“The Cesar Chavez Foundation has become aware of disturbing allegations that Cesar Chavez engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with women and minors during his time as President of the United Farm Workers of America (UFW).

Little by little, the news has been emerging, with articles online increasing by the hour.

The media is doing what they do best, reporting on what information they have and digging for more. But the New York Times has been working on this story for years, and that story was set to publish on Cesar’s Birthday, March 31. We are sure a lot more details on, yet again, another incident of alleged “inappropriate sexual behavior with women and minors”.

If these allegations are true, the focus should always be the victims. It is a hard time for all. It will also be hard on our community as a revered hero is taken down.

Filmmaker, Writer and Humanitarian Border Relief Volunteer, David Damian Figueroa and Latin Heat Founder, Bel Hernandez Castillo, both very active and with deep ties to the community, penned a letter addressing this news. We hope you will share the sentiment

A Path Forward with Hope and Faith

There is no doubt that this is a devastating turn of events, and is heavy on our minds and spirits. No doubt, the mainstream news, the current political climate, gossip, innuendo, and finger-pointing will be ramped up on social media and in the mainstream news. 

We must prepare. Our future will be difficult to navigate, and this news is not just any conversation; it is a pivotal moment in Chicano/Mexicano history—one that could reshape our collective future. 

We urge every Latino to create an environment that radiates kindness and respect as they move forward. Let us create spaces that are sanctuaries for truth-telling, allowing everyone to express themselves and process this devastating news while also protecting one another. 

The way forward for the Latino community will depend on our working together so that a spirit of honor and collaboration emerges from respectful dialogue. What we do now will be a defining moment for us all. The narratives we craft today will echo through time, and unity will be our greatest strength in the days to come.

Our young people will look to us—trusting that we will help carry the weight of this responsibility with grace, integrity, and forgiveness. Hope is what we need to foster, and it starts with your willingness to engage thoughtfully, compassionately, and with purpose. 

Each of us has the power to inspire and lead. Let this moment be the spark that ignites a brighter path forward with hope and faith.

David Damian Figueroa, Filmmaker, Writer and Humanitarian Border Relief Volunteer

Bel Hernandez Castillo, Founder, Latin Heat Media

The post A Path Forward With Hope And Faith first appeared on .

By Bel Hernandez Castillo

What is a Chicano?

In his 1970 Los Angeles Times essay What Is a Chicano? And What Do Chicanos Want?, the late, award-winning journalist Rubén Salazar defined a Chicano as “a Mexican-American with a non-Anglo image of himself.”

Chicanos are boldly authentic and now raising their voice proudly, creating content that is authentically theirs. What better event to showcase their creativity than the Chicano Hollywood Film Festival. over 100 film and TV projects will be in full display at the first annual Chicano Hollywood Film Festival which takes place July 17–20, 2025, at The Union (350 Garey Ave, Pomona, CA). 

The brainchild of ex-pastor and producer Johnny Murillo, the festival, (planned before the immigration raids began) will brazenly launch in spite of the ICE raids which are targeting undocumented farm laborers across Southern California. The festival positions itself as both a cultural celebration and a platform for protest—amplifying the stories, struggles, and strength of the Chicano and Latino communities. 

Opening the film festival will be The Last Brown Beret, a gripping and timely feature directed by Del Zamora abd based on the play by writer/director Alfredo Ramos. The film revives the legacy of the Brown Berets, Civil Rights activists whose fight for justice in the 1960s echoes today’s urgent need for protection, dignity, and unity within the Chicano community amid fear of raids, riots, and mass arrests. 

“This festival isn’t just about watching films—it’s about answering the call,” said Johnny Murillo, founder of Chicano Hollywood. “The Brown Berets stood up for our people. It’s time to do the same—with cameras, stories, and truth.” 

In addition to spotlighting powerful features, the Chicano Hollywood Film Festival will showcase over 90 short films, television pilots, music videos, and digital projects from emerging Chicano/Latino filmmakers across the U.S. and Latin America. The diverse lineup highlights stories of identity, resistance, humor, and healing. 

Featured films include: 

— Ugly Little Monkey – A powerful documentary produced and co-directed  by Chicano legend Enrique Castillo (Montana in Blood in Blood Out) and David Valdez, exploring the journey of the first Youth Mariachi in the U.S. whose trauma lead to healing through the music of Mariachi.  

— Horchata With Oat Milk – A viral, culture-clash comedy directed by Christian “LV” Leyva, addressing the issue of gentrification and offering fresh laughs with a Chicano twist.  

— A Little Family Drama – A layered and emotional dramedy directed by Nadia Zoe that brings generational conflict to light.  

— Cholita Takes LA – Directed by Sylvia Ray, a bold exploration of female empowerment within Chicana culture and a Bolivian Cholita Wrestler seeking identity.  

— Lost in the Barrio – Directed by Alberto Portillo, a gritty, heartfelt story of survival and loyalty in the urban neighborhood. Starring Fabian Alamar (Flamin’ Hot).  

Festival goers can also expect live “DJ” sets, Q&A panels, networking events, and the launch of the Chicano Hollywood Academy, an initiative to train the next generation of Latino creatives in acting, directing, production, and content monetization. 

The Chicano Hollywood platform was created to elevate the  Chicano voice in every space of culture, Chicano Hollywood is a groundbreaking media and cultural movement committed to empowering Chicano and Latino content creators. Through film, education, and strategic partnerships, it seeks to amplify underrepresented voices and reimagine representation in Hollywood and beyond.

“This is the first of many,” said Festival Director, Francisco Roel. “We’re building a movement where Chicanos and Latinos own their stories, their space, and their future in entertainment.” 

Press, Tickets & Festival Schedule:
Visit www.ChicanoHollywood.com  

The post The Chicano Hollywood Film Festival Boldly Going Where Other Festivals Have Not first appeared on .

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center has selected Chicano literary activist, writer, and professor Tony Diaz for their August Latino Bookstore Summer Series and the national book launch of his book “The Tip of the Pyramid”. The book draws upon his over twenty years of work in the rich context of Chicano and Latino literary communities, reflecting on this effort and his life in activism, teaching, and media..

The genesis of the book in 2010 when Arizona lawmakers banned Mexican-American studies in their schools. Diaz co-organized the Librotraficante Caravan, an effort to confront the attempted erasure of Mexican American history and culture from Arizona classrooms.

“The Tip of the Pyramid” is Diaz’s second book. He previously authored the novel “The Aztec Love God” a coming-of-age tale about Tiofilio Duarte, a Mexican American high school student who dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian. 

Diaz will be joined by some of the writers, activists, and leaders who are mentioned in the book, which chronicles the work of The Librotraficantes, Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say, and is a call for “Our Community to understand its power and to unite.”

Diaz earned his master of fine arts degree from the University of Houston Creative Writing Program. He is a cultural accelerator and the literary curator of the Latino Bookstore at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.

The post Chicano Literary Activist Tony Diaz at Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center first appeared on .

by Roberto Leal

Imagine a Chicano Pillsbury Doughboy comic made from aromatic masa fina para tortillas rather than refined white flour. Imagine this “muchacho” echoed masa wearing short pants and a gaudy Hawaiian shirt topped off with a small cap. Now further imagine this big lovable hunk of Latino performing in packed stadiums before thousands of adoring loyal fans enjoying his “clean” humor and seemingly endless character voices and impressions that would put Mel Blanc to shame. Imagine all that and voila! you have Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, the chuckling, cherubic comedian whose star is rising higher and faster than a NASA rocket into The Outer Limits.

Fluffy’s Power Source

Iglesias recently became the first comedian in history to sell out Dodger Stadium for a May stand-up comedy concert that will be turned into a Netflix special joining his other two Netflix specials currently streaming on Netflix. But this should come as no surprise. Iglesias has been selling out concert venues of all sizes for years. It has been facetiously speculated by comic historians that Fluffy’s court jester ancestors routinely sold-out Greek amphitheaters and the Roman Coliseum.

Iglesias was born in San Diego but grew up in Long Beach. “My comedy heroes and influencers were Eddie Murphy, Robin Williams, Paul Rodriguez and Billy Crystal,” says Iglesias. He told his first joke when he was ten years old in a school talent show.

According to Iglesias, everything changed for him in 1997at a comedy club. “I wasn’t supposed to go up on stage. They had a show, and the emcee did not show up,” he recalls, “A friend of mine was friends with the promoter. My buddy reminded me I always wanted to do stand-up and convinced me to emcee the show.” That impromptu gig resulted in Iglesias getting booked to do stand-up in other comedy clubs. And the rest, as they say, is comedy legend history.

While Fluffy’s comedy routine has its roots in his Hispanic heritage and background it has proven to have universal crossover appeal to a wide diverse audience. As a result, Iglesias is now one of America’s most successful stand-up comedians performing at sold-out concerts around the world. He is also one of the most-watched comedians on YouTube with almost a billion views and has over 25 million fans across social media.

The Sweet Smell of Success

Iglesias has more irons in the fire than an overworked village blacksmith. His TV series, Mr. Iglesias (2019-2020), is still streaming on Netflix and is still hip and funny. His two comedy specials, Gabriel Iglesias: I’m Sorry for What I Said When I Was Hungry and Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias: One Show Fits All, are still showing strong on Netflix. A third comedy special titled A Comedy Event scheduled to be taped in San Antonio will also be streaming on Netflix.

He also has several other projects in development:

I, Chihuahua:  No, I, Chihuahua is not a Mexican pooch spoof of Mickey Spillane’s detective novel, I, the Jury. This Netflix animated feature film, which will be directed by Jorge Gutiérrez (Maya and the Three, The Book of Life) will star Iglesias as Chacho, a masked luchador Chihuahua who becomes Luchcho when he puts on the Lucha Libre mask. Chacho goes on a hilarious, action-packed adventure fighting for family and home. I, Chihuahua is writer and director Gutiérrez’s affectionate Valentine to the popular Mexican art and sport of Lucha Libre.

Hungry:  Iglesias joins the NBC comedy pilot and is set as a regular cast member. James Burrows (Cheers, Friends, Will & Grace) will direct NBC’s multi-camera comedy pilot which will be executive produced by Demi Lovato (Camp Rock, Sonny with a Chance). Hungry is about a bunch of friends who belong to a food issues support group. They help each other find love, success, and the perfect snack in the fridge.

Space Jam: A New Legacy: Iglesias will do the voice of Speedy Gonzalez. Ironically, it was Mel Blanc, the  Warner Bros. voice actor legend (Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny) who first did the voice of Speedy Gonzalez. Like Blanc, Iglesias has a multitude of voice characters he uses in his stand-up routine and could easily do all the voices in this movie.

What’s left for Fluffy to do? He has already appeared in several movies, lent his talented voice to many animated features and is the undisputed king of large stadium comedy concerts. He could host the Oscars, but he would have to find a tux with short pants. Surely seeing a floating Fluffy balloon character in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade can’t be too far behind.

Success Through Laughter

Forbes Magazine ranks Iglesias as one of the top ten highest-earning comedians of all time. He has proven himself to be a skillful businessman and entrepreneur with several highly profitable online stores selling a huge variety of merchandise. Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias has turned that one joke he told as a ten-year-old kid at a school talent show into a multi-million-dollar entertainment empire. “Fluffy” is no longer just a nickname, it’s a global brand name. But his main product is still laughter and we, his worldwide audience, are the richer for it.

The post The Power of Fluffy first appeared on .

It was Los Angeles 1942 wartime tensions, an influx of servicemen, overzealous authority, rebellious youth and racial strife brought the city to its breaking point. At the center of the conflict were 50,000 sailors, itching to blow off steam before they shipped off to war, and Mexican American teens called “zoot suiters” for the baggy pants and long jackets they wore.

Vividly capturing the moment when tensions boiled over and the city erupted into some of the worst violence in its history, Zoot Suit Riots features evocative archival footage and interviews with a wide variety of eyewitnesses and historians.

The mood in wartime Los Angeles was one of tension and suspicion. Less than a century before, Los Angeles had been part of Mexico but by 1942, Mexican Americans were seen as racially inferior and vulnerable to manipulation by enemy agents. At the same time, Mexican American youth were rebelling against the culture of the tight-knit barrios of their parents. They punctuated their speech with jazz phrases like “hip” and “cool” and took fashion cues from African Americans, favoring the zoot suit’s exaggerated baggy pants and long jackets. Shocked by their outrageous clothes and cocky attitudes, their parents feared they were becoming pachucos or punks. 

On August 1, 1942, 19-year-old Hank Leyvas and a group of his friends from L.A.’s 38th Street crashed a party near a swimming hole dubbed the “Sleepy Lagoon.” Claiming the partygoers had beaten him and his girlfriend earlier, Leyvas was determined to get revenge. A brawl ensued. After Leyvas and his friends left the party, neighbors found Jose Diaz badly beaten and stabbed. His subsequent death was a call to action for the city’s police, for whom Mexican American youth crime had been a growing concern. 

Within 48 hours, a police dragnet snagged 600 young Mexican Americans; Leyvas and 21 others were indicted for Diaz’s murder. When the Sleepy Lagoon trial began in October 1942, it was the largest mass trial in California history. Judge Charles Fricke presided over the case. Overruling objections from the defense, he sat all the defendants together, isolated from their lawyers, and refused to permit them to clean up or change their clothes for the trial. 

Seventeen defendants were found guilty. Leyvas was sentenced to life in San Quentin prison. Believing the boys had been railroaded, a group of intellectuals and Hollywood celebrities — Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth among them — lent their names to the Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee.

The Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee successfully appealed their case, claiming that they had been denied a fair trial. The 38th Street boys were released in October 1944 after serving two years in prison. Although the boys were not cleared of the murder charge, the LA authorities decided not to re-try the case.

Decades later, Lorena Encinas, who had been at Sleepy Lagoon, revealed a long-held secret to her children. Her brother Louie and his friends had attacked Jose Diaz and left him to die before Hank and his group even arrived at the party.

Hank Leyvas died in an East L.A. bar in 1971.

The post Zoot Suit Riots Encore Broadcast on PBS first appeared on .

By Roberto Leal

“Icon” is the most misused, overused and abused word in the English language. Everything from old TV shows and movies, vintage clothing apparel, celebs, record albums and even certain hamburgers are classified as iconic. “Legendary” is another word that has outlived its usefulness. It gets tossed around like cheap confetti. What is the one best word one can use to describe Rubén Funkahaultl Guevara? How can we fashion a tribute to this man and honor his achievements and avoid the shopworn cliches?

KCET’s original series Artbound presents an insightful tribute to Guevara titled “Con Safos” that offers the viewer a personal, up-close look at the man who over his lifetime has defined, refined and personified what we have come to know as Chicano culture through his music, art, poetry and vision.

He Built His City on Rock and Roll

Rubén’s father was an accomplished Mexican musician who taught his young son the beautiful, lilting rhythms and poetry of the bolero. Rubén found himself surrounded by traditional Mexican music but it was American rock and roll that ignited his heart and soul. He was inspired and influenced by the likes of Eddie Cochran, Gene Chandler, Jackie Wilson and early Elvis. Rubén developed a distinctive rock and pop, R&B and soul style of singing that eventually got him an appearance on Shindig, an early rock and roll music TV show.

However, like Richie Valens (nee Ricardo Valenzuela), the producers of Shindig didn’t feel their audience would accept rock and roll being performed by a singer with an obvious Latino name. Rubén recalls, “They wanted me to change my name to Jay P. Moby. I didn’t like it, but I wanted to be on the show, so my appearance on Shindig I’m billed as Jay P. Moby.”  Rubén’s virtuoso solo performance on the show knocked it clean out of the park. He also more than held his own when he sang alongside the incomparable Bo Diddley .

As a pioneer of Latino rock, Rubén has not only created and performed the music but he has produced albums that are wonderful examples and compilations of Latino rock artists from Los Lobos to Cannibal and the Headhunters.

Chicano: From Pejorative to Symbol of Pride

The origins of the word “Chicano” have been the subject of countless scholarly articles, debate and speculation. Noted Mexican linguist Pilar Montes de Oca points out the prevalence of words in Mexican Spanish that begin with “ch,” like chato, chela, che, Chihuahua and the ever-popular chingar, have their linguistic roots in the languages of indigenous Mexican people. For older generations, Chicano was a term that described a person of low status, a rube, an undesirable. On a trip to Guadalajara, Rubén meets an older Mexican gentleman who asks Rúben where he is from. “I’m a Chicano from Los Angeles,” says Rúben. “Chicanos,” the old Mexican grumbles, “are mongrels with no culture.”

But there were cosmic forces swirling around in the universe in the 1960s that changed everything. There occurred a dialectical confluence of energies from the Chicano Awakening, La Raza political movement, Farm worker struggles, Teatro Campesino, zoot suit and pachuco culture, muralists, and Chicano graffiti art and music that resulted in the emergence and distillation of our Chicano identity. At the vanguard of all these seismic changes was Rubén Guevara. Through his rock theater performance art and poetry, he helped bring shape and definition to the Chicano Movement. He became the self-proclaimed Chicano culture sculptor.

During a visit to the Mayan ruins at Palenque, Rubén had an epiphany that resulted in a spiritual connection to his ancient Mexican ancestors. He felt he was reborn as The Neo Chicano Aztec God of Funk. It was then he adopted the name Rubén Funkahuatl Guevara.

Consafos

Consafos is a Chicano word that roughly translates to “exempt from danger.” It has other nuanced meanings but it is a word that is like a key that unlocks the greater meaning of being a Chicano. Consafos has its parallels in today’s computer language. Think of “Chicano” as the username and “Consafos” as the password that allows you to enter a realm of shared cultural experiences and knowledge.

Rubén’s poem/song, Con Safos, is a lyrical, mystical retelling of the history of the Mexican/Chicano/Latino people from the time of the Spanish conquest to the present day. It is our anthem and should be required reading and listening by anyone with a Hispanic surname living in America.

Rúben’s autobiography Confessions of a Radical Doo-Wop Singer has found its way into many Chicano Studies courses.

Still Rocking and Rolling

The guy just keeps on truckin’. “It’s still all about rock and roll for me,” says Rubén. He is still making music and has written a script for a musical play he hopes will see the light of day. Sadly, Rúben is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Well, there is a Biblical analogy. Moses led his people to the Promised Land but was not allowed to enter it. But Rubén’s legacy in the history of Latino rock and Chicano culture is secure and unquestioned.

If there is one word that best describes Rubén Funkahuatl Guevara is “sculptor.” Like Michelangelo, Rúben saw Chicano in a piece of marble. Through his music, rock theater performance and passion, he carved until he set it free and by extension, he set us free to embrace the liberation of being a Chicano.

Artbound ‘s “Con Safos” airs on KCET’s ARTBOUND Series, Oct. 13.

Featured Photo: Rubén Funkahaultl Guevara (Credit: KCET)

The post Rubén Funkahuatl Guevara: The Chicano Culture Sculptor first appeared on .

Alfaro has collaborated and worked with the Center Theater Group as a playwright as well as the co-director of the Latino Theatre Initiative at the Mark Taper Forum where he worked alongside Diane Rodriguez. Together they were able to introduce and identify new and exciting playwrights and secure a stage to present their theater works to the Center Theater Group stages. 

A celebrated, self-identified Chicano artist, Alfaro is the recipient of a MacArthur “Genius”.  In his new position, Alfaro will work closely with  Artistic Director Michael Ritchie and fellow associate artistic directors on overall artistic programming. He will also oversee the L.A. Writers’ Workshop and serve a key role in the expansion of new play development.

“Center Theatre Group has been my artistic home for nearly my entire career, so to return at such a pivotal moment in the history of regional theatre, the organization, and Los Angeles, is quite invigorating,” said Alfaro. I’m looking forward to helping further our shared vision of nurturing more Los Angeles voices and stories and asking important questions, like how we are viewing our role as an anti-racist theatre organization”.

“There’s no denying that our industry is facing a critical moment of self-reflection,” Alfaro went on to say. “I firmly believe that Center Theatre Group is rising to the challenge as it considers its role in the new American theatrical landscape.”

The Center Theatre Group has produced several of  Alfaro’s works including “Electricidad” and “Black Butterfly” at the Taper, “St. Jude” at the Douglas and, in 2020, Alfaro brought his trilogy of Greek plays, “Mojada,” “Electricidad” and “Oedipus El Rey,” to Center Theatre Group’s Digital Stage as part of the series Live From the KDT.

“It’s also important to me for Luis to help nurture our next wave of playwrights and consider how we more deeply invest in our Los Angeles community,” said Ritchie. “Luis brings a rich history and understanding of Center Theatre Group and of this great city and its many exciting voices. It’s been an honor working with Luis in various capacities over the years.”

Alfaro is a Chicano writer known for his work in poetry, theatre, short stories, performance and journalism. Luis spent six seasons as the Playwright-in-Residence at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival from 2013–2019. Luis spent over two decades in the Los Angeles poetry community and toured for ten years as a performance artist. He is a tenured professor at USC. His play anthology, “The Greek Trilogy of Luis Alfaro,” was released from Methuen Press and is the winner of this year’s London Hellenic Prize. Luis was a participant in Center Theatre Group’s 2018/19 L.A. Writers’ Workshop and is also a member of the CTG Creative Collective, a dozen inspiring, innovative and highly collaborative artists shaping the contours of the theatrical landscape of the future.

The post Luis Alfaro Joins CTG as Newest Associate Artistic Director first appeared on .

The shocking news of the death of Rudy Salas, 72, founder of the popular East L.A. band Tierra and El Chicano guitarist, was announced on his Facebook page on December 29, via a post by his family.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Rudy Salas, the leader and co-founder of Tierra, early this morning. Millions have enjoyed Tierra’s music and we are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support,” the post reads.

The sad news traveled quickly across social media, followed by an outpouring of tributes left on his Facebook page which are a testament to how beloved Rudy was. 

He was a music[al] genius who never sold out his culture or his values. He was a superhero in the Chicano Music world and will be remembered deeply for his love of family and Raza! R.I.P. mi Hermano.” — Pete Moraga, Partner of Strategic Communications

Rudy began his career along with his brother, Steve Salas as The Salas Brothers. Both went on to perform with El Chicano and in 1972 founded the much-loved band Tierra. Steve Salas was the lead singer, Rudy played lead guitar and managed the band. The group recorded their first self-titled album that year and then went on to publish 14 more records, the most recent being in 2013. The 80’s and 90’s were the height of when most of Tierra’s hits recorded. Steve Salas was the lead singer of the band until about 2002 when left on a hiatus of eleven years, returning in 2013.

Tierra’s original 1972 members were Rudy Salas, Steve Salas, Bobby Navarrete, Joey Guerra, Steve Falomir, Philip Madayag, Kenny Roman, David Torres Jr., Rudy Villa and Andre Baeza.

Initially, Tierra began performing in East Los Angeles where they developed their signature sound that included a blend of rock, pop, jazz, R&B, and salsa. The result was a Latin R&B rhythm that produced classics like their hit song Together, Gonna Find Her, Memories, and Zoot Suit Boogie.

From its inception, Rudy Salas served as the leader of the band, record producer, and head of business affairs for Tierra. This led to the growth and popularity of the band, hit songs and performances across the country in venues like Carnegie Hall and The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and TV shows like The American Music Awards and American Bandstand.

Tierra was named “Best R&B Vocal Group” by four leading magazines including Billboard and was the first Latino band to have four songs on the national chart and two simultaneously in the Top 100. The band has shared the stage with James Brown, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, and many other talented groups during their over 40-year career. 

In a 2013 interview for LatinoLA.com, when asked about the legacy of Tierra Rudy said, “I am so proud of what this band has achieved. We’ve made history. There haven’t been a lot of Latino groups who made it and had this longevity. We are one of the few groups who have had this achievement.”

Rudy, and the band he led played a role in opening doors for other Latino and non-Latino superstars of today, including comedian Paul Rodriguez, Arsenio Hall, Sheila E., Gloria Estefan, Los Lobos, Rudy Moreno, and more.

My memories of Rudy Salas go back to the 1990s when I got to meet him for a few seconds, the first time, sometime around the early to mid-1990s. It was at The Hop in La Puente.  A hero for so many, and for me, he was someone that believed in me and invited me to share the stage with him on many occasions.” — Gregory Esparza, Vocalist for Thee Midnighters

“We have lost our rock, our creative spirit, husband, father, grandfather (and soon to be great-grandfather), uncle, brother, and leader of Tierra whose history spans nearly 5 decades,” the Salas family Facebook post reads.  

Because of the pandemic, funeral arrangements are yet not known, according to the family’s posting on social media.

This is one of the last videos of Rudy singing, posted on December 10 on the Tierra YouTube Channel.

The post Tierra Founder, Rudy Salas Has Died first appeared on .

Co-hosted by the iconic Cheech Marin and Marisol “La Marisoul” Hernandez of La Santa Cecilia, OndaLive! will feature over seven hours of free exclusive programming including primetime musical tributes to renowned Chicano artists and groups including Tierra (48 years); Los Lobos (47 years); Ozomatli (25 years) and Little Joe with his 80^th birthday celebration hosted by comedy pioneer Paul Rodriguez.

The event will also feature uniquely produced themed segments of Chicano lifestyle and cultural time capsules, musical mash-ups, TV/movie cast reunions and screenings, fan sessions, community advocacy panels and live concerts with artist revealing vignettes, all amplifying the Hispanic narrative.

“Sharing ‘La Onda’ or the ‘Chicano vibe’ with nearly 37 million Mexican-Americans in the U.S. is at the heart of our programming,” said David Chavez, INGENUITY CEO and OndaLive! Creator. “We are going to celebrate and spotlight trailblazing Chicano talent with inspiring content and showcasing their historic contributions and milestones for audiences of all ages.”

Music, Culture and Festival Highlights Include:

Loud Mouth Comedy Roadshow – a mix of comedy performances with lowrider car stories and hip taco & fajita joints.

Dia De Los Muertos Night Parade –  the Mexican holiday comes alive with a procession of papier-mâché Catrinas (elegantly dressed skeletons), by Artist Ricardo Soltero, fused with the ultimate rock mariachi experience of Charros de Rock.

Song for Cesar, the Movement and the Music Fan Session – Session and screening of the 2021 documentary that chronicles the great historical movement initiated and led by Mexican-American Cesar Chavez, humanitarian, civil rights activist, and labor leader.

50^thAnniversary of Chicano Park – video tribute to San Diego, California’s Chicano Park, designated in 2017 as a National Historic Landmark, and home to the largest concentration of Chicano murals in the world.

“OndaLive! was born in the spirit of uplifting our Latino community nationwide during these unprecedented times,” said Yvette Peña, AARP Vice President, Multicultural Leadership. “AARP is committed to continuing to be a source of support and empowerment for Latinos 50+ and their loved ones. We are excited to see this virtual music and culture fest come to life and bring some levity and enjoyment to people’s lives.”

OndaLive! Chicano Music + Culture Festis sponsored by AARP, the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older. 

For Fest updates stay connected by following official OndaLive! social media channels (@laOndaLive on twitter and Instagram, LaOnda Live on Facebook and YouTube).

The post OndaLive! Chicano Music + Culture Fest Hosted by Cheech and La Marisoul first appeared on .

By Justina Bonilla

Danny Trejo is the hardest working man in Hollywood. The ex-con turned Chicano film icon has defied the odds to become one of the most beloved and recognized faces in American cinema and Los Angeles pop culture.

Though best known for his acting, Trejo is also pursuing a vast variety of endeavors, including restaurateur, author, producer, entrepreneur and substance/alcohol abuse counselor. Now, his extraordinary journey from prison inmate to Hollywood star is being featured in the documentary Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo, available now on stream and on demand.

Trejo, a Los Angeles native from Pacoima, CA, spent his early life heavily impacted by crime and substance/alcohol abuse. After spending many years in and out of jail from Los Angeles juvenile hall to county jail, to Folsom Prison and San Quentin, Trejo had a life changing experience in 1968, at 24 years old.

Trejo was facing the possibility of the death penalty, because he allegedly injured a lieutenant with a rock during a prison riot in Soledad State Prison in California. The alleged attack was labeled as an attempted murder on a prison staff with a deadly weapon.

Praying to God, Trejo asked, “If you let me die with dignity, I’ll say your name every day, and I will do whatever I can for my fellow man.”

With no witness to the alleged crime, the charge was dropped, and Trejo was released from prison on August 3, 1969.

Post-prison, Trejo worked a variety of odd jobs until he became an alcohol/substance abuse counselor, which he still does to this day. Trejo received his first film role by helping a production assistant through his work as a drug counselor.  Also, thanks to his boxing background, he was hired to train an actor to box for Runaway Train (1985).  Trejo was also asked to do a bit part in the film. This opportunity led him down a path of success beyond his wildest dreams.

Along the way Trejo’s tough Chicano persona got him cast as the nameless assassin in Robert Rodriguez’s Desperado (1995). Trejo continued to build his acting resume in supporting roles, with a cult following, until Rodriguez cast Trejo as Uncle Machete in Spy Kids (2001), bringing him international fame. The character Machete made another appearance as the vengeful machete-wielding anti-hero in a faux film trailer for the double-feature film Grindhouse (2007).

With so much interest in a Machete film, Rodriguez co-wrote/directed Machete (2010) with Trejo in his first leading role. Trejo became Hollywood’s top Chicano action star, known respectfully as El Machete. The success of Machete led to its sequel Machete Kills (2013), with fans hoping for the possibility of the third installment, Machete Kills in Space.

As a child, Trejo often told his mom that they should open the restaurant with her mouthwatering recipes and amazing cooking techniques. After making a name for himself in Hollywood, Trejo pursued that dream and opened the successful Trejo’s Tacos in 2016.

In 2017, Trejo also opened Trejo’s Cantina-Hollywood and Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts. Trejo has also opened other locations of his taco restaurant, including the Los Angeles International Airport and at the popular Original Farmer’s Market in Los Angeles. Trejo also partnered with the Lincoln Beer Company to release his own line of beer called Trejo’s Cerveza.

In June 2019, Trejo started his own independent record company, Trejo’s Music. The company focuses on up and coming music artists. He is also a music producer for the label. Trejo’s Music released their first album, Chicano Soul Shop Vol 1, as a modern interpretation of the classic lowrider music of the 1960s and 1970s.

Adding to his food endeavors, Trejo released the cookbook Trejo’s Tacos: Recipes and Stories from L.A., in April 2020. This unique cookbook, with 75 recipes from his popular award-winning tacos to donuts. It also pays homage to his colorful life and Los Angeles experience.

As of June 2020, Trejo has over 380 acting credits to his name, including the Hollywood blockbuster Heat, television’s The Young and the Restless animated series King of the Hill and indie films such as Sherrybaby.

Known to some of the highest profile talent in Hollywood, Trejo has helped others start their film careers, including Oscar-winning singer/songwriter Lady Gaga.

According to Trejo, he and Gaga were at the famous Los Angeles Shamrock Social Club tattoo shop, when she showed interest in also acting in Machete Kills. Trejo immediately called Rodriguez about Gaga. Her role in Machete Kills as La Chameleón, was her first credited film role, leading her to her Oscar-nominated leading role in A Star is Born (2018).

Trejo has been blessed with a long and groundbreaking career beyond his wildest dreams. According to Trejo, his cinematic hero is the old Hollywood icon John “The Duke” Wayne. Wayne was a flawed, but highly beloved badass, dominating the classic western film genre. The hero Wayne was to many on film, as what Trejo is to many film fans today.

Wayne never made it to space, whereas Trejo  might still make it to space, going beyond the stars and so much further than we can imagine. Viva Machete!

Running time: 1 hour 47 minutes. Available to rent or buy on Amazon, Google Play and streaming on various platforms and pay TV operators.

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