ARHOOLIE FOUNDATION COLLECTIONS:Audio Interviews
Audio interviews by Chris Strachwitz during his research into the music he was recording for his label Arhoolie Records as well as for his radio programs on KPFA-FM (Berkeley, CA) in the 1960’s through 1980’s, and by Dr. Manuel Peña during his research for his several books on Mexican American music.
Howlin’ Wolf Interview 1967
“I always make up songs about the way people live and how people act amongst themselves. Ups and downs they have. Some people have ups and downs, and what caused these things. A lot of people come out and sing but they don’t never put their sweetening into it. You’ve got to tell the peoples why you’re singing this, and what causing this, and showing them what you’re singing.”
Listen HereFlaco Jimenez Interview | Tejano Music
“Naturally now you can’t stick just with polka and redova and schottisches. You have to play what’s going on in the world. Starting with polka, and a little rock-and-roll, or a little cumbia, cha-cha-cha”…”Because it’s pretty hard just to play just polka, polka, polka, polka, or just cumbia, cumbia, cumbia. You have to mix it up.”
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share: [feather_share] Luis Acosta Interviewed by Chris Strachwitz Date: May 19, 1974 Language: English Instrument maker, A&R man in San Antonio in the 1930s. Moses...
Listen HereChuck Berry | Berkeley Blues Festival
In 1965 Chris Strachwitz produced the Berkeley Blues Festival bringing Chuck Berry to Berkeley California and then to Los Angeles. Here’s a 7 minute interview conducted a few days after Chuck Berry passed away with Chris remembering those days and the two concerts.
Listen HereArmando Marroquín Interview – Tejano
Armando Marroquín will always be known as the man who founded the tejano recording industry. A native of Alice, Texas, where he spent his entire life, Marroquín was born in 1912, and he died in 1990.
Listen HereLuis Acosta Interview – Tejano Music
Born on May 4th, 1906, Luis Acosta was one of three brothers who made the best bajo sextos in the world. Acosta bajo sextos were the preferred accompaniment to pioneering accordionists Don Santiago and Narciso Martinez and played by La Alondra De La Frontera herself Lydia Mendoza. Here is a rare interview of Luis Acosta conducted by Chris Strachwitz.
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