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Music review

Archie Bell to Tighten Up Tejano SOUL Cruise

Archie Bell to Tighten Up Tejano SOUL Cruise
By Ramón Hernández
Archie Lee Bell says, “ ‘There’s Gonna Be a Showdown’ on the Carnival Valor cruise ship that sails out of Galveston on Monday, November 13.
“We’re going to ‘Tighten Up.’ ‘Everybody’s gonna have a good time. So ‘Let’s Groove’ together by signing up for this cruise.”

Who’s not familiar with all those Archie Bell and the Drells hits? If you need to refresh your memory just check out the following links: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN7vm-k-AaA, www.youtube.com/watch?v=47_so3zoAaU, www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEr3pzh_rvA, www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-svXGMYjLs and www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xY1BEMqxjQ.
For those who question why Archie Bell is headlining a Tejano soul gig, brace yourselves for this writer’s new revelations. Did you know of his connection to the Tejano industry and that he is Hispanic.
“To be specific, I am part Mexican, native American, and Chinese on my paternal great grandmother’s side,” Archie revealed during a telephone interview.
He had shared that information with me backstage at last year’s Patio Andaluz Reunion. He gave me his telephone numbers, but I had not had the time to follow up on getting all the details until a few days ago.
As for Archie’s connection to Tejano music, he said, “It all came about when Sunny Ozuna of the Sunliners was doing the radio promotion for his follow up hit to ‘Talk to Me’ and he went to see Skipper Lee Frazier (aka Mountain of Soul) at KCOH.”
In a nutshell, Frazier, who was also Archie’s manager, told Sunny, “I’ll play your record ‘if’ you take Archie on tour with you as an opening act.” This was about the time that Archie had written and recorded a very Chicano lowrider sounding tune titled “She’s My Woman, She’s My Girl” (Ovide 222), www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_3AHMyCbFs.
“The end result is that I did the Tejano music circuit all over Texas with Sunny. And that included towns such as Seguin, San Marcos and Corpus Christi; so I’ve very familiar with Tejano music. In fact, if you listen closely to ‘Tighten up,’ you’ll hear a Tejano groove, a zydeco groove and even a country groove in there,” Archie continued. “I also recorded and included one of Sunny’s songs on the ‘Tighten Up’ album.” Listen to it at www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiWmoo51ohU.
“That’s right,” Sunny affirmed. “He wanted one of my songs and I gave him ‘Give Me Time’ (KeyLoc KL-1007). He toured with me pretty close to a year. It really helped our guys at the Municipal Auditorium and other venues. Then he made it, and before I knew it, he was opening for James Brown in Atlanta (Georgia).”
Another little known fact is that the Drells at one time included two well-known Tejano musicians. They were Abel Salazar on keyboards and Lonnie LaLanne on trumpet.
Going back to Frazier, this radio icon, television personality, record producer-record label owner (Ovide Records), music promoter and movie actor (“Reborn”) is also the author of “Tighten Up … The Making of a Million Selling hit.” On a sad note, the radio icon died on Friday, October 14, 2016.
Another connection is that Sunny’s producer, Huey Meaux, recommended “Tighten Up” to Atlantic Records, who took his advice and sold more than three million copies, holding both the number one R&B and the ‘number one’ pop spot for two weeks on Billboard’s charts in spring 1968. And it was even released in Spain as “Aprieta.”
As for the name of these the four vocalists – Bell, James Wise, Willie Pernell and Billy Butler – the then E.O. Smith Junior High School classmates wanted to go with something like The Dells because it rhythmed with Bell. “However, that name was taken so E.C. Watson, a buddy of mine inserted an ‘r’ and came up with the Drells,” Archie said giving credit where credit is due.
Thus you now know that Drell is an offshoot of Bell.
“It’s not a recognized word. You won’t find a definition for it, but we coined it; so we came up with our own definition –a drell is a gentleman and the ultimate entertainer.” However, Rocktober magazine reporter James Potter wrote that Drell also meant “a singin’ and dancin’ mother@#ker!” And you’ll understand why when you see the YouTube.com videos.
For the story of Archie Bell and the Drells, one can go to his website, www.archiebell.net. Readers and also google them and find several links and with that in mind, I will stick to my finding, which you won’t find on the World Wide Web.
The only thing I will add is Archie’s regret on losing out on countless gigs because “Tighten Up” was released after he had joined the U.S. Army.
“I was making $135 a month with Uncle Sam when I could have been making $100,000 a night.”
The revelations continue …
Last year, I was taken aback when I saw Archie wearing a cowboy hat, especially after seeing him sporting a large round afro and wearing outlandish, colorful disco outfits. So what gives?
“The truth is that my father, Langston Bell, had a 1944 Ford and back them all they played on the radio was country and western music, so I grew up on all the Hank’s and Bob Wills music,” Archie continued.
“I’m also into what’s known as Carolina beach music. In fact, it really big all over the east coast from Florida on up to Virginia. Some of it has a blues shuffle (rhythmic structure) and the style of dancing it is the Carolina shag. It’s something similar to the Texas country two-step.”
I found this eye-opening information intriguing and after some researching it, I found out Carolina beach music was instrumental in bringing about wider acceptance of R&B music among the white population nationwide. Thus it was a contributory factor in both the birth of rock and roll and the later development of soul music as a subgenre of R&B.
Asked how he was exposed to this music genre, the 5-foot-9 ½ inch tall singer-songwriter said, “My wife’s from North Carolina.
As a solo artist Archie recorded a blues album, plus after professing a love for country music, a few C&W tunes. One of those tunes was “Warm Red Wine,” which is included with songs in a compilation also featuring Glen Campbell, Tanya Tucker and Roy Clark.
“In fact I’m presently working on some recordings with Mickey Gilley and Roy Head.”
So there you have it, a few exclusive never-before known facts on the extremely musical versatile Archie Bell.
Best of all, readers will not only have the opportunity to see him perform in an intimate setting, but hang out with him in the ship and ports of call during the November Tejano Soul Cruise.
Other artists scheduled to perform are Jimmy Edward, Joe Jama, Augustine Ramírez, Ram Herrera, Hugo Guerrero, Chris Q, Stephanie Lynn, Tracy Pérez, and Candace Vargas. Also MC2, the Mambo Jazz Kings, Los Hermanos – all under the musical direction of Wild Bill Perkins with the musical backing of Houston’s Robert Dorantes’ Avizo Band.
For more information on the five-day cruise making port stops in Cozumel and Progresso, Yucatan, Mexico, go to www.tejanosoulcruise.com.

La Ley de Tejas to Lay Down the Law during Cruise

                                                                La Ley de Tejas to Lay Down the Law during Cruise
                                                                                           By Ramón Hernández
Augustine Ramírez aka La Ley de Tejano is ready to play sheriff during the November Soul Cruise.

“That’s right, I’m going to lay down the law,” the Grammy Award winner said.
“And the law is, for everybody to have a good time, to get down and have fun! I know I plan to have fun.”
In view of this being Augustine’s first time at sea, when asked what he looks to in regard to the cruise, he said, “I think I need one, really, because I need to take a break and just enjoy the experience. I’m excited about this new adventure. I want to savor it all; frog legs, escargot, and you name it.
“A lot of my friends will be on this cruise, so I look forward to spending time with them and also make new friends.
“I’m not going to lock myself in my cabin and order my meals because I intend to make myself accessible to the fans. Esa es la ley, that’s the law.”
Although Augustine is a genuine living Tejano music legend, the following mini bio is provided so our younger readers can learn a little bit of his musical history.
As most Chicanos during the rocking 1950s, Augustine joined Los Jesters in 1957. A year later, he became the lead singer for Los Dominos, another rock’n’roll band.
Next came stints singing harmony, and as a guitar player with Los Latinos de Fred Salas plus the Roy Montelongo Orchestra.
“I knew all of Isidro López’s songs, so when Fred would take a break, he would let me sing a couple of tunes. After getting the experience of three bands under his belt, he formed his own orchestra and recorded his first album with Disco Grande in 1962.
“I was lucky in that I was at the right place at the right time when Fred (Salas) asked me to sit in with during a gig at the Manhattan Club in Dallas,” Guti, as he is also known continued.
“The venue is where El Zarape Records owner, Johnny González, and Capri Records owners, Luther and Vivian de la Garza would hold their dances.
“When Fred took a break and I sang a couple of songs, Johnny heard me. He liked what he heard and offered me a contract with his label. What I didn’t know is that Little Joe’s contract was about to expire and he was looking for a replacement. Then he asked (Little) Joe to take me on tour as his opening act. What a break. What luck!”
Long story short, Ramírez considers “El Barco Chiquito,” which went Gold, as the song that opened the doors for him as a solo act.
Although “Aquella Noche,” “El Gusto es Suyo,” “Damelo” and other productions made Billboard’s “Hot Latin LPs” charts, the Lockhart, Texas-native considers “Tres Ramitas,” “Paloma Dejame Hir” and “Sangre de Indio,” to be his fan’s favorite tunes.
As for his moniker, the Tejano Music Hall of Fame inductee said, “It was Chicago’s famous Zunigas that baptized me with that name, ‘La Ley de Tejas,’ back in the ‘60s.”
Ramírez, who has received the “Keys to the City of Beeville” and was honored with a Proclamation of “Augustine Ramírez Day” in Lockhart, continues to perform all over the Southwest, plus as far as Wyoming plus Kansas and the Tri-State area of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
One of the latest honors bestowed on Guti is the inclusion of a leopold-print vest he wore on a 1960s poster and later CD in the “Legends of Tejano Music” exhibit at the Wittliff Collections located in the seventh floor of the Albert B. Alkek Library at Texas State University.
The exhibit includes stage outfits and personal items owned by Little Joe, Sunny, Freddie Martínez, Rubén and Alfonso Ramos, Carlos Guzmán and countless other legends.
On the female vocalist side, there are dresses and costumes that were worn by Lydia Mendoza, Laura Canales, Patsy Torres,on up to Elida of Avante, Shelly Lares and Isabel Marie.
The exhibit just opened its doors and will remain up until December 20. Now, getting back to the cruise, if you have never cruised, don’t just put it in your ‘bucket list,’ do it. Go to www.tejanosoulcruise.com and sign up.
Then get ready to put on your dancing shoes and “tighten up’ to the music of Archie Bell of the Drells. Or, just kick back and enjoy the soul filled voices of Jimmy Edward, Joe Jama and Chris Q.
Other Tejano artists scheduled to perform are Ram Herrera and Charanga King Hugo Guerrero. For eye-candy, girl watchers can feast their eyes on Stephanie Lynn, Candace Vargas and Tracy Pérez as they dance and belt out their hits.
Then there’s MC2, the Mambo Jazz Kings, and Los Hermanos Cortez, plus Avizo and Wild Bill Perkins’ all-star cruise band backing up all the acts. In other words, there’s something for everybody.
Your host and emcee for this fun time cruise will be Houston’s Ms. Bea Zarate and Jumpin’ Jess. The price of the cruise, which sets sail from Galveston on Monday, November 13 and returns on November 18, includes fees, gratuities, food, room and entry to all shows.
No passport is needed for U.S. citizens, but a birth certificate is mandatory. And don’t’ forget that acting cruise sheriff ‘La Ley de Tejas’ is laying down the law.
“That right,” Ramírez reiterated, “For everybody to have a good time, get down and have fun. That’s the law!”

Memorial HS student first in family to attend college, will go to Yale

Education
Memorial HS student first in family to attend college, will go to Yale
Alejandra Salazar, 18, was accepted into 2 Ivy League schools
By Tiffany Huertas – Video Journalist

 

SAN ANTONIO – A Memorial High School student will be the first in her family to not only attend college, but also go to an Ivy League school.

Alejandra Salazar, 18, has been accepted into two Ivy league schools and has decided to go to Yale. And while poverty and different obstacles in life affect many students, Salazar said she hopes her individual story will help another student like her in the future.
 “When you are going out and pursuing your educational goals, never place limits on your self,” Salazar said. “Chances are you not truly aware of how much ability you have to achieve what you want to do.”

Salazar said during the application process she knew right away that her life story was a great fit for her college essay topic.

“I wrote about my mother who currently works really hard and found her own opportunities by working at the flea market,” Salazar said.

Salazar’s mother and father have always pushed her and her brother to succeed. So when her father lost his second job last year it was her mother that stepped up.

“She took the initiative to find that job and create the opportunity for herself,” Salazar said.

The high school senior stressed she simply took advantage of her given opportunities. Salazar has been involved in both the speech and debate team along with the STEM program as well during her high school career.

from : KSAT 12

River City Rockfest May 27th AT&T CENTER

 

The Reunion

 

The Reunion

  At the Historical Cadillac bar Just behind the court house “The Reunion” played to a small yet warm audience.

  Newly form, band came together by a rather an unusual way.

I ask Steven Martinez (lead rhythm guitar) how the band came about. Steve said simply “We had a family reunion and we needed music. I, and Cousin James Martinez and others decided to play and entertain our families.

  We had such a good time playing. We did not want to stop. We were encouraged to “Keep on going”

And here we are. We just hand our band one year anniversary this past April.

 We have not been together for very long. The hardest thing to do is finding the time for practice.

 I ask what kind of music you like to preform “80’s 90’s and early 2000 Alternative Rock is what we do”.

 Songs from such artists as Green Day, Nirvana, Violent Femmes, Nine Inch Nails

   The Reunion had a small glitch just before the band was to start to play. No cymbals for the drums. It’s kind of hard to play rock music without them.20 minutes later. They got back on track.

Hard driving rock was on tap that night. The group played well together. Like a fine wine. With a little bit of aging I see them getting even better. If you like alternative rock then I am sure that you will like this rock band.

Look for them at your local venue

Band Members:

Steve Martinez,           Lead-rhythm guitar

 Frank Rodriguez        Vocal-Lead-rhythm guitar

James Martinez            Bass-guitar back backing vocal

R.J Sanchez                 Drums Back backing vocal

  For booking and more information….

 Thereunionsa@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/thereunion15

https://www.reverbnation.com/thereunionsa

River City Attractions

Story and pictures by Joseph Martinez

18-year old girl graduates college before getting high school diploma

Think your 18-year-old who has just picked their college is some kind of brainiac?

Then consider Indiana’s Raven Osborne.

Osborne, who has been taking college classes part-time, is about to graduate from college — before she gets her high school diploma.

And now she is going to be a teacher at the same high school.

Osborne, a senior at the 895-student 21st Century Charter School in Gary, will earn a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in early childhood education from Purdue University Northwest on May 5, then graduate from high school on May 22.

“Yeah, they think I’m lying,” Raven told CBS News.

It’s true. According to the Big Ten Network (BTN), Osborne began taking classes at a local community college as a freshman and soon earned an associate’s degree in general studies. Then, encouraged by her mother, Hazel Osborne, and 21st Century’s president and superintendent, Kevin Teasley, she decided to become the first in the school’s history to earn a bachelor’s degree while still enrolled.

“When I was a younger, I was labeled with a learning disability,” Osborne told the Northwest Indiana Post-Tribune in 2016.

Osborne told the Post-Tribune it was tough taking both high school and college classes and that there were times when she wanted to quit, but her mother constantly encouraged her.

“My mother always told me I could do whatever I wanted to do in life,” she told the paper.

While at Purdue Northwest, which is in nearby Hammond, Osborne stood out to faculty and staff, BTN reported.

“She not only is academically gifted, but has demonstrated amazing intellectual maturity in her pursuit of a baccalaureate degree at Purdue Northwest,” Purdue Northwest spokesman Wes Lukoshus told the Northwest Indiana Times.

Meanwhile, Purdue associate professor of sociology Ralph Cherry, who had Osborne last spring in a class on research methods, said he did not realize that she was a high school student

“Research methods is the most demanding class that I teach,” he told the Times.

If all that wasn’t enough, Osborne, who will turn 19 in August, was also striving to earn money.

“At one point, I also tried to work a job,” she told the Times. “I was working a midnight shift at a day care center. I just had to watch the children while they were sleeping, then feed them breakfast when they woke up. It was a daycare for parents who worked a night shift. It just got to be too stressful, and I had to resign.”

But now she will be pulling down a salary: She has been hired by the school and will be an early interventionist with elementary-age children, earning more than $30,000 a year, the paper reported.

Not a bad paycheck for a recent college graduate and an even better one for a just-graduated high-schooler

by Matthew Diebel: USA Today

 

“IMMIGRATION” ,an open letter to the Archbishop Diocese of San Antonio

OPEN LETTER TO GUSTAVO SILLER, ARCHBISHOP, DIOCESE OF SAN ANTONIO   

Your Excellency, very public pronouncements in support of keeping together undocumented families have been made by secular institutions, civic and public agencies, ordinary clubs and organizations. Even our Chief of Police has stated that our police will distance itself from ICE, unless necessary.  Our schools have advised their parents that their children will be safe.  An admirable list of entities and persons speaking out in support of these families; It continues to grow! 

And, we await the active moral leadership and public voice of our Archbishop.

Your silence is sad!  Many other American Bishops are leading and speaking out in support of “these voiceless families from bigotry and anti-immigrant fervor today.  So we ask, where is our religious leader?  Where is your hopeful guidance when it is desperately needed?  This critical issue hurts your flock deeply. 

Our Gospels gives us direction! If secular institutions can stand up for justice, why have we not heard our Archbishop’s voice?  What will it take for you to act as a “the good shepherd”?  This issue demands your leadership.  I pray you will guide and lead us to act Christ-like, and declare to us to love and serve the persecuted.

Your pastors and lay ministers are waiting on your leadership and public support to remind us all of Christ’s call to “love our neighbor”.  This is an extraordinary Christian teachable moment— a time for the Gospel to come alive! Archbishop Siller, I yearn for my Church to lead all of us on this humanitarian issue.  Your annual campaign for money “to do the Church’s work” appears void when you neglect to advocate for, defend and help immigrant families in crisis. United our churches and families of faith should provide sanctuary for these families.

Bishop SiIler, the Gospel of Jesus that teaches and calls us to action must overcome this silence. Your honorable and forceful moral voice is urged.

I do pray, Paul F. Ruiz: Phd    S A, TX      Member St Paul’s Church

Paul F. Ruiz, PhD, Emeritus

The Education Trust, Inc.;  and

Co-founder, Alamo Area Democracy Project

 

 

Asian Festival 2017

 

 

 

 

Asian Festival 2017

Walking in to the Texas culture building   I saw wonderful sights, see all of the beautiful dress and out fits of the Asian world.  Seeing my first dragon was exciting. Them weaving in and out was quite a sight to see.

 From Kung foo demonstrations,  to the many different dances from around the Asian world. I saw a dance with glasses of water on their head and hands. Not a drop spilled. Bamboo dance with its rhythmic clacking was so hypnotic.  The Spinning colorful clothing was such a delight to see.  I was moving from one stage to another. I trying to see it all the events going on. Walking pass all of the food booths I just had to pick up a treat for myself. A steaming bread ball fills with pork. My mouth was simply watering with delight, the freshly cook food aroma still lingers in my mind   as I write the article.

The sights and sounds of the festival bring excitement to our city. On a cold misty morning .It did not dampen this is a very family friendly event.  I even saw a panda bear. Well I thought it was a bear. Turns out it was a youngster with his mom and dad. Lol…

With the tensions that our nations and other faces. It’s important that gatherings like theses continue. Meeting and listening to others is so very much important.  To opening our eyes to different sights and cultures. We don’t always have to agree but It’s a step in the right direction for understanding.

It’s the best city in the USA, San Antonio; you just got to love it.

 See ya next year Asian Festival…

Story and pictures

By Joseph Martinez

River City Attractions

THE LAST BANDOLEROS IS A NEW BREED OF TEX-MEX

NavairaTHE LAST BANDOLEROS IS A NEW BREED OF TEX-MEX  

Ever since the members of San Antonio-forged, Tex-Mex/Pop-Rock outfit The Last Bandoleros can remember, they’ve been surrounded by dynamic and diverse musical influences. From Diego’s early Rock ‘n’ Roll collection and the Tex-Mex music of his father to the Country-Blues of Jerry’s guitar instructors and Derek’s Jangly Brit-Rock records, the sounds around the members of The Last Bandoleros have always had an urgency and emphasis on songs and songwriting.

It’s no wonder that when Diego Navaira (bass & vocals) and Jerry Fuentes (guitar & vocals) — both raised in the studios and vibrant live scene of San Antonio — joined with New York native Derek James (guitar & vocals) to form The Last Bandoleros, their combined experiences led them to create a compelling, contemporary American sound.

Joined by a button accordionist “Percy Cardona” on stage, The Last Bandoleros mesh 1 part Tex-Mex, 1 part Brit-Pop and 2 parts Country/Rock, to write and perform driving songs brimming with melody informed by a unique amalgam of influences that only young Americans growing up a stone’s throw away from the Rio Grande might have absorbed.

“I grew up idolizing Texas legends Dough Sahm and Flaco Jimenez,” says Jerry, “and, at the same time, wanted to learn every song in the Rock canon including The Beatles and The Eagles.”

“My dad [GRAMMY-award winning Conjunto superstar Emilio Navaira, Sr.] turned me on to Van Halen and ZZ Top,” adds Diego, “but I was obviously surrounded by Tejano music since birth.”

And, to be sure, a consummate command of their instruments is another of The Last Bandoleros’ calling cards.

“Jerry won a San Antonio guitar competition when he was 13,” shares Derek, “We love charting out ambitious harmonies. You’ll see every member in our band singing when you come to one of our shows.”

The group recently sold-out New York City’s Rockwood Music Hall as headliner and opened for Canadian chanteuse Feist at Webster Hall. Before embarking on shows with neo-traditional country legends The Mavericks this summer, The Last Bandoleros will release their debut EP, featuring lead single “Where Do You Go?” which is already being praised by press and industry alike:

TasteOfCountry.com called the song “instantly catchy” while CMChatLive.com described it as “bright,” “explosive” and “memorable.”

HITS Magazine wrote “the musical verve and joyous energy on display in this tune is pretty irresistible” dubbing it “Tex-Mex meets harmony-rich Beatlesque pop, with a healthy dollop of boy-pop charisma.”

The Last Bandoleros combine their unique cultural experiences with a rare musical camaraderie to deliver exuberance and joy both essential and contagious. And, in today’s fast-moving world of instantaneous information and converging influences, their original yet universal sound might just be best labeled “great music.”

For those of you who know the family, that’s Diego on bass and EmiliTO- IV on drums…

the Last  Bandoleros is Sting‘s Favorite new band:

from the website:  http://thelastbandoleros.com

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/10-new-country-artists-you-need-to-know-may-2016-20160504/the-last-bandoleros-20160504

Get to Know the Last Bandoleros

http://www.cmt.com/news/1768099/get-to-know-the-last-bandoleros/

https://www.facebook.com/lastbandoleros/

 

 

 

Retired Marine master sergeant dies while saving drowning teens

RB

Principal-660x390[1]A man credited with saving the lives of two teens, at the cost of his own, was reportedly a Marine Corps veteran and a two-time Purple Heart recipient.

Retired Marine Master Sgt. Rodney Buentello was spending Wednesday afternoon with his family at Bandera City Park, about an hour northwest of San Antonio, when he witnessed the two teens in peril.

The Bandera Marshal’s office said that one of the teens was trying to walk across a park dam illegally when she was swept away by rushing water. The other teen went into the water to help her, but he got stuck as well.

Buentello then dove in and managed to save both teens. However, he was dragged under the water and drowned before rescuers could reach him.

Buentello had served as a recruiter in San Antonio and the training chief and class instructor for Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron in Iwakuni, Japan, according to Marine Corps news releases.

Pascual Gonzales with the San Antonio-area school district said Buentello was hired as an instructional assistant at John Jay High School in San Antonio in 2013. He resigned from the school on good terms last month.

Gonzales said Buentello was also a former student at John Jay.

In addition to Beyond being a decorated Marine and educator, Buentello was described as a family man. According to a GoFundMe Page created for his family, Buentello is survived by his wife,  Lisa; and three sons.

Friends and family took to social media following Buentello’s death to express their condolences and admiration for the Marine vet.

SEMPER FI MSGT

:MARINE CORP TIMES