The four-episode series, which was filmed in Los Angeles and Miami, launches October 13 on The Roku Channel in the U.S. and Mexico. The series was created by Greice Santo (Jane The Virgin) and is produced by Den of Thieves, Trebina Music, Greice Santo, as well as Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager, Jared Morell, and Jordan Barrow for Den of Thieves. Gil Lopez serves as executive producer and showrunner.

Deeply touched by church janitor Alfredo’s dedication to his parish, the legendary band Los Lobos pays tribute to him in a special way in the first episode airing on October 13. Not only has Alfredo served St. Anne’s for almost two decades, he met his wife and got married at the cherished church, where his children also attended school. With the help of Deacon Raul and the ruse of a church fundraiser, Los Lobos honors him with a surprise performance of their #1 hit, “La Bamba.”

The first Latina CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California, Fatima, has been a long-time fan of three-time Grammy-winning band Ozomatli. Her dedication to helping families affected by cancer has touched the hearts of many, including her best friend Brenda, who helps Ozomatli surprise Fatima with a private personal performance while on a dinner date with her husband Lucio.

Renowned Latin Grammy winner Chiquis is all about honoring her beloved mom, Jenni Rivera, so she’s deeply moved to learn of Ashley’s heartfelt desire to celebrate her own mother, Socorro, for her resilience. Socorro, who taught herself to read and write and now owns a successful business called Tacos Manzano, has persevered through many challenges, including the painful loss of her brother to COVID. Chiquis and The Mariachi Divas surprise mother and daughter with an unforgettable serenade.

The post ‘Serenata de Las Estrellas’ Launches on October 13 on The Roku Channel 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 .

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 .