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Lalo Guerrero – 1916 - 2005
Lalo Guerrero is internationally recognized as the "Father of Chicano Music." This legendary Mexican-American entertainer and composer has enjoyed a career of more than six decades, beginning with his classic composition "Cancion Mexicana" composed while still in teens in his native Tucson, Arizona. It remains the unofficial anthem of Mexico, and first made famous by the great Lucha Reyes in 1941.
It would be the first of hundreds of songs that would be composed and recorded by Mr. Guerrero and by some of the worlds greatest recording artist, throughout an extraordinary musical career. Lalo recorded on various labels including Vocalion (1937), Imperial Records (1946), RCA Victor (1953), EMI Capitol (1962), his own label, Colonial Records (1957-'72)and Break Records (2001-2005). His versatility was dazzling, composing and performing music in a myriad of styles unmatched by any artist ever music included boleros, rancheras, mambos, cha-cha, salsa, tejano, rock 'n roll, comic parodies and especially children's musical recordings with more than 25 albums of the popular series, "Las Ardillitas de Lalo Guerrero" for Capital EMI in Mexico City.
The height of his recording years were in the 1950's and 1960's, when his music dominated the Latin American charts in the U.S., Mexico, South America and Europe with as many as three hits singles in the top ten at the same time.
Celebrating his bicultural roots, this music pioneer and civil rights activist was the first to write and record bilingual songs detailing the Mexican-American experiences and the first to bring American big band swing music to the Mexican market. The 1949 "pachuco" swing hits, included "Chicas Patas Boogie," becaming popular again in 1977 when director Luis Valdez brought them to the Los Angeles and New York stage in his musical play titled "Zoot Suit" providing his play it's biggest production numbers.
Enduring melodies like the beautiful bolero "Nunca Jamas" (1956) and the comic songs "Elvis Perez" (1957) and "La Minifalda de Reynalda" (1968), among many others, have become standards. Many of today's top latin artists are still recording Lalo's hits of years ago.
But, his music has done more than just entertain. It has given a voice to his people. Lalo's "corridos" have told of the triumphs and struggles of Mexican-American experiences of such hereos as Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and Ruben Salazar. By doing this he brought their stories to wide audience, and he's used his unparalleled humor in songs of social protest like "No Chicanos on TV."
Guerrero, considered a cultural icon to the Chicano, celebrated his 88th birthday on Christmas Eve of 2004, but the years have only added luster of an already distinguished career. In 1993, Paul Rodriguez invited Lalo to co-host his popular talk/variety show, "El Nuevo Show de Paul Rodriguez" which aired nationally on Univision and throughout Mexico and Latin America bringing Lalo to a yet another new world wide audience.
The group Los Lobos asked Lalo to join them on their 1995 bilingual children's album, "Papa's Dream", that collaboration garnered them a Grammy Nomination.
January, 1997 brought Lalo his highest professional honor the 1996 National Medal of the Arts which was presented by President and Mrs. Clinton at a White House Ceremony, this was awarded for a lifetime of creative achievement. He considered that event the "pinnacle" of his musical career.
But, the honors have been many including invitations to both the Carter and Bush Sr. White Houses. In 1980, the Smithsonian Institution declared Lalo a "National Folk Treasure" and he received a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1991.
Lalo was inducted into the Tejano Hall of Fame and been honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Mexican Cultural Institute representing the Mexican Government, Luis Valdez' The Teatro Campesino and Ricardo Montalban's Nosotros Organization among other prestigious groups. Los Angeles, Tucson, Sacramento, San Diego and his adopted home of Palm Springs, California have declared "Lalo Guerrero Day" in those cities and proclamations have been awarded from numerous other cities and organizations.
Lalo Guerrero was born in the Barrio Viejo of Tucson, Arizona on Christmas Eve, 1916. He was one of twenty-four children with only eight surviving to adulthood. His father's origins were in La Paz, Baja California and his mother was from Santa Ana, Sonor, Mexico. They were married in Cananea, Sonora and moved to Tucson in 1911 where they raised their family and remained the rest of their lives. Lalo Guerrero has dedicated his life and career to the definition and enrichment of the Chicano experience in America.
This prolific artist continues creating and a recent composition, "Barrio Viejo" - a tribute to his beloved childhood neighborhood - bought a standing ovation of 5000 at the 1996 Tucson International Mariachi Conference where he shared the stage with Linda Ronstadt and Vikki Carr. He repeated that triumph writing a special English-language lyric for the 1998 Alma Awards that aired to a national audience on ABC-TV with Jimmy Smits presenting Lalo with a special Alama award.
Lalo continued to take his music and message to venues across the country including concerts at the new Getty Musuem in Los Angeles and enjoyed in particular performing at colleges and universities like Harvard and Yale, where a younger generation adopted Mr. Guerrero as their own.
When in 1999, Guerrero took his music further, traveling to Europe for the first time where he made his debut at the prestigious Cite Do Sone La Musique in Paris, France, as part of a three-day cultural Festival of American Music with his friend Flaco Jimenez.
Guerrero took his music further by traveling to Europe for the first time where he made his debut at the prestigious Cite Do Sone La Musique in Paris, France with friend Flaco Jimenez.
Lalo Guerrero, recorded his last musical CD on the Break Records label in 2001, which again was considered for Grammy contension. The CD was produced by Benjamin Esparza and Justo Almario, and is titled “Vamos A Bailar-Otra Vez! with Lalo Guerrero” it was recorded when Mr. Guerrero was 83. Break Records, www.break-records.com released this swinging big band CD capturing Mr. Guerrero still at the top of his musical forms and elements, such as Latin Swing, Salsa, Rancheras, Nortinas and Romantic Ballads. The CD also features such notable friends/musicians as Justo Almario (Tolu), David Torres (Poncho Sanchez) and Mark Jones (The Brian Setzer Orch.). There is currently in the works a PBS film documentary on Lalo’s life to be titled “Lalo Guerrero the First Chicano”.
Lalo Guerrero was 88 years old on December 24, 2004. Lalo Guerrero passed away on March 17, 2005 in Rancho Mirage, California, with Lidia Guerrero his wife of 35 years and son Jose Guerrero, daughter Patrica, and granddaughter Alana at his side. Lalo once said, “I’m a lucky man, I never expected that my life would be as it has, I never planned anything, it just happened, as if someone was holding my hand and leading me along this wonderfull path, and indeed Lalo was luck, as I think we all are for having his music to enjoy. His music will continues to be timeless, and as he often said, “ I hope my music brings a little smile to someone, that would make me really happy!” Lalo Guerrero you brought so much joy and put many smiles on many faces with your music. Your “Music” will surely live on in hearts of children and adults everywhere, around the world, for many generations to come. They will re-discover and enjoy your music, humor and your profound way of looking at life, thank you . . . . .
Benjamin Esparza-Music Producer More |
