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Rumbo a California

Rumbo a California (https://rumboacalifornia.org) is a multimedia online exhibition that explores the Mexican American experience in California as documented on commercial recordings going back to the early 1920s. Featured 

Corrido de Cezar Chavezmedia will include 78 and 45 rpm discs, LP covers, photographs, posters, cinema lobby cards, guided audio, and bilingual transcriptions of topical corridos (narrative ballads) covering aspects of Mexican and Mexican American life throughout the state: immigration, deportation, pachuco culture, the United Farm Workers Movement, natural disasters, important historical figures, popular local artists, crime, politics, cultural identity, love, death, etc.

The basis for this exhibit is the Arhoolie Foundation’s Strachwitz Frontera Collection of Mexican and Mexican American Recordings, which we have been Pachuco Boogiedigitally preserving for many years in partnership with the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center and the UCLA Library.  At over 150,000 individual recordings on 78, 45 and 33-rpm discs, as well as rare cassettes and open-reel master tapes, the Frontera Collection is the world’s largest collection of commercially recorded regional Mexican music.

You can find custom Rumbo a California merchandise in our online store: Shop Rumbo a California


Statement on the passing of Chris Strachwitz

Arhoolie Records Founder
July 1, 1931 – May 5, 2023

We celebrate the life of our founder, friend, and great record man Chris Strachwitz. He died peacefully at home in Marin County, CA, surrounded in his last days by dear friends and family. Over his 91 years, Chris captured the music that represents the best “down home music” the world has to offer.

He was at the forefront of nearly all the roots revivals over the last 60 years including blues, zydeco, Cajun, Norteño and Tejano music. His drive to document traditional music helped introduce the nation to our diverse musical heritage. He had the foresight to save music that might have otherwise been lost to obscurity and played a role in strengthening cultural traditions through his records, films, and most recently the Arhoolie Foundation. He cared for those around him, fought for royalties and recognition for Arhoolie artists, and provided counsel to countless musicians, writers, film makers, and academics.

Plans for a public celebration of his life will be announced in the coming weeks. Today we’re thinking of all that Chris brought to our lives and the lives of the musicians and fans with whom he shared his passion.