Detail View: Soundscapes of the People: A Musical Ethnography of Pueblo, Colorado: Benavidez Family and Mariachi Diamante Interview July 17, 2024

Soundscapes of the People: A Musical Ethnography of Pueblo, Colorado

Benavidez Family and Mariachi Diamante Interview July 17, 2024

Devised

Barragan, Rafael

Interviewee

Benavidez Jr., David

Interviewee

Benavidez, Kahla

Interviewee

Benavidez, Phoenix

Interviewee

Suarez, Angel

Interviewee

Vigil, Jerry

Interviewee

Chávez, Xóchitl

Interviewer

Malin, Yonatan

Interviewer

Thomas, Susan

Interviewer

Moving image

Oral histories

2024-07-17

English

1 online resource (1 video file) (1 hr., 25 min., 9 sec.)

For access to the recordings on YouTube contact the University of Colorado Boulder American Music Research Center.

The Benavidez family and other members of Mariachi Diamante discuss their childhood musical memories, the place of mariachi music in Pueblo, and the cultural legacy of Mexican music and dance. Mariachi Diamante is a Pueblo-based mariachi ensemble.

00:00:00 Xóchitl Chávez thanks the group for their time. Rafa, David, Phoenix, Angel, Jerry, and the interviewers introduce themselves. The interviewees share what the musical soundscapes of their childhoods were, which included a mixture of rap, classic rock, and Mexican artists. Additional topics include: "Mi Pueblo"; Antonio Aguilar; Arturo Sandoval; Dave Matthews Band; Dizzy Gillespie; East side neighborhood, Pueblo; Fleetwood Mac; Grupo Folklórico del Pueblo; Javier Solís; Mariachi Diamante; Pedro Infante Jr.; Rafael Méndez; Salt Creek neighborhood, Pueblo; San Luis, Colorado; Scorpions; South side neighborhood, Pueblo; Sugar Hill Gang; The Tijuana Brass; Vicente Fernández; Yolanda del Río; country western music; rap; trumpet; Pueblo, Colorado; Mexican American families; Mexican American music; folklórico dance; mariachi music. 00:07:08 Chávez asks, “When did all of you start learning to make music or what was your inspiration to get into making music?” The interviewees talk about the first times they became involved with music making, ranging from parental involvement to joining school music programs. Additional topics include: Al Cozzetto; Cesar Chavez Academy; Mariachi San Luis; Pueblo Pride City Marching Band; Rocky DiNero; trumpet; violin; "Amor de los dos"; Mexican American families; elementary school music; folklórico dance; mariachi music. 00:13:54 David Benavidez Jr. mentions that they have a few of their members that started out when they were instructing in the folklórico group. David discusses his involvement teaching and performing folklórico dance. From this instruction, he was eventually able to build his mariachi ensemble. This is how Angel got involved with performing mariachi. Additional topics include: Mariachi Reyna De Los Angeles; Mariachi Spectacular; Albuquerque, NM; mariachi music; folklórico dance. 00:17:44 Kahla (David's wife and Phoenix's mother) introduces herself and talks about how she got involved with playing mariachi music. David recalls that the primary motivation was financial, to have another family member involved as a touring musician. Additional topics include: vihuela; gig economy; mariachi music; touring musicians; folklórico dance. 00:21:29 Chávez states, “I have a question and I want to open this up to my colleagues as well. You said in a really beautiful way of ‘putting the instrument in their hands…’" David speaks about the importance of music education in various levels in the formation of his musical knowledge, from his instrument instructors to listening to professionals at conferences. Jerry, who grew up in a rural background, remembers how his father had to make his own mariachi instruments in order to start his ensemble. Both discuss the primary educators that influenced their musical journeys and allowed for them to become educators themselves. Additional topics include: Al Eberhardt; Albuquerque, NM; CU Boulder; Francisco (Chino) Rodriguez; Frank Vigil; Mariachi Tenampa; San Luis Valley; guitarrón; Rocky DiNero; instrument making; mariachi music; music education. 00:28:56 Interviewer, Susan Thomas, asks, “If I could just ask, you've mentioned your father a couple of times and that he founded the Mariachi San Luis. What's his first name?” Jerry and David recount the history and regionality of mariachi music in Colorado. The working areas of mariachi groups that emerged in Denver in the 1980s do not cross over much with groups in southern Colorado, the San Luis Valley, and Pueblo. Additional topics include: Lydia Solano; Mariachi San Luis; Mariachi Tenampa; Frank Vigil; mariachi music. 00:32:46 Interview, Yonatan Malin, asks if the group can talk about their conferences and who organizes them. David and Jerry discuss mariachi conferences and other mariachi-focused organizations in the country. Additional topics include: Albuquerque, NM; Las Cruces, NM; Mariachi Institute of Chicago; Tucson, AZ; Mariachi Spectacular; music conferences. 00:34:10 Malin states, “I was curious to hear a little more from the dancers how much you feel like the dancing helps you in learning to play music.” Kahla discusses how her background in folklórico dance helps with learning mariachi rhythms. David then discusses collaborating with local dancers. Additional topics include: Del Rio, TX; Grupo Folklorico Omawari; Iskra Merino; mitote; sones; mariachi music; folklórico dance. 00:36:24 Thomas states, “So, you said that when you decided, ‘hey we're going to start a mariachi,’ there's both an artistic reason and a business reason to do this, you said that there really weren't mariachi here in Pueblo at the time?” David discusses the process for turning his mariachi playing into a gigging business. He had several failed endeavors before learning how to make it work. He and Jerry finally formed Mariachi Diamante in 2019. Additional topics include: Manual Andrade; Mariachi Perla Tropical; boleros; mariachi trio; trumpet; Tres Margaritas Restaurant; gig economy; mariachi music. 00:43:15 Chávez asks the group to elaborate on the terms "working mariachi" and "show mariachis." David discusses the difference between "working" and "show" mariachi ensembles. Show mariachis are larger and play their own presentational set list. Working ensembles play songs by audience request and work at more varied venues and private events, such as birthdays and quinceañeras. Jerry adds that the music of show mariachis is more refined, while working mariachis are often made up of amateur musicians or those with a different day job. Mariachi Diamante, as a family-based group, is a working mariachi, though they pride themselves on presenting a high quality of musicianship. Additional topics include: Mariachi los Camperos; trajes de charro; Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlán; gig economy; live music; mariachi music. 00:52:17 Chávez states, “I want to follow up on a theme that just came up and it's actually a part of our questions when we talk about thinking about cultural resiliences. How does this musical practice relate to your ethnic and social background?” Jerry talks about how his musical practice links himself to his family's past and ancestry. Rafa adds that he just enjoys playing mariachi music. David stresses the importance of keeping his cultural traditions alive for the next generation and for his daughter Phoenix, as he was raised by family members who experienced the suppression of Mexican culture in the United States. Kahla likewise reminisces about how her father made efforts to ensure that his daughters learned about their Mexican heritage, even though he himself was not taught how to speak Spanish. Participating in folklórico dance opened her eyes to the range of cultural experiences of different Mexican Americans. Angel's family members also participated in folklórico dance. Phoenix adds that she enjoys singing and being in the next generation of performers. The interviewees also discuss their family roots in southern Colorado and New Mexico. Additional topics include: "Huerfano"; "Las Mañanitas"; Antonio Aguilar; Fiesta Days; Mariachi Aztlan; Mariachi Reynas De Los Angeles; folklórico dance; Chicano culture; Mexican American families; cultural preservation. 01:07:07 Thomas states, “So I'm wondering, as a group that came up in the last decade and part of a landscape of music in Pueblo right now in a city that has been going through a lot of changes…” David talks about Pueblo's "learning path" of gradually coming to appreciate and put value in the arts. Jerry, however, contests that the city's music scene has always been vibrant, but agrees that younger generations should be educated to be better connected to the musical past of the city. Additional topics include: Carlos Crull; Colorado State Fair; Four Tops; Kenny Gonzalez; Linda Ronstadt; The Four Seasons; The Klamm Shell; Tower of Power; Antonio Aguilar; Pueblo--community life; Pueblo--live music. 01:13:56 Malin asks the group what brought them here from the San Luis Valley. Jerry ended up in Pueblo from the San Luis Valley to attend college. After graduating he was hired to teach mariachi with the Cesar Chavez Academy. Additional topics include: Anthony Vigil; CSU Pueblo; Cesar Chavez Academy; music education. 01:15:33 Chávez asks, “I have a question for you, and then also the group. Stylistically, when you were singing ‘Volver, Volver’ you have some adornos…” Jerry discusses how he developed his own personal singing style and unique ornamentation by listening to mariachi masters while also staying within his own musical abilities. Even the group's musicians have developed their own unique musical style, based on David's and the group's interpretation of previous recordings of the songs. Additional topics include: Antonio Aguilar; Javier Solís; Miguel Aceves Mejía; Vicente Fernández; polka; "Volver, Volver"; Mexican songs; mariachi music. 01:20:05 Chávez asks “...what would you like to say for people to know about who you are about as individuals from Pueblo, but also about mariachi music in Pueblo?” The interviewees give their final remarks about sustaining the tradition of mariachi playing in Pueblo. Jerry stresses that mariachi music is inclusive and emotionally-fulfilling. Kahla shares the important family connection that she has made through her participation with Mariachi Diamante. Additional topics include: Antonio Aguilar; Mariachi Cobre; Mariachi Diamante; Mariachi Reyna De Los Angeles; Vicente Fernández; mariachi music. End of recording

Time coded description

Mariachi (Music)

Folklórico dance

Music--Instruction and study

Mexican American families

Mariachi Spectacular (Festival)

Mariachi Diamante

San Luis Valley (Alamosa, Colorado, United States, North America) (valley)

Benavidez_Family_Mariachi_Diamante_Full_Interview_2024-07-17.mp4

https://ark.colorado.edu/ark:/47540/p47w3q9956sb

American Music Research Center

2024

video/mp4

born digital

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