On Saturday, Chicano music lovers young and old (but
mostly old–respect to my elders!) descended upon Santa Ana's Delhi
Community Center for a concert teach-in. The lesson plan for the day was
on the History of Chicano Music in Southern California–spanning four decades, the concert chronicled the musical history that helped shape and characterize life in Mexican
American barrios and colonias. Organized by the good gente of the Orange County Mexican American
Historical Society (OCMAHS), the afternoon event featured the talents of the
house band The Recessions! (aptly titled for these hard economic times
and the concert teach-in's five dollar suggested donation!) .
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of many ex-members of Tierra, the group performed through the event's
playlist spanning Chicano music highlights from the '40s to the '70s.
In between sets determined by decade, OCMAHS Board President
Harvey Reyes spoke at length about the historical background of each
era. The dynamics of a teach-in meshed with music was strained at
times, but The Recessions' covers were excellent and Reyes'
presentations were very informative. Historic concert flyers, photos and
other memorabilia lined the walls of the Delhi Community Center and
audience members even took part in a question and answer session.
Over the course of four hours, the sold-out event revived classics all
the way from Don Totsi's “Pachucho Boogie” to El Chicano's “Viva
Tirado.” The latter was performed in tribute to the late Bobby Espinosa
whose Hammond B3 Organ defined the Latin Jazz sounds that made the
instrumental a radio hit for the band. About 300 people packed the place, and many took turns on the dance floor wearing
retro fashion. At the end, who could be upset with a play list including
War's “All Day Music,” and Ritchie Valens' “Come On, Let's Go?”
The
best of Chicano music was represented in full. Lalo Guerrero, Little
Julian Herrera, Thee Midnighters and Los Lobos came alive all at one
place all at one time. Proceeds went to benefit OCMAHS, a great community organization.
As Harvey Reyes himself noted, most of the bands of the evening were
from OC's neighbor to the north, Los Angeles. There is a history of
Chicano music in these lands below, but documentation and success
stories are buried just beneath the surface of memory. If anyone out
there has any contributions in these areas, contact OCMAHS and share the
stories. That way, the next time the organization puts together another
insightful event, it can feature more homegrown history and OC Chicano
soul.
Orale!
Gabriel San Román is from Anacrime. He’s a journalist, subversive historian and the tallest Mexican in OC. He also once stood falsely accused of writing articles on Turkish politics in exchange for free food from DönerG’s!