COLLECTION NAME:
Soundscapes of the People: A Musical Ethnography of Pueblo, Colorado
mediaCollectionId
CUB~37~37
Soundscapes of the People: A Musical Ethnography of Pueblo, Colorado
Collection
true
Collection Name:
Soundscapes of the People: A Musical Ethnography of Pueblo, Colorado
collection_name
Soundscapes of the People: A Musical Ethnography of Pueblo, Colorado
Collection Name
false
Title:
Tony Ortega Interview August 15, 2022
title
Tony Ortega Interview August 15, 2022
Title
false
Title Type:
Devised
Name:
Ortega, Antonio
name_part
Ortega, Antonio
Name
false
Name Role Term Text:
Interviewee
name_role_term_text
Interviewee
Name Role Term Text
false
Name:
Chávez, Xóchitl
name_part
Chávez, Xóchitl
Name
false
Name Role Term Text:
Interviewer
name_role_term_text
Interviewer
Name Role Term Text
false
Name:
Thomas, Susan
name_part
Thomas, Susan
Name
false
Name Role Term Text:
Interviewer
name_role_term_text
Interviewer
Name Role Term Text
false
Resource Type:
Moving image
type_of_resource
Moving image
Resource Type
false
Genre:
Oral histories
genre
Oral histories
Genre
false
Date Created:
2022-08-15
date_created
2022-08-15
Date Created
false
Language Term:
English
language_term
English
Language Term
false
Extent:
1 online resource (1 video file, 1 hour, 4 min., 12 sec.)
extent
1 online resource (1 video file, 1 hour, 4 min., 12 sec.)
Extent
false
Physical Description Note:
For access to the recordings on YouTube contact the University of Colorado Boulder American Music Research Center.
physical_description_note
For access to the recordings on YouTube contact the University of Colorado Boulder American Music Research Center.
Physical Description Note
false
Abstract:
Antonio "Tony" Ortega is a guitarist from Pueblo, Colorado who is most known for his graveside performances for local funeral services. He discusses his childhood and multicultural experiences in Pueblo and his involvement in civil rights protests, before giving a performance of the Mexican song "Cuatro Vidas."
abstract
Antonio "Tony" Ortega is a guitarist from Pueblo, Colorado who is most known for his graveside performances for local funeral services. He discusses his childhood and multicultural experiences in Pueblo and his involvement in civil rights protests, before giving a performance of the Mexican song "Cuatro Vidas."
Abstract
false
Note:
00:00:00 The interviewers and Antonio Ortega (Tony) introduce themselves. Tony talks about his childhood experiences growing up in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Pueblo, including experiences of racial profiling. He describes listening to and playing Spanish language music, such as boleros and rancheras. Additional topics include: Pueblo, CO; Pueblo Upper Eastside neighborhood; Spann Elementary School; Uptown Theater; boleros; rancheras; musica colonica; Pueblo, community life; Pueblo, racial profiling. 00:05:48 Tony describes "La Entrega," a Spanish colonial based wedding tradition still performed in Pueblo. Additional topics include: La Entrega; wedding traditions; Southern Colorado, Spanish colonial history. 00:06:47 Tony talks about his involvement with social protest for Chicano rights in Pueblo with his brothers. They regularly brought their guitars and sang protest songs. Additional topics include: Cinco de Mayo; Dieciséis de Septiembre; CIA; FBI; CBI; Pueblo Police; Chicano rights movement; Pueblo, social protest. 00:07:58 Tony talks about getting tamales during intermissions at the concession's stand at the Hicks 96 drive in theater. Additional topics include: tamales; Hicks 96 drive in theater; Pueblo, Mexican food. 00:09:12 Tony describes his work playing music at funerals. He says that those involving parents with Alzheimer's are particularly sad to witness and discusses his brother's battle with the disease. Additional topics include: Alzheimer's disease; Funerals; Funeral music. 00:11:39 Tony discusses taking inspiration from listening to people play guitar in his neighborhood while growing up. He talks about what a blessing it is to have been able to make a living and support his family through his guitar playing. Additional topics include: guitar; electric bass; guitar playing. 00:15:16 Tony talks about playing jazz and rhythm & blues at clubs in Pueblo. Though he had no formal training in these genres, he learned much from sitting in with local musicians. He also discusses playing at upper scale supper clubs, in which the bands were not allowed to interact with patrons. He jokes about "the tortilla label" mindset of mixing genres, that if an audience member doesn't like it, they just have to sit there and "eat it." Additional topics include: Bobby Montoya; The Alpine Club; Air Force Academy; The Variety Band; supper clubs; "The Tortilla Label"; Jazz; Rhythm & Blues. 00:23:09 Tony discusses the importance of using his art to support the Hispanic community of Pueblo, including insisting on bilingual Masses. Additional topics include: Bilingual Mass; Spanish language; Mexican Americans religious practices. 00:26:10 Tony talks about the important industries that brought people to Pueblo for work and influenced the multicultural community life of Pueblo. He recounts the experience of being sheltered from the snow as a child with his mother by a white woman whose house was in front of the bus stop they were waiting at. Additional topics include: Colorado Fuel and Iron Company; Pueblo Army Depot; Pueblo Ordinance Depot; Triplex; Pueblo Downtown; Colorado industrial history; Pueblo immigration; Pueblo community life. 00:30:43 Tony recounts the ethnic makeup of Pueblo while growing up. He discusses going trick or treating in the middle class white neighborhoods and having to avoid the most upper class white neighborhoods. He discusses collaborating with people of other ethnic and religious communities through a shared love of music. Additional topics include: Chicano heritage; Bojon Town; The Blocks; Pueblo ethnic demographics. 00:36:18 Tony gives the history of St. Anne's Catholic Church in Pueblo. Additional topics include: Pueblo Army Depot; St. Anne's Catholic Church; Catholicism. 00:37:00 Tony discusses the community impact of road infrastructure on community life in Pueblo. Additional topics include: Dogpatch neighborhood; Pueblo infrastructure. 00:39:39 Tony talks about playing bass with the Burnt Mill Road Band, including playing at hotels in Colorado and a variety show in Louisiana. He played in the band with his brother until his passing. Additional topics include: Burnt Mill Road band; Martin Ortega; Dave Trujillo; Joey Rodriguez; The George J. Show; "Silent Night"; Live music. 00:43:50 Tony discusses his experiences with the paranormal tied to his funeral work. Additional topics include: Angel of Death; paranormal experiences. 00:45:16 Tony talks about the role of music in the marches and protests he participated in. Music helped to bring people together for the social causes addressed by these protests. Additional topics include: rancheras; Marches for Justice; El Movimiento. 00:47:35 Tony talks about the corrupting power of money, relating today's political landscape to the civil rights movement and biblical themes. He stresses the importance of voting. Additional topics include: Brown Berets; Donald Trump; Satan; political corruption. 00:50:01 Tony discusses the importance of maintaining traditions, including traditional funeral rights. He describes Pueblo as a cultural melting pot and the beauty of sharing culture through music. He gives an appeal to come together. Additional topics include: cultura; Pueblo Riverwalk; Mexican Americans, religious life; Mexican Americans, funeral traditions; Pueblo multiculturalism. 00:55:08 Tony mentions aliens and that he believes they will communicate with humans through math and music. Additional topics include: Close Encounters of the Third Kind; Extraterrestrials. 00:55:39 Tony performs a rendition of the Mexican ballad "Cuatro Vidas," which he dedicates to his mother, followed by "Amazing Grace." He performs these songs at his funeral services as tributes to deceased family members. Additional topics include: "Cuatro Vidas"; "Amazing Grace"; Mexican music; Gospel music. End of recording.
note
00:00:00 The interviewers and Antonio Ortega (Tony) introduce themselves. Tony talks about his childhood experiences growing up in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Pueblo, including experiences of racial profiling. He describes listening to and playing Spanish language music, such as boleros and rancheras. Additional topics include: Pueblo, CO; Pueblo Upper Eastside neighborhood; Spann Elementary School; Uptown Theater; boleros; rancheras; musica colonica; Pueblo, community life; Pueblo, racial profiling. 00:05:48 Tony describes "La Entrega," a Spanish colonial based wedding tradition still performed in Pueblo. Additional topics include: La Entrega; wedding traditions; Southern Colorado, Spanish colonial history. 00:06:47 Tony talks about his involvement with social protest for Chicano rights in Pueblo with his brothers. They regularly brought their guitars and sang protest songs. Additional topics include: Cinco de Mayo; Dieciséis de Septiembre; CIA; FBI; CBI; Pueblo Police; Chicano rights movement; Pueblo, social protest. 00:07:58 Tony talks about getting tamales during intermissions at the concession's stand at the Hicks 96 drive in theater. Additional topics include: tamales; Hicks 96 drive in theater; Pueblo, Mexican food. 00:09:12 Tony describes his work playing music at funerals. He says that those involving parents with Alzheimer's are particularly sad to witness and discusses his brother's battle with the disease. Additional topics include: Alzheimer's disease; Funerals; Funeral music. 00:11:39 Tony discusses taking inspiration from listening to people play guitar in his neighborhood while growing up. He talks about what a blessing it is to have been able to make a living and support his family through his guitar playing. Additional topics include: guitar; electric bass; guitar playing. 00:15:16 Tony talks about playing jazz and rhythm & blues at clubs in Pueblo. Though he had no formal training in these genres, he learned much from sitting in with local musicians. He also discusses playing at upper scale supper clubs, in which the bands were not allowed to interact with patrons. He jokes about "the tortilla label" mindset of mixing genres, that if an audience member doesn't like it, they just have to sit there and "eat it." Additional topics include: Bobby Montoya; The Alpine Club; Air Force Academy; The Variety Band; supper clubs; "The Tortilla Label"; Jazz; Rhythm & Blues. 00:23:09 Tony discusses the importance of using his art to support the Hispanic community of Pueblo, including insisting on bilingual Masses. Additional topics include: Bilingual Mass; Spanish language; Mexican Americans religious practices. 00:26:10 Tony talks about the important industries that brought people to Pueblo for work and influenced the multicultural community life of Pueblo. He recounts the experience of being sheltered from the snow as a child with his mother by a white woman whose house was in front of the bus stop they were waiting at. Additional topics include: Colorado Fuel and Iron Company; Pueblo Army Depot; Pueblo Ordinance Depot; Triplex; Pueblo Downtown; Colorado industrial history; Pueblo immigration; Pueblo community life. 00:30:43 Tony recounts the ethnic makeup of Pueblo while growing up. He discusses going trick or treating in the middle class white neighborhoods and having to avoid the most upper class white neighborhoods. He discusses collaborating with people of other ethnic and religious communities through a shared love of music. Additional topics include: Chicano heritage; Bojon Town; The Blocks; Pueblo ethnic demographics. 00:36:18 Tony gives the history of St. Anne's Catholic Church in Pueblo. Additional topics include: Pueblo Army Depot; St. Anne's Catholic Church; Catholicism. 00:37:00 Tony discusses the community impact of road infrastructure on community life in Pueblo. Additional topics include: Dogpatch neighborhood; Pueblo infrastructure. 00:39:39 Tony talks about playing bass with the Burnt Mill Road Band, including playing at hotels in Colorado and a variety show in Louisiana. He played in the band with his brother until his passing. Additional topics include: Burnt Mill Road band; Martin Ortega; Dave Trujillo; Joey Rodriguez; The George J. Show; "Silent Night"; Live music. 00:43:50 Tony discusses his experiences with the paranormal tied to his funeral work. Additional topics include: Angel of Death; paranormal experiences. 00:45:16 Tony talks about the role of music in the marches and protests he participated in. Music helped to bring people together for the social causes addressed by these protests. Additional topics include: rancheras; Marches for Justice; El Movimiento. 00:47:35 Tony talks about the corrupting power of money, relating today's political landscape to the civil rights movement and biblical themes. He stresses the importance of voting. Additional topics include: Brown Berets; Donald Trump; Satan; political corruption. 00:50:01 Tony discusses the importance of maintaining traditions, including traditional funeral rights. He describes Pueblo as a cultural melting pot and the beauty of sharing culture through music. He gives an appeal to come together. Additional topics include: cultura; Pueblo Riverwalk; Mexican Americans, religious life; Mexican Americans, funeral traditions; Pueblo multiculturalism. 00:55:08 Tony mentions aliens and that he believes they will communicate with humans through math and music. Additional topics include: Close Encounters of the Third Kind; Extraterrestrials. 00:55:39 Tony performs a rendition of the Mexican ballad "Cuatro Vidas," which he dedicates to his mother, followed by "Amazing Grace." He performs these songs at his funeral services as tributes to deceased family members. Additional topics include: "Cuatro Vidas"; "Amazing Grace"; Mexican music; Gospel music. End of recording.
Note
false
Note Type:
Time coded description
note_type
Time coded description
Note Type
false
Note:
Collection is a collaboration between the American Music Research Center (AMRC) and the Colorado State University Pueblo Foundation. For more information contact the AMRC.
note
Collection is a collaboration between the American Music Research Center (AMRC) and the Colorado State University Pueblo Foundation. For more information contact the AMRC.
Note
false
Subject Topic:
History--Spanish colonies
subject_topic
History--Spanish colonies
Subject Topic
false
Subject Topic:
Chicano movement
subject_topic
Chicano movement
Subject Topic
false
Subject Topic:
Funeral music
subject_topic
Funeral music
Subject Topic
false
Subject Topic:
Mexican American religious practices
subject_topic
Mexican American religious practices
Subject Topic
false
Subject Topic:
La Entrega
subject_topic
La Entrega
Subject Topic
false
Subject Topic:
Guitar
subject_topic
Guitar
Subject Topic
false
Subject Geographic:
Pueblo (Colorado, United States, North America) (populated place)
subject_geographic
Pueblo (Colorado, United States, North America) (populated place)
Subject Geographic
false
Identifier:
Tony_Ortega_Full_Interview_2022-08-15.mp4
identifier
Tony_Ortega_Full_Interview_2022-08-15.mp4
Identifier
false
Identifier ARK:
identifierark
https://ark.colorado.edu/ark:/47540/5h2d8830x04s
Identifier ARK
false
Physical Location:
American Music Research Center
physical_location
American Music Research Center
Physical Location
false
Date Captured:
2022
Internet Media Type:
video/mp4
internet_media_type
video/mp4
Internet Media Type
false
Digital Origin:
born digital
digital_origin
born digital
Digital Origin
false
Access Condition:
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
access_condition
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Access Condition
false
Access Condition URI:
access_conditionuri
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Access Condition URI
false