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What's New
(Archive)

Page 5 of 5


Tango Reunion!

     On Thursday, April 23, 2009 at East Los Angeles College in the gymnasium, Mark Guerrero's 1970s band, Tango, who recorded an album and single on A&M Records 1973-74, reunited for an event celebrating the re-publishing of the book "Land of a Thousand Dances" by David Reyes and Tom Waldman.  The book about Chicano rock & roll from Southern California is now available with additional pages, photos, and a new cover.  Original Tango members Mark Guerrero, John Valenzuela, and Ernie Hernandez performed.  Original bassist Rick Rosas was not available because he was on tour with Neil Young in Canada so Leo Valenzuela, John's brother, played bass.  Sitting in on keyboard was Alex Del Zoppo, who played with Sweetwater in the 60s and 70s.  Sweetwater is best known for having played at Woodstock in '69.  Quetzal and Lysa Flores also performed.

 


Review of "Land of a Thousand Dances" event at ELAC on PBS website:

Movie Miento

Rockeros

By Adolfo Guzman-Lopez
April 30, 2009

     The Chicano rock tribes gathered at East L.A. College's gym last week.  There in the bleachers sat sax player Larry Rendon of Thee Midniters and keyboardist Bobby Espinosa of El Chicano.  Eddie Ayala of Odd Squad and a couple of members of early 80s punk rockers Los Illegals walked around among fans, signing pages from the new edition of "Land of a Thousand Dances: Chicano Rock 'n' Roll from Southern California."

     On stage, Mark Guerrero (who as a teenager led Mark & the Escorts) tore it up with his band Tango.  Mean guitar player Lysa Flores rounded up a few of her frineds to perform:  Dr. Dre bass player Daniel Sheef, Jaguares bass player Marco Renteria, and Beastie Boys drummer Alfredo Ortiz.  Later, Martha Gonzalez stomped a fusion of jarocho and Chicano beats on the cajon as she led the East L.A. fusion band Quetzal.


Video of Mark performing "Walk On Down" with Tango at East Los Angeles College


"Walk On Down"
words and music by Mark Guerrero

 



Mark & the Escorts Reunion!

     Mark Guerrero's band from 1963-66 reunited for a show called "Blowout 2009" at the Van Nuys Elk's Lodge in Van Nuys, California on Saturday, February 21, 2009.  The show started at 3:30 p.m. and continued 'til 1:00 a.m.  Mark & the Escorts performed around 10:30 p.m.  Thirteen classic garage rock and punk bands performed.  Mark's band composed of original members Mark Guerrero, Rick Rosas, Ernie Hernandez, Robert Warren, and Trini Basulto performed songs from their 1965 singles on GNP Crescendo Records and other songs from their song lists of the era.  Filling in for one member who cannot be found was John Valenzuela on keyboard.  Mark & the Escorts were one of the headliners.  The one other Chicano band was another popular band from the 60s in East L.A., the Ambertones!  The Ambertones went on around 11:00.  "Blowout 2009" was a lot of fun.  DJs were  spinning classic garage rock records between bands and Dionysus Records was selling "Eastside Sound" CDs, including "Eastside Sound, Vol. 2, Featuring Mark & the Escorts."  The mostly young Anglo crowd really enjoyed and appreciated the music of Mark & the Escorts and the Ambertones.  Mark & the Escorts' set consisted of Chuck Berry's "Rock & Roll Music," Ronnie & the Casuals' "I Wanna Do the Jerk," The Blendells' "La La La La La," Mark & the Escorts recordings "Dance With Me," "Silly Putty," and "Get Your Baby," the Animals' "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place," and Cannibal & the Headhunters' "Land of a Thousand Dances."

 


Mark & the Escorts (1964)



Video of Mark performing "Dance With Me" with Mark & the Escorts at Blowout 2009!


"Dance with Me"
words and music by Sanchez/Velasquez

 



Artist of the Month

Mark Guerrero was the featured artist and pick of the month on crnlive.com for the month of January 2009.  Mark's music and "Chicano Music Chronicles" radio shows were broadcast on the Chicano Radio Network for a month.

 



Premiere of "Chicano Rock:  The Sounds of East Los Angeles"

     On October 9, 2008 there was a premiere of the new documentary "Chicano Rock: The Sounds of East L.A," which first aired on PBS on Sunday, December 14th.  Before the screening there was a "live" show featuring Pachuco Jose y Los Diamantes, Mark Guerrero, Rudy & Steve Salas of Tierra, and Frankie Garcia's Cannibal & the Headhunters Band.

Video of Mark performing "I'm Brown" at the Million Dollar Theater


"I'm Brown"
words and music by Mark Guerrero

 



Mark & Dan Guerrero at U.C. Santa Barbara
May 8, 2008

     Mark & Dan Guerrero did a presentation together at a corrido conference at University of California at Santa Barbara on Thursday afternoon, May 8, 2008.  Mark & Dan did a tribute to their late father and the "Father of Chicano Music," Lalo Guerrero.  The presentation included clips from Dan's documentary "Lalo Guerrero:  The Original Chicano," musical performances, and a question and answer period.  Mark sang Lalo's "El Corrido de Delano" and his own composition "The Ballad of Lalo Guerrero."  Mark also backed Dan on Lalo's corrido to Chicano pride, "El Chicano."  The event  took place in the McCune Conference Room at the university.

 



Pima Community College
Tucson, Arizona
March 18, 2008

Mark Guerrero & Band concert in Tucson, Arizona- On Tuesday, March 18th, 2008, Mark Guerrero & Band performed at Pima Community College for LULAC's 19th Annual Leadership Conference.  Mark was once again backed by the Cannibal & the Headhunters Band: Ronnie Reyes, guitar; Karl Carrasco, keyboard; Art Sanchez, bass: and Robert Zapata, drums.  Mark was on lead vocals, guitar and keyboard.  Mark and the band played the same songs as on the Mr. Duran Show the previous week.


Art Sanchez, Ron Reyes, Mark Guerrero, Robert Zapata & Karl Carrasco

 

Video of the Mark and band performing "The Streets of East L.A. at Pima Community College


"The Streets of East L.A."
words & music by Mark Guerrero


 



Mr. Duran Show
March 11, 2008

Mark Guerrero & Band on the Mr. Duran Show- On Tuesday, March 11th, 2008, Mark Guerrero taped the Mr. Duran Show, which was aired the next night on Adelphia Cable in parts of the greater East Los Angeles area and on the internet worldwide.  Many East L.A. bands have performed on the Mr. Duran Show, including Little Willie G & Thee Midniters and Tierra.  You can view video of their performances on the show on Mr. Duran's website.  Mark was backed by the Cannibal & the Headhunters Band: Ronnie Reyes, guitar; Karl Carrasco, keyboard; Art Sanchez, bass: and Robert Zapata, drums.  For this taping, Steve Alaniz was on tenor sax.  Mark was on lead vocals, guitar and keyboard.  Mark and the band did four Mark Guerrero songs and a couple by his late father and "Father of Chicano Music," Lalo Guerrero.  Check out mrduran.com to see the videos of the performances and for more info on Mark Guerrero's taping and airings of the show.  You can also check out the videos on you tube.  Click here to see Mark and the band perform Mark's songs "I'm Brown," "The Streets of East L.A.," "On the Boulevard," and "Zoot Suit."  You can also see a couple of clips of Mark's interview with Mr. Duran.  Click here to read my article with a photo gallery on this concert/interview on Thee Mr. Duran Show.
 


(left to right- Ron Reyes, Robert Zapata, Mark Guerrero,
Steve Alaniz, and Art Sanchez

 

Video of the Mark and band performing "Zoot Suit" on the Mr. Duran Show


"Zoot Suit"
words & music by Mark Guerrero


 



Gibson Amphitheater
Universal City, CA
October 14, 2007

Fundraiser for restoration of the Garfield High School Auditorium- The concert took take place on Sunday, October 14, 2007 at the Gibson Amphitheater (formerly Universal Amphitheater) in  Universal City, CA.  Artists who performed were Los Lobos, El Chicano, Tierra, Little Willie G, Little Joe y La Familia, and Upground.  Mark Guerrero was invited by El Chicano to sing background vocals with them at the event.  Mark is an alumnus of Garfield High School in East Los Angeles, as are members of Los Lobos, and many other classic East L.A. bands such as El Chicano, the Blendells, Thee Midniters, Little Ray Jimenez, Mark & the Escorts, the Exotics, Los Illegals, and many others, so the restoration has a strong personal meaning to all of us.  The true story of the movie "Stand and Deliver" took place at Garfield High School as well as the story of the recent movie "Walkout."

 



Experience Music Project- Seattle, Washington

"American Sabor:  Latinos in U.S. Popular Music"- a 5,000 square foot multi-media exhibit, which opened on October 13, 2007 at the prestigious Experience Music Project Museum in Seattle, Washington.  It showcased the Latino contribution to American popular music.  After its eleven month run at the museum, it traveled to various cities across the country, including Los Angeles.  I was asked to be a consultant and serve on the advisory board for the exhibit.  I interviewed about a dozen Latino musicians and was interviewed myself for the exhibit and their permanent oral history archive.  I also loaned some flyers, band cards, and other memorabilia from my collection to the exhibit.  The exhibit initially ran for eleven months at EMP in Seattle from October 2007 to September 2008.

Below are the places and dates where the exhibit was in residence:

Experience Music Project- Seattle, Washington:  October 13, 2007 through September 7, 2008
Miami Science Museum- Miami, Florida:  October 25, 2008 through January 18, 2009
Museo Alameda- San Antonio, Texas:  June 17, 2009 through September 20, 2009
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum- Austin, Texas:  February 13, 2010 through May 16, 2010
Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix, AZ:  February 12, 2011 – May 15, 2011

For more info on the exhibit, click here to read an article on my website.


Experience Music Project- Seattle, Washington

 



Book: "Riot On the Sunset Strip"

Dominic Priore Book Signing with Mark Guerrero as a guest speaker- On Saturday, September 8, 2007 at Vroman's Book Store, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, California, Dominic Priore had a book signing for his latest book,"Riot On the Sunset Strip," which chronicles the mid-60s musical scene on the Sunset Strip and around L.A.  He covers such bands as Buffalo Springfield, Love, the Byrds, the Doors, and many others.  He also touches on the scene in East L.A. that produced Cannibal & the Headhunters, the Premiers, the Blendells, the Midniters, Mark & the Escorts, and many more "Eastside Sound" bands.  Mark Guerrero spoke and answered questions about his mid-60s bands and scenes they were a  part of in East L.A. and Hollywood.  Other speakers were Bobby Espinoza of El Chicano, Mario Panagua of the Jaguars, Ersi and Rosella Arvizu of the Sisters, Ruthann Friedman (writer of "Windy" by the Association), Bob Stane (former owner of the Ice House in Pasadena), and John "Chris" Christiansen of Opus 1.  Dominic Priore was the moderator of the event.  Click here for Mark Guerrero's article on the event.


 


Dominic Priore & Mark Guerrero


 



Marin County Civic Center
San Rafael, CA
March 29, 2007

     On Thursday, March 29, 2007, Mark Guerrero presented a screening of the documentary "Lalo Guerrero: The Original Chicano" at the historic Marin County Board of Supervisors Chambers in San Rafael, California as part of their Cesar Chavez Day festivities.  Mark  also spoke, showed clips of some of his performances with Lalo, as well as performing his and his dad's music solo with acoustic guitar.  To read about the event click here.


The Historic Marin County Civic Center
Frank Lloyd Wright- Architect

(building in which houses the Marin County
Board of Supervisors Chambers)

 


 



Cesar E. Chavez Foundation Dinner
Biltmore Hotel- Los Angeles
March 28, 2007

Mark and Dan Guerrero- On Wednesday, March 28, 2007, Mark Guerrero performed as part of an  acoustic trio at the Seventh Annual Educating The Heart Awards Dinner put on by the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation.  The event took place at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.  There was a segment honoring Mark and Dan's late father, Lalo Guerrero, in which Dan Guerrero spoke and presented a 5 minute video on Lalo's life and career.  Mark sang three songs with a trio including his "The Ballad of Lalo Guerrero," along with Lalo's "El Corrido de Delano" and "Los Chucos Suaves."  The other musicians in the trio were Alex Armstrong on guitar and Lorenzo "Lencho" Martinez  on guitarrón.  The finale was Dan singing Lalo's song of Chicano pride, "El Chicano," with Mark and the trio.  Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger also spoke at the event.  The 2007 Cesar E. Chavez Awards were presented to the governor, Father Gregory J. Boyle (founder of Homeboy Industries), and posthumously to Lalo Guerrero.  To read about the event click here.
 

 


Lorenzo Martinez, Mark Guerrero & Alex Armstrong


 



Lalo Guerrero Film & Arts Festival
UCR Palm Desert Graduate Center
March 23, 2007

Mark Guerrero- On Friday, March 23, 2007, Mark Guerrero performed at the Gala for the Lalo Guerrero Film and Arts Festival at the UCR Palm Desert Graduate Center in Palm Desert, California.  Also performing was Chicano rock pioneers, El Chicano.  The concert was part of the gala opening night event which also included a screening of the documentary, "Lalo Guerrero: The Original Chicano," produced by Dan Guerrero and Nancy De Los Santos.  To read about the event click here.
 


 


Lorenzo Martinez, Mark Guerrero, and Alex Armstrong


 



Puro Mexicano: Tucson Film Festival
Tucson, Arizona
November 2, 2006

On Friday, November 3, 2006, Mark Guerrero performed at the opening of the Puro Mexicano:  Tucson Film Festival, which featured a screening of the documentary "Lalo Guerrero: The Original Chicano" at the Fox Theater in Tucson, Arizona.  Mark performed acoustically with singer/songwriter/guitarist Tim Weidenkeller, Debbie Daly on vocal harmony, and Rob Paulus on upright bass.  They performed two Mark Guerrero songs, "Mexican Moon" and "The Ballad of Lalo Guerrero," in addition to Tim Weidenkeller's great song inspired by Tucson's Barrio Viejo, "The New Old Pueblo," and two Lalo Guerrero compositions, "Los Chucos Suaves" and "El Chicano."  The latter song was sung by Mark's brother, Dan Guerrero.  To read about the concert click here.


Fox Theater Marqee

 

"The New Old Pueblo"
words & music by Tim Wiedenkeller


 



Cavern Club
Liverpool, England
July 16, 2006

Mark Guerrero return to Liverpool- In July of 2006, I returned to Liverpool, England and performed at the legendary Cavern Club, where the Beatles played almost 200 times the early 60s.  I was backed by Liverpool band Wheels On Fire on the bill with the legendary 60s Liverpool rocker Kingsize Taylor.  To read the story of my second trip to Merseyside, go to article 47 on my "Miscellaneous Writings" page.  For the story on my previous trip to Liverpool go to article 32.  See flyer below:

All The Way From The USA

Chicano Rock Singer

Mark Guerrero

As part of his UK Tour

With his Tour Group

Wheels on Fire

Also

J' O'Connor and The Hytones

Also Top Yorkshire

60s Band

Flashback

and The King of Hamburg

Kingsize Taylor


Video of Mark performing "Back In the U.S.S.R." at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England


"Back In the U.S.S.R."
words and music by Lennon / McCartney

 



Documentary

"Lalo Guerrero:  The Original Chicano"

"Lalo Guerrero: The Original Chicano," a documentary on the life and career of Lalo Guerrero, produced by Nancy De Los Santos and my brother, Dan Guerrero, has been airing across the nation on PBS stations since the fall of 2006 as part of the "Voces" series, "a journey DEEP in the HEART and SOUL of LATINO CULTURE."  I'm the music supervisor on the project and my song, "The Ballad of Lalo Guerrero," is played over the end credits.  The documentary features many luminaries commenting on Lalo Guerrero's influence and impact on Chicano music and culture including Linda Ronstadt, Ry Cooder, Los Lobos, Flaco Jimenez, Paul Rodriguez, Cheech Marin, Edward James Olmos, Luis Valdez, Cesar Chavez, and others.  The DVD comes with a 22 song CD.  The documentary has also already screened at the Los Angeles International Latino Film  Festival and the Tucson Puro Mexicano Film Festival.  On Friday, March 23, 2007 it screened in Palm Desert, California as part of the Lalo Guerrero Film and Arts Festival.  More festivals will be announced.

 


"Lalo Guerrero: The Original Chicano" DVD/CD

(DVD of the documentary with a 22 song CD)

Currently Not Available

 



Chicano Music Chronicles

Mark Guerrero's "Chicano Music Chronicles"- My own internet radio show which started in  December 2005 and ran for over a year on crnlive.com.  The shows ran one to two hours and  featured the music of the legends and pioneers of Chicano music.  My first show spotlights the music of my dad, the late great "Father of Chicano Music," Lalo Guerrero.  I play twelve of my favorite Lalo recordings and talk about the songs and give background information.  Most of the shows include interviews with the artists themselves.  Shows I've done with in studio guests include Trini Lopez, Chan Romero, El Chicano, Tierra, Little Ray Jimenez, Geree, and Little Willie G.  I've also done a show on my own music.  My 10th show features the classic recordings of the Eastside Sound of the 60s.  It includes interviews with members of Cannibal & the Headhunters, the Premiers, the Blendells, the Romancers, the Salas Brothers, and the Sisters.  My 11th show features the great music of singer/songwriter Hirth Martinez, with Hirth in studio.  The 12th show features the music of 80s Chicano punk band, Los Illegals, with leader and founder, Willie Herrón, bassist Jesus "Xuiy" Velo, and drummer Bill Reyes.  All twelve shows are archived on my website on the "Chicano Music Chronicles" page.

CRN ad in the program for the 2006 Alma Awards
 

 



CDs

Chavez Ravine by Ry Cooder- a magnificent CD by legendary guitarist/producer on the Nonesuch/Perro Verde record label, which contains songs and/or vocal performances by Ry Cooder, Lalo Guerrero, Little Willie G (formerly of Thee Midniters), Ersi Arvisu (formerly of the Sisters & El Chicano), Rudy Salas of Tierra, David Hidalgo of Los Lobos, and Don Tosti, among others.  The CD's theme involves the destruction of the barrio of Chavez Ravine to build Dodger Stadium in the early 60s.  The songs are in English, Spanish, and some are bi-lingual.  Pachuco slang, or Caló, is also used throughout.  Hopefully this CD will do for Chicano music what Cooder's "Buena Vista Social Club" did for Cuban music and some of it's pioneers.  Chavez Ravine is now available in stores.

Lalo Guerrero Comedy CD- a Lalo Guerrero parody CD called "The Funny Side of Lalo Guerrero" has just been released nationally on the Brown Bag Records label.  It has twelve classic Lalo Guerrero parodies, including four that have never been available on CD; "To All the Girls I've Loved Before," "You're Impossible," "Lucila," and "Mr. Jackson."  It's beautifully packaged with quotes from my dad, my brother Dan, and yours truly.  (This CD is no longer available.)

 


 
Television

Mark Guerrero on the Mr. Duran Show- On Tuesday, March 11th, 2008, Mark Guerrero taped an interview and concert on Thee Mr. Duran Show, which aired every other Wednesday on Adelphia cable, channel 3 in the Pico Rivera/Hacienda Heights/City of Industry areas and channel 25 in East L.A.  It's also worldwide on the internet at mrduran.com.  Mark performed seven songs backed by a five-piece band.  Click here to read the story and see a photo gallery of the show.


Ron Reyes, Robert Zapata, Mark Guerrero,
Art Sanchez, and Karl Carrasco

Mark Guerrero on the Mr. Duran Show- On Tuesday, January 15, 2008, Mark Guerrero taped a guest spot on Thee Mr. Duran Show.  Mark was interviewed with David Reyes, co-author of the book "Land of a Thousand Dances."


Mr. Duran, David Reyes, Mark Guerrero & hostess

(photo by Paul Valencia)

Mark Guerrero on East L.A. cable TV- On Saturday, February 4th, 2006, Mark Guerrero was a guest on "Eastside Prime Time" with Erik "Chico" Manqueros and Arturo Esparza on Adelphia cable.  It aired in my hometown of East Los Angeles.


Mark Guerrero, Erik "Chico" Manqueros, and Arturo Esparza

The Talking Stick with Mark Nichols- The first Native-American-produced television show.  Lalo and Mark Guerrero taped two 1/2 hour shows on June 17, 2004, on Time Warner Cable (in the Greater Palm Springs area only).  The two parts aired several times during the month of June and had additional airings throughout the year.  On Tuesday, September 9th, Mark Guerrero taped a half hour show by himself that aired three times in September and also had additional airings throughout the year.


Mark, Lalo, and Mark Nichols on " The Talking Stick"  (June 17, 2004)

 


Mark and Mark Nichols on "The Talking Stick"
(September 9, 2004)

Melinda Reed Show- Mark Guerrero and singer-songwriter/keyboardist, Johnny Mesa, taped a 15 minute segment discussing the Don Tosti memorial concert, which took place at the Riviera Hotel in Palm Springs on Sunday afternoon, October 3, 2004.  It aired locally several times in the Coachella Valley on Time Warner Cable in late September.

Midday Show with Tony Valdez- Mark Guerrero appeared on the Fox 11 show in Los Angeles on May 4, 2003, talking about Chicano music, particularly the Eastside Sound of the 60s, and promoted the upcoming concert at the Autry Museum in Los Angeles featuring Mark Guerrero & Radio Aztlán, Lalo Guerrero, and Thee Midniters.

"Fernandomania"- Documentary on Dodger pitcher of the 80s, Fernando Valenzuela, on ESPN Classic channel aired for the first time, August 28, 2001.  “Fernando, El Toro” written by Mark Guerrero and “Ole Fernando” written by Lalo Guerrero were featured, as well as interview sound bytes by Mark & Lalo taped at Dodger Stadium in July at Fernando Valenzuela Bobble Head Doll Day.  Both songs were recorded by Lalo Guerrero in 1981 and released on Ambiente Records. Lalo plays a portion of his song during the interview as well.

Midday Show with Tony Valdez- Mark Guerrero appeared on the Fox 11 show in Los Angeles on June 27, 2010 with other guests musician Anthony Baray and authors David Reyes and Tom Walman.  The subjects of the show were the 40th anniversary commemoration of the Chicano Moratorium in 1970 and the passing of original member Cannibal & the Headhunters, Richard "Scar" Lopez.
 

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