By Bel Hernandez Castillo
The Ugly Little Monkeys documentary recounts the story of a cultural phenomena, the first student mariachi group in the US, Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson created in 1964 by an Irish Catholic priest. It is the story of the music they played, the magic they experienced, the pain they endured and the ultimate triumph of their spirit, told in this documentary as they near the group’s 60 anniversary later this year.
The enduring legacy of Los Changuitos Feos began with a group of high school boys whose lives would change forever through the mariachi music they played and the cultural Mexican pride they felt, to become the start of the student Mariachi movement which has since spread across America.
The documentary traces the untold story of almost 60 years of a legacy that would ignite a pride wave as these young kids embraced their Mexican-American culture and learned to love Mariachi music.
Ugly Little Monkeys the documentary, co-directed by David Valdez, a native of Tucson Arizona, and actor/writer and producer Enrique Castillo. It is a heartwarming and triumphant tribute to America’s first youth mariachi group, celebrating resilience and cultural pride with masterful storytelling!
The documentary takes us on a historical journey from delving into where the idea of forming Los Changuitos Feos came from. It was the brainchild Father Charles H. Rourke, who had been an accomplished jazz pianist and had shared the stage with greats like Sarah Vaughn and Duke Ellington before becoming a priest.
As a priest of the Catholic church in the ‘60’s, Father Rourke had a passion for assisting in the positive development of at-risk youth, hosting a radio program dedicated to youth awareness. When he was introduced to Mariachi music he fell in love with it and hit on the idea of using the form to recruit young men to start a youth Mariachi group. His charm was intoxicating and he was welcomed into the Mexican/American homes with a status reserved only for those deserving the highest reverence.
As the David Ruiz, labeled in the documentary as the “Original Changuito Feo” because it was Ruiz Father Rourke reached out to be the first a of the members of the group, recounts in the documentary, the group had to learn to play the instruments, learn the songs in Spanish (which many did not speak), how to play the instruments in some cases, and learn about “stage presence” from Father Rourke. The initial group consisted of 5 guitars, one vihuelas, one trumpet, one violin and one guitarrón.
Throughout the years Los Changuitos Feos achieved national recognition following performances at the inaugurations for Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford and for the play and Mayor Richard J. Daly of Chicago and recorded with Herb Albert. They performed at Universal City with the group eventually rising to international fame performing on the CBS special the Mission and the The Mariachi and represented the US in Mexico.
Co-director and executive producer Valdez, a native of Tucson and very familiar with Los Changuitos Feos (he even tried out for the group as a young boy) was given a copy of a book, Bless Me Father for You Have Sinned written my one of the original member of Los Changuitos Feos, Wilfred Arvizu
When Valdez approached his good friend, actor/writer Enrique Castillo about a possible movie based on the book, they decided that the voice of the original Changuitos had to be heard first and Valdez and Castillo decided to co-direct and co-produce the documentary which is inspired by Arvizu’s book. They began the research and with an outline of the script written by Castillo in 2019.
One of the first and the most important tasks was to reach out to the original living Chanquitos. Over 50 years had passed and they had all taken different paths since leaving the group after high school. Two of them went on to form their own mariachi group, Mariachi Cobre, which has been playing at Disney’s Epcot center for over 40 years. The other members were spread out across America, went on to become a doctor, a state senator, a senior staff engineer who helped launch the Hubble, a Kempo Karate Master, a Hall of Fame recording artist, a Vietnam veteran and many other illustrious careers.
Nineteen original members from different generations of Chanquitos agreed to meet up in Tucson for a taped reunion. It was an emotional rollercoaster for all of them, especially having to recount on camera their experiences being a Changiotos Feo, as well as participating in group interviews.
The interviews with the original Chanquitos are the heart of the documentary, supported by archival footage, news clippings, interviews with family members, and civic leaders. Additional interviews of some of the greats in music like native Tucsonan and 11 time Grammy winner Linda Ronstadt and Ruben Fuentes, a revered classical violinist and composer known for his work with Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán his work with Linda Ronstadt‘s Canciones de mi Padre.
While the visibility and popularity of the Changuitos grew, Father Rourke’s immoral conduct began to surface: alcoholism, questioning of his faith, chronic absences at performances and even worse. In spite of the dark experiences the young men were forced to contend with they assumed leadership roles and persevered. Through their love for and dedication to Mariachi music Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson became world-renowned.
“After having met many of the early members of Los Changuitos Feos, it’s easy to see how the group became so successful. They’re dedicated individuals who inspire with their accomplishments even after having left the group”, Castillo recalls. “It has also been a real pleasure seeing them be totally supportive of each other and watching them joyously interacting and cavorting as they did when they were young.”
Another legacy shared by the members of the Changuitos is the spread of Mariachi programs across the U.S. The spread of youth mariachi groups has grown exponentially in U.S. public schools over the past 30 years, from just a handful of programs in a few states to more than 500 today
It has been five and a half years in the making and the filmmakers of the documentary Ugly Little Monkeys has begun the journey of sharing the untold story of how a group of kids found their music and shared it with millions and continue to do so.
The first screening was a benefit screening in the Changuitos hometown of Tucson, Arizona. The filmmakers wanted to honor the legacy of Los Changuitos Feos and all the proceeds went to support the continuation of the work of this groundbreaking group. This past March audiences gathered at the history downtown FOX theater to fill the 1,164 seat to witness, not only a slice of Tucson history in all its splendor, but also the uncomfortable truths they never knew the young boys had to endure.
“The five-and-a-half-year production journey has been quite long, exciting, challenging and gratifying, “ said Valdez, whose knowledge of the story started with his father Joel Valdez, who served as one time as Tucson City Manager and a board member of Los Changuitos Feos. “I’m extremely thankful to all of the original members of Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson, for entrusting Enrique and I with their personal stories and giving us permission to share them on the big screen.”
The goal of the production was always to tell the untold story about a group of mostly Mexican-American youth which garnered international visibility and are a part of American history. They decided to offer fundraising screening to organizations, universities and schools that would benefit youth mariachi groups. The screening fall into the co-directors goal to bring social accountability to the work they do through their Ugly Little Monkeys Production company.
The documentary continues its fundraising screenings in Los Angeles on March 16, 2024 at Plaza de La Raza. Plaza’s commitment to offering classes in music and arts programming since 1970 in East Los Angeles was the perfect choice. Proceeds for the fundraising screening will benefit Plaza’s Student Mariachi Ensemble, who will play at the reception prior to the screening.
“I feel we accomplished our goal by ultimately giving credit back to those who were truly responsible for creating the first youth mariachi in the U.S. and helping start the youth mariachi movement that we’re all witnessing today,” Valdez adds. “I’m extremely proud of my Mexican heritage and having the freedom and opportunity to share our beautiful stories with the world.”
Ugly Little Monkeys is executive producer by Edward James Olmos, Marcia Grand & Justin Krienbrink.
There will be a Q&A after the screening with co-directors Valdez and Castillo. They will be joined by Wilfred Arvizu the author of Bless Me Father for You Have Sinned and a former member of Los Changuitos Feos.
Tickets are still available. For info email: info@latinheat.com