People
ON STAGE with……. Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández
ON STAGE with……Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández
Photo’s by: Ramon Hernández
Entertaining San Antonio audiences for the twelfth time Ballet Folkólrico de México
de Amalia Hernández graced us with another unforgettable performance this past weekend. Thanks to ARTS San Antonio for bringing back the dynamic choreography, vibrant costumes and a cast of 65-70 dancers whose artistic and physical excellence wow the audience from the Matachines opening scene to the gaiety of the Jalisco finale. Accompanying the dancers on stage are 15 musicians and a Mariachi band that are part of the world famous and highly lauded Ballet Folklórico group.
Delia Isurza-Rodriguez, Director of Administration and Education for ARTS SA inititally introduced Viviana Hernández daughter of the late Amalia Hernández and Artistic Director of Ballet Folklórico de Mexico to the Edgewood Fine Arts Academy in the mid 90’s when I served as Dance Facilitator. The Academy high school dance students and the children of the community were given opportunities to participate in master dance sessions led by Viviana. She and members of the troupe re-introduced and educated the children of the community in folklóric dance and Mexican culture. We had the pleasure of participating with Viviana for a couple of years and always enjoyed the evening performances that made it possible for dance students to be enriched in Folklórico dance and experience theatrical venues. Thank you Delia for making this happen for the children of Edgewood. Delia Rodriguez, has been working with ARTS SA for 16 years. She started working with ARTS SA during her senior year of high school and she remembers her first big production she was involved with at the Municipal Auditorium. The stage play “Jesus Christ Superstar” was in town and Delia couldn’t believe that a big group of nun’s were protesting (loudly) outside of the auditorium.
I was greeted by Janelle Avon, a former dancer that now serves as publicity coordinator and Layla Maldonado technical production manager as I sat and interviewed Viviana. The artistic director states that a dancer should have an education in dance and start at a point where the body and its movement capabilities is the focus. Viviana’s future plan is to open a Dance Education School per se here in San Antonio where the curriculum includes and is not limited to: contemporary dance, barre and center work and head to toe (zapateado) techniques. Technique being the main focus of study. In July, Viviana spends a month in England teaching contemporary dance at one of the universities then returns home to Mexico City for company rehearsals 3-4 times per week.
Close to curtain time I was pleased to see children and teen’s come in for the performance. Mr. Don Nuñez, Folklórico dance instructor at the Edgewood Fine Arts Academy walks in with his dance students who seem to be enthused about the show.
Edgewood Fine Arts Dance Students
Ballet Folklórico de México fun trivia: the company has presented 15,000 performances, danced before 22 million people, made 50 US visits, completed more than 100 international tours, visited 80 countries and more than 300 cities, 3,500 dancers have passed through the company, 36,000 pairs of shoes have been used, 45,000 pieces of wardrobe have been used, Amalia Hernández has created 100+ choreographies for the company.
After San Antonio the production takes them to Austin followed by a West Coast tour including Las Vegas. May God grant them traveling mercies.
An old dance teacher once told me that a dancer who experiences different forms of dance enriches their life as a dancer and a person. Not sure about that but I do appreciate and see the beauty in all forms of dance and life.
Remember an Old Dancer never dies they just hop from Barre to Barre…….with that, till next time see you
ON STAGE .
Whatever Happened to Sunny (Youngs)?
Published October 7, 2012 | By Ramón Hernández
Remember the late 1980s and early ‘90s when Tejano music was so popular that Black and White female vocalists such as such as Ruth, Jean Le Grand and Sunny started to record this genre.
Le Grand is now on national television and we have unable to locate Ruth. However, Sunny is back in San Antonio as Laura Youngs and last month the Houston-born Air Force brat came to the Hispanic Entertainment Archives to give us her story.
Sunny grew up in Canada, McConnell AFB in Kansas and Amarillo Air Force Base watching musical on television and going to concerts with her mother, Jackie. At eight her father, Pat Youngs, relocated his family to San Antonio before departing for Viet Nam.
“As for my early influences, my mom loved taking me to see Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tom Jones and others,” Sunny recalled.
“I remember swaying on a swing set singing “It Must Be Him” in 1966. Then my mom took me to Joske’s where Vikki Carr was signing autographs. Then we went to her concert where she asked me to come onstage and afterwards, backstage. So she was a big influence on me.”
Here she attended St. Peter’s Catholic School, where, after her coach suggested she learned to play an instrument, she learned to play guitar. And by twelve, she was able to play most church songs and wrote her own tunes.
“They were mostly love songs because that’s when you’re young and in love – you’re not pissed off yet,” she said with a laugh.
By the time she reached sixteen, Sunny, whose real name is Laura, was performing in coffee houses.
“One evening I was at a quinceanera and one of the musicians was flirting with me. So he let me sit in and sing ‘Shaky You Booty’ and I’m sure I shook my booty too. The result is that by the end of the night, he had hired me as the lead singer for Danny Martínez and RPM.
“The first two Spanish-languages tunes I sang were ‘Y Volvere’ and ‘Cuando Caliente el Sol,’ but I didn’t have a clue as to what I was singing. I didn’t record, but through him, I met and sang with George Rivas, George Prado, Clifford Scott and Sauce González plus the Felix Solís and Ramiro Cervera orchestras.”
At twenty, Laura became engaged to a U.S. Marines pilot and after he died, she was too heartbroken her songwriting days came to an end.
Life goes on for those left behind and along the way, she went to London, where she sang with Charlie Watts and met Keith Richards. In 1988, the then telephone company employee decided to go to Acapulco for a well-earned vacation. While there, she jammed with bands and orchestras at the various hotels and clubs singing Spanish tunes.
“I’m very spontaneous. So when I came back I quit my day job, sold my car and moved to Acapulco. I knew I have no job waiting for me, but I had that passion and a lot of confidence,” Laura continued.
The first door she knocked on was that of Juan De Pablos at the Hyatt Regency and he was skeptical of the Anglo blue-eyed blonde. That is, until Laura followed him up to the hotel’s ballroom where the Marcario Luviano Orchestra was playing. Little did De Pablos realize that Luviano and Laura had previously met and she had sold him with her interpretation of “My Funny Valentine” when she sat in with him during her vacation?
“When Macario saw me, he asked me to come up on stage and sing. Nightclub owner (now vice president of the Acapulco Association of Discoteques) Tony Rullan and his wife Linda were also there. I got out four lines of ‘Sabor A Mi’ and got a standing ovation. Juan even stopped smoking his cigar and when I got off I went up to him and said, ‘Do you still want to audition me?’
“I was so cocky. The end result is that I was set up with a suite overlooking the ocean and I sang two years, mostly in Spanish, with the Macario Luviano Orchestra at the Hyatt, who played an instrumental version of ‘Laura’ as my introduction.
“In some ways, that was the best time of life because I got to sing what I wanted and in Mexico, people love their music. Unlike jazz, everyone would clap and women would give me their earring.
“My Spanish was not fluent, but just being immersed in it and loving the language, it then came overnight. Again, I didn’t get to record, but that wasn’t even a factor because you’re in Acapulco where you look out the window and you sing, ‘life is good.’
After her stint at the Hyatt, Laura had a say so in how they designated a new club named Antigua where she also became the featured act. After she tired of the ocean paradise, she moved to Mexico City.
“It Chilangolandia and the whole onda was different. I remember sitting in a lounge and jamming with such singers as Marco Antonio Solís, Óscar Chávez, Chamin Correa and others until the sun came up, but everything was who you know; and after three months it was time to come home.
When Laura came back in 1990, she was greeted with a banner that read, ‘Welcome Back Laura.’ She jammed with the Sauce González and Jack Barber bands. Than Albert Esquivel became her booking agent, she got her to record at Texas Sunrise Studios in the Rio Grande Valley, met Mazz and appeared on the Johnny Canales Show.
“The night Betsy Escobedo came to see me perform, I wound up getting signed to RP Records by Manny Guerra when he was recording for CBS at the time José Rosario was working there. By now everybody was calling me ‘Sunshine’ and they cut it short to Sunny. Then, when Sunny Ozuna asked Manny not to do that, I came out as Sunny Youngs,” Laura said of her name change.
Her first 45 rpm single release under CBS Discos International was “No Lo Creo Más” and it received airplay as far as Spain. The flipside was titled “La Esperanza.”
“Then I did the Pura Vida Music Awards, performed at the Island Club and did a lot of festivals and big events with soundtracks, but my only problem was that I didn’t have a manager that knew more people than I did, but I made a name for myself because I’m a hustler.
“It’s supposed to be exciting to get a recording contract, but I had no say so whatsoever and as an artist, if you don’t feel the song, then you can’t interpret it properly. So I started getting bored because I didn’t like the songs that were picked out for me.”
Hence Laura, then known as Sunny, made a name for herself in record time during her short-lived stint in Tejano music.
When the blue-eyed Tejano songbird went back to Acapulco in 1992, the headline in the El Sol de Acapulco was that she was back in town, relegating the likes of Rocio Durcal and Emmanuel to the middle pages. Then she went on tour with an American Top 40 show band, opened for the Coasters in Las Vegas, moved to Dallas, did radio jingles for commercials and starting singing jazz.
“In 1996, I moved to Palm Beach, sang with the Norm Kubrin Trio, met a guy, fell in love and went away with him for seven years,” Laura said of her disappearance.
“In 2003, I moved back to the Alamo City, went to work as a commercial underwriter at Hartford Insurance and stayed under the radar for a while.”
To satisfy the music bug, she jammed but didn’t do anything notable until she joined Evolution, a ‘80s club dance band, in 2008. But she didn’t feel challenged and quit.
“I had to up my level of musicianship, so I went into a ‘search and find’ mode because I didn’t know what I really wanted to do. All I knew is that I wanted to record and get back on the road.”
Laura’s turning point came when she met rock guitarist Roger Méndez, who was already rehearsing with Juan Ornelas, bass; and Robert Weathers, drums. So she decided to attend one of their rehearsals and audition them, but when Méndez started playing, she said, “Oh my God, they are auditioning me.
“The chemistry was there. Why rock? Because vocally, it’s challenging and I found it was right up my alley. I love it because I get to belt out the songs, especially with a range like mine.”
Their name is 12 Gauge and they are now working on releasing an entire rock album with some songs in Spanish. If the songs are anything like their cover of “La Negra Tomasa,” they are going to make it into the American mainstream.
Each member of 12 Gauge has a string of impressive credits and merits their own article. So let it suffice to say that the buzz for this group, which plays from classic hard rock to metal, is huge.
“We have been approached by a major label and our goal is to be an internationally touring band; and I’m going to give up my day job,” the now stunning redhead said with a lot of enthusiasm and conviction.
To become a 12 Gauge Band (featuring Laura) fan is easy. Just go see them perform at the Revolution Room on Broadway Street on Friday, October 5; or at Steely Nevada’s at 7530 Bandera Road on Saturday, October 20.
For bookings call (210) 378-8142 or Roger at (210) 896-9029. For more information and pictures go to www.facebook.com/laurayoungs, www.12gaugeband.com or www.facebook.com/12gauge.
Laura belts out a song at Steely Nevada ‘s
Poetry Reading @ Barnes & Noble
Poetry Reading @Barns & Noble
Story and photos by joseph Martinez
Every Tuesday at 7:00 Pm, Barns& Noble book store across from north star mall . There is a collection of local talented group of poets reciting well thought out poetry.
Heading this group is the “Sun Poet Society” Rod C Stryker. With his Mac Book in tow, Rod spoke of a person named “Ted Baines”. Now if you repeat something long enough. Some people will tend to believe and in this case it dose apply. Ted, of course is not of this world but in the wonderful mine of Mr. Stryker
The assistant chair of the group is very fluent Chris Billings AKA “The Bare Foot Poet” (look for the pic’s and you see why). What’s in the bag? The title of the poem he recited. Sadly I was taking pictures and I could not catch all of the poems he said. All I can say for now is what’s in the bag.
So many people, thoughts to be absorb. Liken a child at an ice cream shop not knowing which one you like best.
There was Tia a perky girl with a poem of her mp3 player and the poem of Pete, a poem of the whirl wind of love and romance.
Holest the GREAT had his poem of retirement and its perks’
Brian with “I am Charlie Brown” An inner look of why am I who I am. More of a comical look at Charles Shultz the creator of comic strip, peanuts .
Matt a college student was next reciting a poem of realization of life and why baseball, basketball, and pingball. Why do they have such hi pay cap’s… This was tuff for me. A person rebelling? or making lite of what is going on around one self. I guess you need to be the judge
Don ,and his political thoughts. let me see if I can wrap it up what he said.// Elephants must leave//Hanging chads dis-please//home loans//posters of Osama Ben Laden//wall street stocks//Jello//bush//…. Don’t get dismayed from what I got from don it is better straight from himself. It was rather good …
Sherry whit a poem “People Disappear “Ten Year High School Reunion was the focal point of this poem. About how the people you once knew is now the same person. Going to a reunion was more like rediscovery of people you once knew or met in ones younger year. Realizing that those people are gone, YES” they disappeared.
Ellipsis Parentheses Weapon Of Mass Instruction A Poem Of War. Simply put its complex. The war is with in ones head.
Valerie Mondy Aka The Black Butter fly spoke her original work “Texas is God’s Country” telling all of what make Texas as good as it is “Black Butterfly” A rebirth , a telling of not wanting to have life just pass by but to live it . A poem of reflection.
Arron Freight Train A Poem of a returning army vet trying to clear his mind of the horrors of war.
Privet Concern…a poem of a smelly passenger in a bus. Wondering why the person is that way. Down and out on their luck? Homeless? No job? Rather than move over. Ask if I can help.
So many others like first timer Sara reading for the first time in front of a crowd and the funny Dr Moon And Leroy rounded out the night
The evening was wonderful With a WIDE range of style and topics from political to satire to love lost. So many people, thoughts to be absorb.
Liken a child at an ice cream shop not knowing which one you like best. I say listened to them all and then you decide.
Need more information, Contact Rod at rodcarlosstryke@yahoo.com or htt://rodcarlosstryker.deviantart.com 210-325-8122
Story and photos joseph Martinez
River City Attractions,
San Antonio TX.
“Las Tesoros de San Antonio” A WestSide Story”
“Las Tesoros de San Antonio”
“A Westside Story”
Jorge Sandoval is a local actor, filmaker, photographer and technican. He returns to filmaking with the exiting documentary “Las Tesoros de San Antonio”/A WestSide Story.”Experience the sights and sounds.
Saturday, 6th Oct, 2-3:00PM
Central Library Auditorium
800 Soledad
210.207.2500
Sunday, 7th Oct ,2-3:30 PM
Bazan Branch Library
2200 W.Commerce
210.207.9160
Enjoy a Romantic Evening of Music with El Bolero II
El Bolero II is a musical program that promises to seduce its listeners with an array of romantic ballads.
And as Patricia Pérez-Lemppaf, the show’s artistic director says, “However, remember that falling in love and being in love can sometimes end in heartache. So be prepared for this music to capture your soul and the lyrics transcend you and make you reminisce about a past or present love.
“So whether you’re in love, have fallen out of love or you’re in the process of conquering a sweetheart, the bolero will enlighten your heart and soul with visions of passionate love.”
In addition, the program is also educational in that those in attendance will be treated to several different forms of the genre which originated in 18th century Spain as a Spanish/ Africa dance with a very slow rumba style rhythm that evoked erotic feelings or communicated love between dance partners. In the Western World, the slow sensuous love song in Cuba evolved from a Caribbean genre known as trova in the eastern city of Santiago during the late 19th century, spread to Mexico and other Latin American countries in the mid-20th century and finally reached the United States where many boleros were translated into English and released as “What A Difference a Day Makes,” “You Belong to My Heart” and “A Taste of Me” to name a few.
According to Lemppaf, this Alizanza Latinoamericana musical program will present variations such as the bolero ranchero, as immortalized b Pedro Infante, the tango bolero as made famous by Carlos Gardel and Libertad Lamarque; and the contemporary bolero most recently popularized by Luis Miguel and El Tri-O.
Some of the performers include Emma Hernández, one of the best known vocalists during the 1950s and early ‘60s orchestra era when she was the featured vocalist for the Emilio Caceres Orchestra, also Marielos Duarte and Malú Gil, both Mexico City natives, who have sung with numerous trios and mariachis for as long as they can remember. Both chilangas started out performing at family gatherings eventually singing at public functions.
Other vocalists are María Betancourt, Isidro Manjarres, Jaimé Vidal, Broadway Joe, Paul Ford, James Hickey, Homero Zapata plus the mother-son duo of Ruby and Dennis Castell.
Some will perform with music tracks and others will be backed up by a trio of musicians.
Willie Zulaica, a Tejano music pioneer whose resume includes playing sax with Joe Bravo y Los Sunglows, Ruco Villarreal, O.B.G. Band de Rocky Hernández and is presently with Canela, is the show’s musical director.
Zapata of Los Internacional Hermanos Zapata not only sings, but also plays accordion and drums. As a drummer, he performed and recorded with Toby Torres and the internationally famous Flaco Jiménez from the late 1960s to 1976.
José Ramiro Pérez, Francesca Anderson and Richard Alvarado will also delight the audience with their ultra-smooth dance steps as they displayed how to dance to this beautiful music.
Alvarado’s credits are heading a seven year program with the San Antonio Library where he teaches salsa and merengue and where his busiest time of the year is during Hispanic Heritage Month.
They may not be household names, but they all sing and dance from the heart; and the fact that they can share their God-given talent is thanks to the Alianza Latinoamericana who recognizes their gift and provides the opportunity and venue for them to showcase their voice and their moves in this tribute to the bolero.
This production could not be possible without the volunteer help of Dalia Guzmán, artistic coordinator; Eduardo Velázquez, set designer; and the support of Street Talk Magazine’s Jaimé Vidal, La Prensa publisher Tino Durán and supporters such as Félix Padrón, Frank Villani, Juan Hernández, Johnny Hernández, Lissa Bengtson, Valerie Arrieta and Vanessa L. Jenkins, also Gabriel Sánchez and Dora Olvera.
The participation of all these people says volumes about this non-profit organization, which, with the exception of the Office of Cultural Affairs, has yet to receive a cent in funding therefore everyone is encouraged to attend and fill the venue to demonstrate why Alianza Latinoamericana is worthy to be considered as a serious contender for funding.
“Su Majestad – El Bolero II” – emceed by Andres Ricardo Morín — takes place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, August 4th at the International Folk Culture Center located on the Our Lady of the Lake campus at 411 S.W. 24th Street.
Anyone can save two dollars by purchasing their advance tickets for $5 and they are available at the International Folk Culture Center until July 24. Furthermore, patrons can also enjoy the delicious taste
For reservations or more information call (210) 431-3922, 385-3877 or 378-2970. One can also e-mail the organization at info@alianza-latinoamericana.org.
This is what makes me MAD as
Here is what was published by ThinkProgress.com
96 Year-Old Latino Former Arizona Governor Detained By Border Patrol In 100 Degree Heat
By Ian Millhiser on Jul 6, 2012 at 12:00 pm
This man is Raúl Héctor Castro. He is 96 years old, a former Arizona governor, and a former United States Ambassador to El Salvador, Bolivia and Argentina. He was born in Mexico, and is a United States citizen.
Last month he was stopped by U.S. border patrol agents after residual radiation from a medical procedure he’d recently undergone triggered an alarm at a checkpoint in Tubac, AZ. The 96 year-old heart patient was then forced to exit his vehicle in the 100 degree Arizona heat and wait in a tent in a business suit, even as his companion begged the agents not to subject an elderly man to such treatment.
This is the third time the former governor and ambassador has been detained by border control. The first occurred years ago while he was repairing his own fence and agents stopped him and asked to see his work card — although they eventually desisted after Castro pointed out a sign by his farm entrance that read “Judge Castro.” The second occurred years later in San Diego, although that encounter ended shortly after someone recognized Castro and said “Governor, how are you?
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Now I know we will forever be un-fortunately living with a few Bad politicians that dictate their personal views into the law including those in our Supreme Court
However some of you in law enforcement need to go back to school and get a formal education! I have myself been in meetings where these big fat politicians are trying to come up with rules and regulations, and when someone like me jumps in with “Are You Crazy” They simply say “Well at least we are not the one’s on the street having to enforce our crazy ideas!
This is Racial Profiling at it’s best.
I’m Mad
Eddie
p.s. I hope my friends Dr.Paul Ruiz & Margie don’t read this as I’m having a hard time keeping my blood pressure levels in check.
Güero Polkas reflects back on 48 years
Story and photos by Ramón Hernández
He was born Ricardo “Richard or Rick” Peña Dávila, but is best known as Güero Polkas and the Wolfman Jack of Tejano radio.
His radio experience dates back to 1954 when he was nine years old and used to cue the vinyl records for his father, Manuel Sr., who would follow Willie Nelson’s 3-5 p.m. shift at KBOP in Pleasanton, Texas.
“I would pull my ear close to the record so I could hear and cue the records without earphones. Many years later Willie remembered me as that little kid at KBOP radio since my dad relieved him, then Willie would come back to do the 7 p.m. to sunset shift,” Rick said.
During the time his father, also a songwriter, was on radio, Rick would watch Humberto Lozano López become Capirucha. He would also listen to and watch José “Pepino” Villarreal, Raúl “El Chapulin” Hernández, Willie Ramos, Mario “El Pico de Oro” Gutiérrez, El Gavilan Pollero” García, Ronquillo Chávez, José Pérez Del Rio, Roy “Que Piquito” Valdez and Fidel Cuellar – who later went to Voice of American in New York – work their on-the-air magic.
In 1957, his father and Pepino became partners and signed a contract with Manuel Leal, who owned KUKA. In October 1959, “Teen’s Choice” was born with Manuel Jr. and Rick; and later Pepino’s son, Gilbert Villarreal.
“We kind of spun off ‘Tops and Bops,’ which was hosted by Manuel Leal’s daughter Sylvia and her friend, Teresa Garza, who gave us her massive record collection when we came in,” Rick continued.
A big reason for the Dávila’s popularity is because they played the songs KTSA and KONO would not play, tunes by Sunny and the Sunglows, Doug Sahm and Rudy Tee. Since then the Dávila’s have been the champion for the underdog.
“Our Spanish wasn’t worth a crap, but it was a hit because of the dedications and because we spoke English,” said Manuel Jr. “We also played the slow stuff and the tunes other stations stopped playing once they were six months old. So people saw us as the first oldies station.”
Rick always sang along with records, but after he entered George W. Brackenridge High School, he became a featured singer at school assemblies doing ditties such “What’s Your Name” and other early 1960s soul hits.
What few people don’t know about is the connection between James Brown and KEDA and his friendship with Rick. The result is that Rick would emcee or did an opening comedy act at all the “Godfather of Soul” shows at the Municipal Auditorium or the Joe Freeman Coliseum. In fact, Rick and bandleader/sax man Maceo Parker once sang “Soul Man” with the originator of funk music’s orchestra.
The hazel-eyed teen idol graduated in 1964, joined the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the USS Shangri La, then home ported in Mayport, Florida.
During one of his trips back home, Rick recorded two of his own compositions, “Laughing to Keep from Crying” and “Can’t Keep You off My Mind” with the musical backing of the Royal Jesters for Abe Epstein’s Dynamic label.
At the time, the 66-year-old radio icon was stationed at Naval Air Station Alameda in San Francisco Bay and in 1966; Rick went to KSOL to make a pitch for his single. The place was like Fort Knox however, both the security guard and the secretary were nowhere to be found and he simply walked all the way to the back of the building and startled Sylvester Stone.
He and his siblings, Freddie and Rose, were known as Sly and the Family Stone, so the two radio personalities hit it off.
“Sly let me hear ‘Dance to the Music’ before it ever came out. Then much to my surprise and without listening to the single, he put it on the turntable and said, ‘Here’s my great friend from Texas . . .” and my song was heard from San José, the Golden Gate, Oakland and the entire bay area.
“I did the same thing with ‘The Bob White Flight’ program out of KDIA in Oakland and Abe couldn’t figure out how he sold close to 10,000 copies of that record at a time when they hated Mexicans in other states, more so one that sang rock’n’roll.”
Collectors can find both sides of this Güero-Royal Jesters tune on the “Más De Mis Rolas Favoritas” CD on the Toby CRS label.
Another must-have CD is “Sus 20 Éxitos.” This one contains “The Day I Found You,” which Rick recorded with Little Henry and the Laveers. Now back to our story.
On August 14, 1966, KEDA went on the air as a sunrise-sunset station with the slogan of “La Tejanita.” Rick was in the Navy, but he was still heard via a pre-recorded tape.
They brought ‘Teen’s Choice’ to KEDA with Manuel Jr. and his brother Roy as the show’s hosts, but that’s when the Davila’s realized that the real money was in Spanish-language radio and by now all the Chicano bands, such as Sunny and Little Joe, had started to record in Spanish.
Meanwhile Henry Pena, Jesse Vallardo Jr. and Rudy Rocha filled in their void when they spun off with their own shows on KUKA.
When Rick finished his two-year military stint, he hit the airwaves with his antics and became an instant hit. But according to Gilbert Rodríguez of Gilbert’s Restaurant, he said, “what endeared KEDA to everyone is that they gave everybody a chance by playing their music regardless of fame or no fame.”
“Our father taught us to fight for our local talent because there are musicians out there that are good,” Rick said. “They just have to be given the opportunity. So we played music that nobody else would play. We were a mom and pop operation and we didn’t make any hones about it because ours was a blue collar worker station.”
In regard to his monikers, Rick says that one day Capirucha walked in and corrected a word he mispronounced, than he turned to his father and said, “’Ese pinche Güero Polkero’ and from that point on I started saying, ‘les habla el güero polkero.’ Chalito Johnson told me to stop saying it that way. Then Manny Guerra came up with ‘Güero Polkas’ when I recorded for GP Records.
“As for the ‘Wolfman’ I actually met Wolfman Jack, but it was Ben Tavera King that kept referring to me as the ‘Wolfman Jack of Tejano music’ in his San Antonio Express-News column when I was playing keyboards. Then Jim Beal and his wife picked up on that and kept it going.”
There’s so much more the average person does not know about the 5-feet-7-inch tall radio legend, but he’s got such a long history and we only have so many inches for this story. So we now fast-forward to the day when the University of Jalapeño was sold on July 31, 2011.
“In a way I felt kind of bad towards the end because this was dad’s pride and joy, his biggest accomplishment and our home for 45 years, solo que me aguite.”
We didn’t mention, Rick’s quiet brother, Albert, who started out as a gofer and worked his way up to general manager, nor his sister and his mother, both named Madeline, who could all be found at KEDA on any given day.
On the personal side Güero and his wife, Mary Louise, are the proud parents of Richard John, Michael Anthony, Robert Sebastián, José Luis, Manuel Alberto, Mary Louise and Marla Anna Dávila.
“They all sing, write songs and produced 17 grandchildren. So I’m now a stay-at-home grandpa and I love it,” Güero said with one of his famous growls.
“As for the future, if something comes my way and they are willing to pay, I’m available and I’m established so don’t ask me to try out or audition.”
Tejano Music Lost Two More Greats in June
Story and photos by Ramón Hernández
Both musicians that passed on were not household names because both fell under the umbrella of the bandleaders.
For years, countless of bands covered “Juana La Cubana,” “La Gallina,” “El Colesterol” plus countless other hits, but each time we heard them on the radio or announced at clubs, it was always the latest hit by Fito Olivares y La Pura Sabrosura. However, the voice that interpreted all these hits was Fito’s brother and drummer, Javier Olivares.
Other commercial breakthroughs were “La Negra Catalina,” “Aguita de Melon,” “La Ranita” and countless others.
Fito, whose real name is Rodolfo, wrote all those best-selling records and his saxophone drove La Sabruosura’s. Brother Jaimé augments Fito’s saxophone, but it was Javier who sang the songs.
Javier, was born in Camargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico on April 26, 1954, but was a long-time resident of Pasadena, Texas where most of the family now lives
The Olivares brothers, Javier, Jaimé and Fito relocated to Houston in 1977 and formed La Pura Sabrosura in 1980 and started to enjoy great success in the late 1980s. And for the record, their other brother Joél, was never a part of the group, but Javier’s son, Miguel Martín, has been the group’s percussionist for over a year.
Javier had been hospitalized for two months and it was after surgery to treat stomach cancer that he passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 10 at age 57.
As is life, the show must go on and on Friday, June 22, La Pura Sabrosura performed at Graham Central Station in a concert dedicated to Javier’s memory with Fito Olivares Jr. replacing his uncle on drums and Eagle Pass-native Adrian Díaz was introduced as the new voice for the group.
The second musician, Leonel Pulido, was born in La Palmita, Nuevo León, Mexico, but the well-recognized accordionist lived in Elsa, Texas for most of his life.
In January of 1974, his nephews, Joél “Gordo,” saxophone; Roél “Flaco,” saxophone; José Roberto “El Primo” Pulido Jr., bajo sexto and vocals; and he, on accordion, formed the original Los Clasicos. The rest as they say, is history.
On Tuesday, June 19, Leonel suffered a heart attack as he was being transported in an ambulance to Edinburg Regional Medical Center when he died enroute. He was 67.
As an acclaimed accordionist, Leonel’s musical legacy will live on through his hundreds of recordings with Roberto Pulido y Los Clasicos.
May both musicians rest in peace, amen.
Fans Stepped Up to the Plate for Joe López
At 11 a.m. people were already lined up to purchase a plate of beef with rice and beans at Big Al’s Garden Bar in New Braunfels as mobile DJ Ray Rosales played a non-stop array of Joe Lopez and Mazz hits.
Incidentally, Big Al’s is owned by José Reyes, who didn’t hesitate to volunteer the use of his venue. And while Ramón Chapa helped to coordinate the event, this writer was not aware that the true organizer of this event was in effect Raúl Lagunas, therefore mil disculpas, and you now stand vindicated.
For those who sent compliments to the chef, the cooks were Mary Lou García, Mary Páez, Dorie Flores and LettyValadez, who with Gonzalo Páez, Rico Crespo, Matt González and Linda Macias, also doubled as servers.
David Hernández, who played delivery man, took as many as 40 plates 30 miles south to San Antonio as he personally delivered to people at the Methodist Hospital, Janie’s Record Shop and other locations where people had pre-paid for their plates.
Also there to lend their moral support were Diana Hernández and Ruby Rodríguez, who came all the way from Taft, Texas.
Joe’s blue-eyed look-a-like brother Lorenzo and his lovely wife Judy, who drove all the way up from Brownsville were very pleased with the outcome and e-mailed our magazine the following note.
“The fund-raiser was a great helping hand towards legal fees for Joe. A special thank you for everyone who made the event possible, benefit coordinators, servers, cooks, everyone who donated food, plates, etc., and all who purchased tickets. There are no words that can express our gratitude for your help, unabrazo, Lorenzo López.”
In spite of its success, it will take fund raisers in many other cities to come up with the total needed amount. However, every little bit counts.
By the way, for those readers that would like to write Joe, they can address their correspondence to José Manuel López, 1399866, Ramsey Unit 1, 1100 FM 655, Rosharon, Texas 77583, E-2-5.
Tejano Cruise #3
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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.
