"Evangeline, The Queen of
Make-Believe"- a new play written by Louie Perez of Los Lobos, Rose
Portillo, and Theresa Chavez, which played at the Bootleg Theater in the Echo Park
district of Los Angeles. The initial run was May 3-27, 2012, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and
Sundays. Due to popular demand, two shows were added, Friday, June 1st, and Saturday, June 2nd. The play, which is inspired by Los Lobos' song
"Evangeline,"
is about an East L.A. devoted daughter by day and Hollywood go go dancer by
night. The story takes place in the 1960s amid the political turbulence of
the Viet Nam War and the East L.A. student walkouts, featuring the songbook of
Louie Perez and David Hidalgo of Los Lobos. The music is performed by the
band Cava offstage, with Cava's lead vocalist Claudia Gonzales brilliantly
singing the songs on stage amongst the actors. On Saturday, May 26th, there was a concert following the
show featuring Cava, and special guests Thee Commons, Mark Guerrero,
and Little Willie G. Mark Guerrero performed his first recording, "Get
Your Baby" by Mark & the Escorts, his 1972 Capitol Records single "I'm Brown,"
and his father's pachuco classic, "Los Chucos Suaves.
Program cover
Mark performing "Get Your Baby" at
the Bootleg Theater
Mark with Cava
Video of Mark performing "Get Your Baby" at the
Bootleg Theater
music by Thomas - Edwards
American Legion Hall- Palm Springs
Memorial Day
Show- Monday, May 28, 2012 at the American Legion Hall
in Palm Springs. The show was in remembrance of
Owen Coffman, Roaul Prieto, and Richard Milonavich.
Musical performers included Mark Guerrero and the L.A. band, Tabu.
Private Home-
Beverly Hills
Fundraiser for Music 2 Life-
On Wednesday, April 11, 2012 Mark Guerrero performed his song "I'm Brown at a
fundraising event for the Music 2 Life organization. Here is a description
of the organization'a mission from their website: "Music2Life
harnesses the power of music for social change through entertainment, education,
technology and artist collaboration. Founded by Noel Paul Stookey (Peter, Paul &
Mary) and daughter Liz Stookey Sunde, this nonprofit initiative offers new ways
for musicians, fans, industry pros, journalists, DJs and fellow nonprofits to
engage with music of meaning."
Mark & Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul &
Mary
(Peter, Paul & Mary had major hits in the 60s with
songs such as "Blowin' In the Wind," "Puff the Magic Dragon,"
"Leavin On a Jet Plane," and "I Dig Rock & Roll
Music"
La Plaza de Cultura y
Artes
Los Angeles, CA
March 11, 2012
A Celebration of Chicano Zoot
Suit Culture- On Sunday, March 11, 2012 there was an event celebrating
Chicano zoot suit culture at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Los Angeles which
featured a car show, zoot suit dancers, musical performances by the East L.A.
band Chico and Mark Guerrero, and a screening of the movie "Zoot Suit" by
actress / professor Alma Martinez. Below is the description of the event
from the La Plaza official website:
Dia de la familia: Family Day
Celebrate the style and elegance of vintage cars, by Marcos’ Garage, designed
and inspired by the Zoot Suit generation. Listen to singer and songwriter Mark
Guerrero perform pachuco songs. Watch the dynamics of LA Dance Events as
they demonstrate swing dance of the 1940s. Create your own art work in the genre
of the ‘40s.
Conversaciones y cine : Conversations & Film
Alma Martinez, Professor of Theater Arts, Pomona
College and actress will introduce the 1981 film "Zoot Suit" written and
directed by Luis Valdez. "Zoot Suit offers insight into American history
topics including, post World War II race relations, immigration, and
assimilation. Discover how zoot suitors asserted themselves with fabric
and made statements of defiance.
La Plaza de Cultura y
Artes
Los Angeles
February 26, 2012
"A Time In History: The
Mexican-American Repatriation during the Great Depression"- On Sunday,
February 26, 2012, Mark Guerrero performed at an event in commemoration of the
approximately 400,000 California citizens and residents of Mexican decent who
were forced out of California between 1929 and 1944. It took place at La
Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Los Angeles. Mark performed a set of music
which was related to the event, i.e. songs of the era as well as songs about
immigration and Chicano/Latino pride. The days festivities began with a
well-attended private event which featured a speech by Eva Longoria, well known
actress and soon to have a master's degree in Chicano Studies. Mark, who
performed solo with acoustic guitar, sang songs such as "This Land Is Your Land"
and "Deportees" by Woody Guthrie," "Los Chucos Suaves" and "No Way Jose" by Lalo
Guerrero, and his own songs "Whitewash," "Ay Yi Yi Yi (Nobody Told Me)" and "I'm
Brown." Following Mark's performance was a panel discussion about the
subject of repatriation and the screening of the film on the same subject called "A
Forgotten Injustice." See press release below:
Internet Movie- CSI Alm Prings
Mark Guerrero in a spoof of the
television show "CSI Miami"- Mark plays Morty, a coroner, in Brad Mercer's
"CSI Alm Prings." Brad Mercer is a
singer/songwriter/musician who is also a classic rock radio DJ in Palm Springs,
CA. The approximately 1 hour film also features special guest stars Mickey
Thomas (Elvin Bishop Band / Jefferson Starship / Starship) and British rock star
Terry Reid. Suspend disbelief and have some fun.
Brad Mercer, Sylvia Corralez, Mark
Guererro, and Tim High
"CSI Alm Prings" Video
Clickhereto go to the official website of
CSI Alm Prings,
where you can also view the movie trailer and footage from the premiere
screening with interviews.
American Legion
Hall- Palm Springs
New Year's Day
2012 Show-
On January 1, 2012, Mark Guerrero
performed on the bill with the Jackson Garret Band, Gary Bias
of Earth, Wind & Fire, and the duo of Johnny Meza and Lola
Rossi at the American Legion Hall in Palm Springs. Mark was backed by members of the Jackson Garrett Band, John Pagels, guitar, Jeff Stover, bass, Steve Alaniz,
sax, Johnny Meza, keyboard, and Andy Fraga Jr., drums. Guerrero played guitar and sang "Let the Good
Times Roll" by Louis Jordan, classic rock songs "Blue Suede
Shoes," "You Never Can Tell," "Knock On Wood," "Long Tall
Sally," and his dad's pachuco song, "Los Chucos Suaves."
Museum of Ventura
County
Ventura, California
October 9, 2011
Screening of "Chicano Rock: The Sounds of East Los Angeles"
-
On Sunday, October 9, 2011, Mark Guerrero performed and was
a panel member at a screening of the documentary "Chicano
Rock: The Sounds of East Los Angeles" at the Museum of Ventura County.
The panel discussion, which
followed the screening, was about the music
of the Chicano rock era depicted in the film.
Panelists included "Chicano Rock" documentary
filmmakers Jon and Nancy Wilkman,
Tom Waldman and David Reyes
(co-authors of the book "Land of a Thousand Dances"), Max Uballez (music producer and leader of the 1960s East L.A.
band, the Romancers), and Mark Guerrero
(singer-songwriter / Chicano music historian).
Mark Guerrero's
musical performance included his songs "On the Boulevard,"
"Pre-Columbian Dream," and "I'm Brown,"
and his late
father's songs "Tacos For Two" and "Los Chucos Suaves."
Museum of Ventura County
La Plaza de
Cultura y Artes
Los Angeles, CA
October 2, 2011
"Tardeada LA Plaza"- Mark Guerrero performance of "Whitewash"- On
Sunday, October 2, 2011 the first installment of
"Tardeada LA Plaza"
was held from noon until 5 p.m. The event took
place at the Los Angeles Plaza de Cultura y Artes at 501 N.
Main St., Los Angeles (1/2 block south of La Pacita Church at Olvera
Street in downtown Los Angeles). This continuing
series brings the campus to life with family activities,
compelling conversation, and unique events. The author
of the recently-published "Siqueiros:
From Paradise to Utopia," Dr. Irene Herner Reiss is an expert
on the life and work of Mexican muralist David Alfaro
Siqueiros. His 1932 work
América Tropical, whitewashed in 1932 and the center of
a dedicated conservation project since the late 1980s, is
the subject of a new interpretive center set to open down
the street from LA Plaza next year. Dr. Herner Reiss
lead a conversation titled:
"Why Rescue América Tropical?,
a Los Angeles archaeological site of the 20th century."
She was joined by writer, musician, and teacher, Ruben Martinez, and Oliver
Mayer, Chair in Literature and Writing at
Loyola Marymount University, author of
Crossing Over: A Mexican
Family on the Migrant Trail, and resident artist at
Stanford University's Institute for Diversity in the Arts. Mark
Guerrero performed "Whitewash," his song
about the whitewashing of Siqueiros' mural "America
Tropical," at the event. Mark's brother Dan
moderated the event. Prior to the conversation, families and children participated in
a hands-on art workshop in LA Plaza's garden. This event was free to the
public.
La Plaza de
Cultura y Artes
Los Angeles, CA
October 1, 2011
"Cuentos Del Pueblo"- Book Signing and Mark Guerrero
Solo Acoustic Performance- On Saturday, October 1, 2011 at the Los Angeles
Plaza de Cultura y Artes hosted its first ever meeting of
Mexican-American authors at La Plaza at 501 N. Main St., Los Angeles.
This exciting event brought together nine Los Angeles area Mexican-American
authors who conducted a book signing from 12 noon until 5 p.m. in the Plaza
patio area. Musical entertainment for this special event was provided
by Mark Guerrero, who performed his original music, as well a music by
his father, the late great "Father of Chicano Music," Lalo Guerrero. The
event was spearheaded by Mark's good friend, Alex Areyan, author of
"Mexican-Americans In Los Angeles." Alex was also one of the authors
signing books. See the program and info on the exhibit below.
The current exhibit at the museum, "L.A. Starts Here," is a must see for anyone
interested in the history Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in Los Angeles.
This interactive exhibit starts with the first inhabitants of Los Angeles, near
the current site of the museum in 1781, and includes an exhibit of Lalo Guerrero
artifacts and another on the play "Zoot Suit" by Luis Valdez, which features
Lalo Guerrero's classic pachuco song, "Los Chucos Suaves."
The mission of La Plaza de Cultura y Artes is "to celebrate and cultivate an
appreciation for the enduring and evolving influence of Mexican and
Mexican-American culture, with a specific focus upon the unique Mexican-American
experience in Los Angeles and Southern California."
Historic Radio
Show Found
1972 Radio Show featuring Mark
Guerrero, Tierra, and Yaqui Found!- I borrowed a box of tapes from Art
Brambila, former manager of the aforementioned artists, that had sat in his
garage for decades. I was looking for tracks by a particular band and
found a reel to reel tape of a show we all did on KLOS radio with host Joe Ortiz
in 1972. We all played our current recordings and were interviewed, as was
Art Brambila about the purpose and goals of Brown Bag Productions. I
digitized the show and sent it to Ortiz, who wrote an article about it with a
link to hear the show and blogged it out all over the internet. Click
here to read the article and hear the show.
Joe Ortiz (standing), Mark Guerrero & Art Brambila
(Reuniting after
rediscovering a 1972 radio show we did together, along with Tierra and Yaqui.
Tiki Oasis 11
San Diego, California
August 19, 2011
Mark & the
Escorts- My teenage band from the 1960s reunited once
again for a show at Tiki Oasis 11 on Friday, August 19, 2011 at
the Crown Plaza Hotel in San Diego,
California. The event took place Thursday, Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday and included musical groups, campy burlesque,
surf, comedy, and Hawaiian-style acts. Mark & the Escorts
performed on the main stage on Friday night. Big Sandy with Los
Straightjackets also performed on the same night.
Mark & the Escorts (Tiki Oasis 11- San Diego)
(left to right- Alex
Del Zoppo, Trini Basulto, John Valenzuela, Mark Guerrero, Rick
Rosas, and Robert Warren) (Ernie Hernandez- on drums behind Mark)
Mark & the Escorts
(left to right- Trini
Basulto, Alex Del Zoppo, Rick Rosas, Mark Guerrero, Robert Warren,
Ernie Hernandez, and John Valenzuela)
Video of Mark & the
Escorts performing "Get Your Baby" at Tiki Oasis 2011
Video of Mark & the
Escorts performing "La La La La La" at Tiki Oasis 2011
American
Legion Hall- Palm Springs
Fundraiser for
the Palm Springs Police Department Canine Unit
- The benefit
concert took place on Saturday,
May 21, 2011, at the American Legion Hall in Palm Springs, CA. There was
a recent shootout that left a police dog and a suspect dead and
two officers wounded. The police dog's name was Ike.
Musical performances were provided by Mark Guerrero & Brad Mercer, Darci
Daniels, Patrick Evans, Nino Fontana, Patrick Swain, Bonnie
Gilgallon, Greg Burr, and Tabu. The event was hosted by
singer/comedian Rick Noyce.
Historic Paramount
Ballroom
East Los Angeles
March 20, 2011
60s Eastside Sound Reunion
Show- On Sunday, March 20th, 2011 at the
legendary Paramount Ballroom in East
Los Angeles an historic benefit reunion show took place. The musical lineup included The Premiers ("Farmer John"), Mark & the
Escorts ("Get Your Baby"), Chan Romero and Eastside Revue
("Hippy Hippy Shake") led by legendary "Eastside
Sound" guitarist Andy Tesso, The Jags (with members of the Jaguars),
the Salas Brotthe Storytellers, Easy
Company, and the In Crowd. The $10 donation went to the
families of Frank Zuniga, original bassist of the Premiers, and Annie Perez, the
wife of lead guitarist of the Premiers, Lawrence Perez.
Frank Zuniga and Annie Perez passed away in December 2010.
Mark & the Escorts- Paramount Ballroom (2011)
(left to right- Alex
Del Zoppo (keyboard, unseen), Mark Guerrero, Trini Basulto, Ernie Hernandez
(drums, unseen), John Valenzuela, Rick Rosas, and Robert Warren)
Autry National
Center
Los Angeles, CA
January 9, 2011
Homage to
Siqueiros Poetry Reading- On Sunday January 9, 2011,
performances took place at noon and 2 p.m. at the Autry
National Center in Griffith Park. Mark Guerrero sang his song "Whitewash," which is about the
legendary Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros and his
censored mural at Olvera Street, "America Tropical."
Actresses Yareli Arizmendi (best known for "Like Water for
Chocolate") and Rose Portillo (of About Productions) performed an in-gallery, bilingual reading of the poem "Rey David"
(King David) written by Uruguayan poet Blanca Luz Brum, second
wife of Siqueiros. The performances took place
in the Siqueiros exhibit at the Autry, which ran from September
24, 2010 to the day of these performances, January 9,
2011. For more information, click
here
for the Siqueiros L.A. Facebook page.
American
Legion Hall- Palm Springs
American Legion
Post 519, Palm Springs, CA- On Saturday, January 1, 2011, New
Year's Day, Mark Guerrero performed at a concert to support American Legion veterans.
Gibson Amphitheater
Universal City, CA
December 18, 2010
"Chicano Soul
Legends" at the Gibson Amphitheater at the Universal City Walk
- On Saturday, December 18, 2010 Mark Guerrero sang background
vocals with El Chicano on "Tell Her She's Lovely." Also on the
bill were Tierra, Malo, Little Willie G & Thee Midniters, PCG House Band with Joe
Bataan, MC Blvd, and DW3.
Museo Cultural
Santa Fe, New Mexico
September 25, 2010
Mark Guerrero
Tribute to Lalo Guerrero in Santa Fe, New Mexico
- On
Saturday, September 25, 2010, Mark Guerrero performed a 90
minute solo concert doing a combination of Lalo Guerrero and
Mark Guerrero songs at the Museo Cultural. The last two songs were performed
with the San Diego trio, Los Romanticos. During the day
Mark conducted a two hour workshop on the career of Lalo
Guerrero and the history of Chicano music. See flyer
below:
Palm Springs
Fiesta Days Concert
Palm Springs, CA
September 18 & 19, 2010
Palm Springs
Fiesta Days: a Celebration of Latino Culture & Heritage
- Concerts
took place on Saturday and Sunday, September 18th and 19th, 2010
at the O'Donnell Golf Club at 301 N. Belardo Rd. in Palm Springs, CA.. 4 pm to 10 pm.
The musical lineup included: On Saturday, September 18th-
Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, Los Fabulocos featuring Kid
Ramos, Mark Guerrero, Frankie Garcia's Cannibal & the
Headhunters, El Chicano, and Tierra. On Sunday, September
19th- Mariachi Serenata, the Blazers, Lala, MC Magic, Quetzal,
and Malo featuring Jorge Santana.
Video of Mark performing "I'm Brown" at Fiesta Days in Palm
Springs
"I'm Brown"
words and music by Mark Guerrero
Belvedere Park
East Los Angeles
August 28, 2010
Unfinished Concert, East L.A. Civic Center
- On
Saturday, August 28, 2010 there was an event commemorating
the 40th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium. The
concert featured Rudy and Steve Salas, Los Illegals, Cava,
Anthony Baray, and DJ Albert. MCs were David Reyes and
Tom Waldman. Mark Guerrero did a Interview/musical
performance in the East L.A. library moderated by Tom
Waldman.
Spotlight 29
Casino
Indio, California
June 11, 2010
War, El Chicano,
and Tierra at Spotlight 29 Casino in Indio, CA.
On Friday, June
11th, 2010 Mark Guerrero sang with El Chicano.
Jerry Salas & Mark
Guerrero
(El
Chicano at Spotlight 29 Casino in Indio, CA)
Video of Mark singing "Brown Eyed Girl" with El Chicano at
Spotlight 29 Casino
(3 minute partial clip)
