Lorenzini Releases First Compact Disc Album
Lorenzini Releases First Compact Disc Album
By Ramón Hernández
Lorenzini is living proof that it’s never too late to realize your dreams and/or goals.
You may call him a late bloomer, but then again, it’s better late than never. In this case, at the top of his bucket list was to record and release a compact disc album. Perhaps, it was because he put his own dream aside to be there for his second oldest brother, José “Chepe” López?
However, he never stopped documenting his life in autobiographical songs. A classic example is “Mi Papa,” a tune that describes his father, Raúl Sr., and his brothers – Raúl Jr., José “Joe,” Saúl and Ernie – years as migrant workers.
“This is a song that anyone that’s followed the crops as a migrant worker can relate to,” Lorenzini said. “Those were the days when everyone gave their truck a name. As the song goes, my father named his Ford truck ‘La Prieta’ (‘The Black One’). And my cousin Rubén Lozano named his truck ‘Double 0 Seven.’ What memories. I recall dad telling us he already had the tank full of gas and he wanted us ready at dawn because we were leaving for California.
“He also made a camper for it and that’s where we plus two or three more boys would ride since our sister Alma and mom (Benita) would ride in the truck.”
Here are partial lyrics from this tune:
“We were poor but content. We were rich with life and other things. We had all by putting God first. And the music would play more, and more, and more, we’re going, we’re going, we’re going to California.”
The latter is the catchy hook that grows on you, and you will keep playing this tune over, and over again.
“What beautiful times those were with my father,” Lorenzini continued. “I was about six or seven (1961 or 1962) when from daybreak to sunset, we would hoe beets in the fields in Minidoka, Idaho. We lived in a camp, but on weekends, we would go to do laundry in Rupert, Idaho.
“The musical talent comes from mom’s side and music was always present in our family because she was the singer for her brother’s band.
“As for the boys, Chepe was already playing guitar and he would also take a comb, put a piece of paper over it/around it and use it as a harmonica. We would also place a license plate over two bricks or large rocks because it sounded like a snare drum when we hit it with a stick.
“However, our maternal uncles sang and played an acoustic instrument, mostly guitar and accordion. They would perform at quinceñeras and weddings within our family and I would just listen as they sang beautiful canciones romanticas (romantic songs),” Lorenzini said as he seemed to relive those days. “Furthermore, my mom would sing along with the radio when she was in the kitchen.”
The López siblings were also exposed to the hip sounds of the day whenever Raúl Jr. would turn the radio on in the car. And five years later, a curly blond-haired, blue-eyed, twelve-year-old Lorenzini purchased his first transistor radio at the “World’s Largest Flea Market” in San José, California.
“It was here that one day that a neighbor named Mario Martínez came over, saw Chepe’s guitar, picked it up and started playing a Ray Charles beat. I liked it so much that I learned it after he taught me some chords. And when Chepe came back, I proudly played it for him, but he scared me so much I didn’t touch a guitar until I was sixty,” the formerly traumatized Lorenzini said with a hint of regret.
“Years later, Brando (Mireles) showed me how to use the guitar as a tool to write songs. So, I do the basics, and he embellishes the music with his magic.”
“What few people realized is that Lorenzo has been writing songs for 40 years. But he couldn’t arrange the music until Brando came along,” said Judy López, his soulmate and muse revealed. “However, his composing talent did not go unnoticed by Jimmy González.”
“Jimmy had already heard me sing, but when he heard me do ‘Why’ on my 30th birthday (September 30, 1985), he believed it was good to record. Suddenly, from one day to another, he arranged it, Chepe changed a few words, then they included it in Mazz’s ‘Straight from the Heart’ vinyl album.”
Yes, Chepe is Joe López of Mazz and Lorenzini (r.n. Lorenzo Lozano López) had been working as part of the band’s road crew since 1979. A year later, Joe, Jimmy and Mazz recorded “Tonight,” another tune penned by Lorenzini; and Jimmy threw a party for Lorenzo in Brownsville when the song was released in 1987. Furthermore, he also assisted in writing many other songs throughout his eighteen years with the band.
In 1989, Lorenzini became the road manager for Súper Grupo Mazz de Joe López y Jimmy González. In the meantime, he never stopped writing. He just kept saving his finished masterpieces in what later turned out to be a diary of his life experiences as he chronicled events and his deepest personal feelings in song.
“In 1997, I quit and six years later, at age 48, I bought myself a synthesizer and started learning how to play it. This made it easier for me to continue writing more songs since it takes so long to turn a poem into a story.”
“True be told, if he has the motivation, he can write a song in ten minutes,” added Judy, his biggest supporter and cheerleader.
What no one has mentioned up to this point is that Lorenzini’s mother, Benita, was a songwriter and this is whom he inherited his talent from.
“Many years ago, my mother planted a rose bush that is now twelve feet tall, and twelve feet wide. Now, each time I walk past it, I get inspired. Strangely, one day when I went to see her to give Saúl a two-hour break since he cared for her 24/7, she said, ‘Sit down, I want you to hear this song.’ Then, she took out her notebook and started singing it to me. She also told me that she wanted Brando to arrange it. And all this is on film.
“We honored her wish and I thank my God she got to hear the final recording of ‘Tu Ausencia,’ which she wrote for our father, her husband. Our mother, who never dated or remarried, passed on August 7, 2019, and she left me a note stating she had written another song that she wanted me to record. And that’s not the only one. These are just two of many songs she would write while my father was at work.
“Mom lived a beautiful life to the fullest and there is not one day that goes by that I do not miss or think of mom. Mom and dad took a piece of my heart when I lost them. But I am Blessed with so many cherished memories; and I am so fortunate that she lived until she was ninety-five,” Lorenzini said as his piercing deep blue eyes teared up.
“I’m so glad Brando convinced me to record ‘my’ compositions, which I had put away and are like family. Like my kids, they’re all the same.”
Again, every one of Lorenzini’s songs has a story. An added bonus is that his CD also contains a brief synopsis on each tune. For example, “Mi Morenita” is about a girl who loves to dance, and her boyfriend will do anything to please her, even if it means not hanging out with his friends.
“I originally titled ‘Diosito y Mi Madrecita,’ which was a perfect fit for the musical arrangement, but it worked better as ‘Mi Morenita,’” Lorenzini revealed.
“No Mas Por Ti” is about a man who will give his life to his lover because she is his beautiful blessing from God.
“Siete Vidas,” which he wrote in 15 minutes, is about a man who drinks to numb the guilt of breaking his promises and being the one to break up with his lover. He also drinks to forget their kisses, plus their beautiful memories and is now willing to do anything to win back her love.
Literally “Vienes Cuando Quieres” translates to “You only come when you want something.” However, the beau in this song is grateful to her because she taught him how to love, brought him back to life and made him a happy man.
Lorenzini’s songwriting is contemporary in that it documents a bit of present Rio Grande Valley real time events in “Southbound to Brownsville” since the subject in this tune is traveling and daydreaming of coming back to Brownsville to dance with his honey, taking her to Space X and Boca Chica Beach. However, his job prevents him from doing so.
And of course, this CD includes “Mi Papa,” “Tu Ausencia” plus “Porque Soy Carnalito.”
Now sixty-five, Lorenzini is entering the next chapter in his life recording original material, such as the upcoming “Hasta Que Tu Me Quieras a Mi.”
Lorenzini, who still works full-time at KBSD, maintains the work ethic he learned from his father as an adolescent, says, “Dad taught me how to work and I learned from his advice during years of family adventures I’ll never forget. Oh, what beautiful times those were with my father.”
All these experiences are chronicled in “Mi Papa,” a song that would make a grown man cry, especially if he grew up working in las piscas, living in camps or out in the fields.
Lorenzini’s album is available directly as a flash drive plus as a CD on Spotify and all digital stores. In May, he and Brando Mireles conducted a live “Lorenzini Father’s Day Special,” which you can view at www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCYulaSdX18.
Last month he came to San Antonio to promote the songs Lorenzini based on his personal life experiences and which he holds close to his heart on Homero López’s KLMO. Also giving credit where credit is due, the awesome cover and back cover images plus his publicity pictures were photographed by Matthew Lamar and Judy López.
“Next on my list is to tour in support of the album,” Lorenzini said. “Right now, I can perform about twenty tunes with a house band; and, when his schedule permits, with Brando.”
Now that we have whet your appetite for his music, to book Lorenzini, you may call at (956) 466-8260 or email him lorenzollopez7517@gmail.com