Interviewed by: Chris Strachwitz Date: 1974 Location: San Antonio, TX Language: English Guitar & bajo sexto player, singer, songwriter. Started recording in 1934.
Interviewed by Larry Skoog and Chris Strachwitz Location: San Antonio, TX Language: English
Eccentric, unique, oil-drum pounding San Antonio street musician Bongo Joe is not very talkative in this brief interview. However, he does reveal a few glimpses into his creative personality.
Interviewed by Chris Strachwitz Date: August 1962 Location: Crowley, Louisiana Language: English
Cajun music pioneer and accordionist who recorded “Allons a Lafayette,” the very first Cajun record, in 1928. His wife, Cleoma Falcon, also played on that record.
Interviewed by: Chris Strachwitz Location: Welsh, Louisiana Language: English
Creole fiddle player talks about his life playing music.
“…We played for white people…I still think about that…You go play dances, you could get in the front, or anywhere. The next day you wanted to buy a drink, you had to go in the back, if you was black.”
Interviewed by: Chris Strachwitz Date: early 1990’s Location: Los Angeles, CA Language: English
In this fascinating interview Mr. Fouce gives a real insiders look at the Spanish language music business in Los Angeles, going back to the 1930’s, He talks about bringing entertainers to his theaters, and especially about Lydia Mendoza and her family.
Lalo Guerrero ca 1990
Lalo Guerrero
Two Interview with legendary singer, song writer, performer, Lalo Guerrero Interviewed By: Manuel Peña Date: September 8, 1989 Language: Spanish and English
Interviewed By: Manuel Peña May 27, 1994 Location: Fresno, CA Language: Mostly English some Spanish
Luderin Darbone, Edwin Duhon, and James “Glen” Croker were members of pioneering Cajun group the Hackberry Ramblers, which played an original and marvelous blend of Cajun and Western Swing.
Little Joe and brother Johnny y La Familia – late 1970’s. (courtesy the Manual Peña photo archive))
The leading band in a culturally powerful Chicano musical style known as “La Onda Chicana,” La Familia became an emblem of a Chicano musical sensibility, especially with his introduction of a thoroughly bimusical polca-ranchera style that synthesized a Mexican, ranchero sound with a distinctly jazz-oriented one.
Interviewed by Chris Strachwitz Date:1973 Language: English
Few artists in conjunto and Tejano music have received the level of critical acclaim Flaco Jimenéz has enjoyed in a career that has spanned six decades.
Interviewed By: Bob Smith & Chris Strachwitz Date: 1987 Location: Modesto, California Language: English
I had about 10 pounds in my sack and I sat down and just started thinking….”Fred what are you doing back there?” I said, “I’m thinking.” “What are you thinking?” I said, “I’m thinking let’s go into the music business.” – Fred The Maddox Brothers and Rose “America’s Most Colorful Hillbilly Band”.
Interviewed by Chris Strachwitz Date: Fall 1962 Language: English
One of the great mountain fiddlers, J.E. Mainer was a fine singer and entertainer. J.E. gained his initial fame in the mid-1930s with his brother Wade but continued to play music his entire life.
Interviewed by Chris Strachwitz
Date: March 1969
Language: English
Sonny Simmons is a pioneer in avant-garde jazz. Some of his most important and groundbreaking recordings were done with his wife, trumpet player Barbara Donald.
Interviewed by Chris Strachwitz and Barbara Dane
Date: August 3, 1963
Language: English
Location: California Hotel, Oakland, CA
Roebuck, Mavis, and Yvonne Staples talk about their early influences, the beginnings of their performing careers, racial discrimination, and choice of material; and demonstrate working up a song.
Interviewed by Chris Strachwitz
Date: 1960
Location: Chris Strachwitz’s house, Los Gatos, CA
Language: English
Joe Lee “Big Joe” Williams was an immensely influential country blues musician famous for his emotional singing, the distinctive sound of his 9 string guitar, and his composition “Baby Please Don’t Go.”
Dear friends,
We’re thrilled to announce that the Arhoolie Foundation and Les Blank Films are joining together to purchase our longtime home at 10341 San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito.
The decision to buy the building comes after several months of thoughtful consideration and a strong response from our community. It has become clear to us that continuing our work in the place where Chris Strachwitz originally conceived it is the best way forward for the organization. Staying in our longtime home preserves an important part of Arhoolie’s cultural legacy, prevents the disruption that moving would cause, and—most importantly—opens up possibilities for closer collaboration with Les Blank Films, Down Home Music, and our local East Bay community.
Now comes the hard part. While we are under contract to buy the building, we need to raise $2.4 million to meet the purchase price by April 15. Here are two ways you can donate to our cause:
The GoFundMe page for the capital campaign (donations to this fund are shared by all three of the tenants).
Direct tax-deductible donations/securities to either of the two non-profits who are buying the building: Contact Harrod Blank at Les Blank Films https://lesblank.com/contact/; or Adam Machado at Arhoolie Foundation, adam@arhoolie.org.
As we begin this capital campaign, we will continue our normal operations in the building while forging a closer institutional bond with Les Blank Films and taking modest, collaborative steps to bring more public programming into Down Home Music. We plan to revive Les Blank and Chris’ tradition of in-store film screenings and will host more informal, free performances and gatherings in the store as part of our outreach work. We believe this collaboration will result in a vibrant community gathering place dedicated to music, film, and deep roots culture.
We’re grateful for your support. We look forward to updating you on our progress in the coming weeks and months.
Luis Acosta
Adolph Hofner
Howlin’ Wolf
Armando Marroquin
