisco No TeRajes,” “El Peñon de las Animas” and “El Tesoro de Pancho Villa” — under her belt turned her into a genuine movie star. And if that weren’t enough, she entered and won a bathing suit and legs contest in 1946.
As Vidaurri’s reputation grew, so did the demand for her to perform outside the country, so the following year, she toured Cuba with Celia Cruz and Olga Guillot. In summary, she spent the next four years touring all over Colombia, Central America and as far north as New York where she shared the stage with EydieGorme y Trio Los Panchos. The proof is in the countless of boxes filled with scrapbooks and rare vintage photographs.
Meanwhile, Vidaurri continued to come home every six months and by 1954, she had recorded several albums and at least forty singles for José Morante’sNorteño International Records.
By 1957, the living legend was so hot that she was paid $500 by Jax Beer to become their spokesperson and poster girl. The poster touted her as “La BellezaMorena de Tejas.” The photo session was conducted in New York and soon her image graced the walls of every place that sold Jax Beer in the United States.
On the personal side she bore twins – Leo and Linda Palewich –from her first marriage and a son, Rogelio César González, with her second husband. Next she wed Hillman Edward Eden. He became her manager and this union produced one son, Eduardo Eden.
Backtracking a few years, she and Resortes were stiffed by Ramiro Cortez after they worked at the Million Dollar Theater in Los Angeles; and after performing in Merida, Cartagena, Barranquilla and Bogota in Colombia, that tour promoter skipped out on her.
But Vidaurri had the looks, talent and intelligence to go to the best hotel in Bogota, audition and land a job that enabled her to earn enough money to get back home.
“Familiar with this and other horror stories from other artists, her husband refused to let her continue to sing. We settled here and I became a housewife and mother,” the Hall of Fame inductee with her trademark streak of white hair said with a hint of remorse. Thus the music pioneer hung up her microphone in 1961.
Although Vidaurri enjoyed great success as an entertainer, her personal life was filled with tragedy and she underwent the worse experience any parent can endure, the death of three sons. Leo, who earned three Purple Hearts in Viet Nam, died from asbestos poisoning, Rogelio, who served in Korea and Germany, died in an accident involving an 18-wheeler and Edward was accidentally stabbed in the heart. He was 21.
Vidaurri recounts these three tragedies each time before singing her version of “Amor Eterno” during which her voice cracks with emotion and one can hear the pain and sorrow of losing three sons, her parents, her brother Juan and a sister. At the end of the song, there is not a dry eye in the audience. Her heart-breaking interpretation of this tune alone is worth the price of admission to any of her concerts.
Thank God, this local treasure has been acknowledged and recognized for all her achieves. And thank the Lord that after three heart attacks and quadruple bypass surgery, she is still with us, but what is also surprising is that this former bar owner, two to be exact, Vidaurri continues to work for a living.
“I just finished doing four years at the Methodist Hospital and I was just hired to work with kids at St. Theresa (a.k.a. as the Little Flower Basilica).
“I need to work because I can’t be alone and stay at home 24 hours a day,” Vidaurri said with a laugh.
She has also unofficially adopted singer-musician and KEDA disc jockey Mark “El Tacuache” Webber, whom she affectionately and gratefully refers to as, “Mihijo.”
Yes Vidaurri has come a long way since being born in an alley. “I’m proud to have been born in the Westside, on Montezuma Street and yes, as Eva Garza and Gloria Rios I am proud to have grown up in the Alazan Courts in my beloved City of San Antonio.
This is one of the reasons a photograph of her Jax Beer poster is now hanging at Mi Tierra. However, it would have been a greater honor to have included Vidaurri’s image on the restaurant’s mural.
In closing, we would like to let it be known that this Energizer Bunny’s next concert will be held at Our Lady of the Lake University during the month of May. And don’t forget that her new work-in-progress will contain a bilingual version of “Crazy,” “No Me VuelvoaEnamorar,” “La Differencia” and other goodies.
Furthermore, she has not stopped performing at social events and special occasions. All one has to do is call Vidaurri at (210) 733-8269 and this former bathing suit beauty, poster girl and movie star will be more than happy to turn your function into a memorable event.
Tejano Cruise #3
This gallery contains 2 photos.
When you see the full page of color photos that accompany this article, those that didn’t go on the most recent cruise organized by Jacob and Marta Dominguez, will see what they missed out on.
Thus this article could have easily been titled “Mira lo que te perdiste” because as some Tejano musicians say, “So many women and so little time.” In this case there were so many beaches (not bitches), shops, flea market bargains and so much diversity in food, there was not enough time to see, buy, eat or do it all. However, there will be a Tejano Cruise #4.
It was snowing when the Illinois group left Chicago and the weather was gloomy and depressing when the Carnival Triumph cruise ship departed Galveston on the afternoon of Monday, February 13, but once inside, in what seemed to be a floating city, there was plenty to do.
By 6 p.m. people had already started to line up outside Club Rio for first performance of the cruise. And a light drizzle didn’t damp spirits or stop people from enjoying and dancing to the music of that night’s open air performances on the Lido Deck.
Los TexManiacs, Los Desperadoz, plus Rubén Ramos and his Mexican Revolution performed inside and Albert Zamora y Talento, Los Hermanos Farias plus Jaimé y Los Chamacos performed outside and Tejano music promoters such as Alejandro Ochoa and others used the cruise wore their talent scout hats to check out the band’s showmanship and pulling power.
Once out in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, the weather cleared up and the sun was shining brightly when all the bands woke up, went up to the 12th deck and competed against each other in a miniature golf tournament. Following the tournament, fans were delighted to take pictures with their favorite musician now clad in a tee, shorts and flip flops or sandals.
As for the food, don’t get me started, there was an abundance of gourmet meals served at the Paris and London dining rooms – everything from escargot (snails), to frog legs and alligator. And did I mention the scrumptious mouth-watering steak, seafood and desert choices? As Rocky Hernández would say, “noombre, shut up.”
Those that chose comfort food had the option of the 24-hour buffet which featured various ethnic food choices plus good ole American grilled hot dogs and burgers. So there was no way for anyone to go to bed or wake up on an empty stomach. And it was all free, well, actually included in the price of the cruise and that’s just as good.
The ship had already docked at Progresso, Yucatan and everyone seemed to have gotten up on time for the first port call on Wednesday morning. Progresso, as we found out, was a shopper’s delight and women were in heaven as they purchased sun dresses, blouses, bathing suits and sandals for as little as two to five dollars in the downtown stores. The flea market featured great looking high-quality cotton tees at the rate of eight shirts for $20. A tour on a two-deck bus went for $3. With prices like these, everyone stocked up on clothes, souvenirs and novelty gifts.
As for the food here, there was a choice of burritas, burritacos, salbutes or cachetadas plus fruits such as ataulfo, manila and manililla, which are all in the mango family.
Staying in this port city was one option since tours to Merida and Mayan ruins were also made available at half the rate offer by the cruise line. The down side was having-to return to the ship at 4 p.m.
That night the same groups performed, but in opposite venues. Then fans were treated to surprises galore as Albert Zamora got on stage to squeeze out and trade accordion licks with Jaimé De Anda and vice versa. Max Baca, for example, played bajo sexto with Los Hermanos Farías and drums with Rubén Ramos.
When the sun rose the next morning, the ship was secured to the pier in Cozumel between two other cruise ships; and many early risers were snapping pictures of a beautiful sunrise from the portside of the ship.
Again, there were more options as to what to do with your eight hours on this luscious and still raw island. The majority of those who went as a part of the Tejano Cruise group chose to attend the beach party at Sancho’s where all you could eat and drink was available for those that signed up for this private party.
If I seemed like a lush because I was downing one piña colada after another, as early as 9 a.m., it was because I told the bartenders to make me a piña descolada, without the liquor. Besides I was the designated photographer and I better be able to focus.
This is the place where fans from all over the United States got to see Rubén Ramos, the George Clooney of Tejano music, without a shirt, kicking back with Tina and frolicking in the water with Rick Fuentes kids.
Mike and Lee of Los Desperadoz flexed their muscles each time they lifted a tropical drink to their lips and of course there were plenty of sexy, now bronzed, ladies in bikinis that left little to the imagination, but as the single guys said, “too bad they’re married.” So they settled for daydreaming of them.
By 1 p.m. everyone’s face was red, those in the sun, from sunburn; and those in the shade, from all the booze they drank. Surprisingly, no one had to be dragged or carried back to the ship and everyone was in high spirits as they got some last minute shopping in the many stores in the portside terminal.
On the last night, after a long day of sipping tropical drinks at the ship’s casino bar, De Anda, Mike and Lee of Los Desperadoz plus other musicians – much to the delight of their fans –went into party mode and gave an unexpected impromptu concert.
By the time the ship sailed through a thick fog and into Galveston, where it was raining and streets were now flooded, we had taken over 2,000 pictures. And only thirty appear on this month’s centerspread.
Putting our normal humble personality aside, I can honestly say that my wife, Diana, and I took hundreds of awesome travel photographs in Progresso, Yucatan and Cozumel, but how can you take a bad picture when the sea and skies are blue and everything is so bright and vivid that the colors just seemed to burst out as fireworks.
However, the subject and purpose of this cruise was to capture the good time had by those on the Tejano music cruise. For this spread, I left out all the typical scenic tourist photos, pictures of people rubbing elbows with the stars and performances since those could have been taken at any venue and on any stage.
What we wanted to show our readers is what the Tejano cruises are really about and all the fun that was had by 934 people who came from 22 states plus some that came from Iran and Afghanistan. This validates why it is worth signing up for Tejano Cruise IV, which will be a seven-day cruise with stops in Cozumel, the Cayman Islands and Jamaica.
Onboard the ship, their photographers were selling ‘one’ 8X10 print for $19.95. With this in mind, we are offering a two-CD ROM set of the best 500 high-resolution digital photographs for a mere fifty dollars. To order, e-mail me at hispentreporter1@yahoo.com.
