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Remembering Manuel Peña (1942 – 2019)

Manuel Peña & Chris Strachwitz - May 30, 2007 at Arhoolie Recods
Manuel Peña & Chris Strachwitz
May 30, 2007 at Arhoolie Records

The Arhoolie Foundation’s good friend and colleague Dr. Manuel Heriberto Peña passed away on March 9th, 2019. Here’s a remembrance from Arhoolie Foundation’s president Chris Strachwitz.

“My condolences go out to the family of Manuel Peña and I am sorry I only heard about his passing from Prof. John McDowell about a week ago. Manuel had been a longtime friend whose help and advice I have enjoyed since the mid 1980s when Dr. Peña worked on his first book: The Texas-Mexican Conjunto. He soon approached me about editing an audio companion to his book. Having already released a number of Arhoolie/Folklyric LPs and Cassettes featuring historic recordings of this delightful accordion and bajo sexto driven regional dance music, I was happy to publish it. Since I personally had only an outsider’s understanding of the role this music played in the regional culture of the people of the border country, Dr. Peña’s input was invaluable since he was born and raised in south Texas.

With his next book The Texas-Mexican Orquesta his research and the oral histories he conducted were amazing and unique. Our friendship continued and Manuel eventually turned his materials over to the Arhoolie Foundation which prides itself for holding probably the largest collection of historical commercial recordings and other items related to this music. All fans of this music owe him a lot of gratitude for helping to bring it respectability!”  — Chris Strachwitz – 4/14/2019

To listen to Dr. Peña interviews with legendary performers of Texas-Mexican Conjunto and Orquesta music, click here…

 

Comment (1)

Q.D.E.P. ,,carnal Manuel Peña,,,,I met Dr. Peña in Austin, Texas , UT 1983 at Encuentro con La Musica Tejana : A Dialogue With Tejano Music a conference honoring Tejano Musician Pioneers, I was performing with Conjunto Aztlan and, later 1988 we crossed paths again at the home of Oscar ‘Carin’ Hernandez accordion player for Conjunto Bernal in the 60s, I was performing Guitar for Mr. Hernandez. I will miss my carnal Dr. Peña, Manuel very much! Dr. Peña, Manuel played an awesome guitar, too! Thanks ARHOOLE for all that you do! Sincerely, yours, Chacon, Hector S.

Dear friends,

On Giving Tuesday, we announced the capital campaign to purchase our building at 10341 San Pablo Ave in El Cerrito — home to the Arhoolie Foundation (and before that Arhoolie Records), Les Blank Films, and Down Home Music Store since 1976. We’ve been heartened by the community’s response to our fundraising announcement. To all who have donated so far: thank you. We couldn’t do this without you.

Now, while there is a contract in place to buy the building in partnership with Les Blank Films, we need to raise $1.2 million — our half of the purchase price — by April 15. Donations to the campaign can be made via the link below, by check, or by bank transfer. (To make a bank transfer, please email us at info@arhoolie.org).

In the new year, we look forward to collaborating with Les Blank Films and Down Home Music to bring more public programming to our community. We plan to revive Les Blank and Chris Strachwitz’s 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.

If you’re interested in donating and would like to discuss our plans for the building, please don’t hesitate to email director Adam Machado at adam@arhoolie.org.

Thank you for your support as we begin this exciting new chapter!

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