Latino concerts to honor culture, support organizations

Musical message to honor Latino culture in the US

Lila Downs

LOS ANGELES, CA – On August 2, 2010, a trio of Latino non-profit organizations jointly unveiled August and September dates for a series of concerts developed by the respective organizations to honor Latino culture and history and to bring awareness to the ongoing need for comprehensive immigration reform.  The historical series of performances by icons of Latino music and multiple Grammy winners spans both traditional and contemporary genres and will begin on August 13, with the Dolores Huerta Foundation’s concert at the Greek Theater in Hollywood, will continue from September 16 – 26, 2010 with the 19th Annual San José Mexican Heritage & Mariachi Festival, and will end on September 28, with MALDEF’s “Truth in Immigration” Benefit Concert at the Gibson Amphitheater in Universal City.  Headliners for the concerts and performances include: Carlos Santana, Eugenia Leon, Intocable, Los Tigres del Norte, Los Lobos, Ozomatli, Los Tex Maniacs, Mariachi Cobre and Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano.

First, On August 13, the Dolores Huerta Foundation will host a concert entitled “Weaving Movements Together” at the Greek Theater in Hollywood featuring Carlos Santana, Pete Escovedo, Lila Downs, Zack de la Rocha, with celebrity co-hosts Martin Sheen, Ed Bagley Jr., Benjamin Bratt, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Culture Clash, and Jodie Evans from Code Pink with more to be announced.   

Internationally recognized for her role in promoting human rights for women, immigrants, workers and the gay community, Dolores Huerta, President of Dolores Huerta Foundation and Co-founder of United Farm Workers of America, is celebrating her 80th birthday with an inspiring benefit concert entitled “Weaving Movements Together” to celebrate the victories of the past, address the challenges of the future, and collectively envision a better world.  The Concert will be webcast live to over 25 simultaneous parties nationwide, will unite several social movements and help raise funds for the Dolores Huerta Foundation.

Next, the Mexican Heritage Corporation (MHC), producer of the largest Latino heritage and music festival in California, will host its 19th Annual San José Mexican Heritage & Mariachi Festival, September 16 – 26, 2010.  Following the vision of Artistic Director and multiple Grammy winner Linda Ronstadt, the Festival’s concerts and cultural events illuminate the “roots and branches” of Mexico’s diverse culture, celebrate the contributions of Mexico’s heritage and people to our civic life and honor the artists, who, through their body of work spotlight the issues impacting Latinos today.  The Festival is not a mere entertainment - it is a platform for advocacy through cultural expression.

On September 25, the Festival will feature the world premiere of “¡Adelita! The Women of the Mexican Revolution,” a dazzling theatrical piece created and directed by Dan Guerrero, named "One of the 25 most powerful Latinos in Hollywood” by Hispanic Magazine.  Guerrero was selected by Ronstadt, to create and direct this original theatre piece. ¡Adelita! tells the gripping story of the women who fought in the Mexican Revolution - a story of bravery, loyalty, courage, love and passion that weaves music, dance, and historic visual projections to create a magical fable. The show features performances by Mexico City chanteuse Eugenia Leon, and Mariachi Cobre and Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano. Dolores Huerta will also be honored by the production for 80 years of service to her community.

On September 26, the Festival will host “A Concert for the American Dream,” featuring a performance of five time Grammy winners and Latin music legends Los Tigres del Norte, with their special guests Grammy winners Intocable  The evening concert will take place at San Jose’s HP Pavilion, Sunday September 26 at 7PM.  “A Concert for the American Dream” will celebrate with strong voices our contributions to our nation’s civic culture.  Additional Latino legacy artists will be announced in August. Also on September 26, the Festival presents a free outdoor concert at Plaza de Cesar Chavez with headliners Ozomatli and special guests Los Tex Maniacs.

Known for their commitment to social justice, the 2010 Festival artists personify, through music and their commitment to our community, the American Dream. Proceeds from all Festival events benefit MHC’s education programs.

Los Lobos

Bringing the series to a close, on September 28, MALDEF will host its “Truth in Immigration” Benefit Concert featuring Los Tigres del Norte and Los Lobos.  The Benefit Concert will be held at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City at 8:15PM.  Proceeds from the Benefit Concert will assist MALDEF’s ongoing efforts to promote immigrants rights, including its fight to permanently block Arizona’s anti-immigration law known as SB 1070.

Los Tigres del Norte is a creative social force and a prominent voice of social conscience within Latin music.  Los Lobos are a three-time Grammy Award winning American Chicano rock band with influences from rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country music, fold, R&B, blues, and traditional Spanish and Mexican music such as boleros and norteño.

MALDEF’s Truth in Immigration Campaign seeks to ensure that legal and factual inaccuracies about Latinos and other immigrants are quickly and soundly dispelled.  The Campaign also raises funds to support MALDEF’s educational missions and litigation efforts related to protecting the rights of immigrants.  With the Benefit Concert, MALDEF will partner with world-renowned artists like Los Lobos and Los Tigres del Norte to bring a message of humanity and hope through music to concert-goers and supporters.

“This concert marks a new means of promoting accurate information on immigrants and immigration to inform the national debate to achieve progressive immigration reform,” says Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF President and General Counsel.  “We are pleased to have the support of cultural icons Los Tigres del Norte and Los Lobos.”

 

"The theme of our benefit concert is weaving movements together, to motivate our disparate movements to work together for a successful social justice agenda and focus on grassroots community organizing,” said Dolores Huerta, President of Dolores Huerta Foundation and Co-founder of United Farm Workers of America.  “The Dolores Huerta Foundation raises funds to train community organizers to develop leaders and build sustainable community organizations with an emphasis on women and youth."

 

"As a non-profit arts organization dedicated to celebrating our Latino culture and heritage, we're alarmed at efforts in Arizona and elsewhere that seek to eliminate heritage education programs,” said Marcela Davison Aviles, President and CEO of MHC.  “This joint effort announced today catalyzes a new movement -- through music and advocacy - to call attention to the contributions of Latinos to our civic culture, and to start a new type of conversation for the common good.  Laws that legislate the elimination of heritage studies legislate the elimination of the ideals upon which our country was founded.  As President Lincoln noted over 150 years ago, our blended culture not only informs our common humanity, our diverse cultural heritage defines it."