‘Latino Legends’ a Celebration of Vibrant Past

Who is Los Lobos’ Louis Perez to criticize Saturday’s “Latino Legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll” concert for holding back “progress” of Latino musicians (Calendar, July 4)? What took place “back then” was “not for the moment” and merely “an important part of musical history.”

It’s about time that some of the great groups of the 1950s and ‘60s get some major exposure. Thee Midniters, the Blendells and the Champs might well be Los Lobos’ musical forebears. However, they, their contributions and their place in musical history have been largely ignored. Jimmy Espinoza of Thee Midniters says that Los Lobos has never invited them to perform with them in a concert. On the other hand, Bruce Springsteen (with Gary U.S. Bonds) and Bonnie Raitt (with Charles Brown) appear to have honored their roots by asking Bonds and Brown to perform with them.

East Los Angeles and South Texas had distinct musical scenes in the early and mid-’60s, as did Memphis in the mid-’50s, Liverpool in the ‘50s and early ‘60s. Showcasing musicians from any of these scenes is far from pigeonholing them. The “Latino Legends” show was designed to spotlight the vibrant overlooked accomplishments of ‘60s Latino artists.

Many of the great rock pioneers were treated very shabbily in their heyday. In contrast to the multimillion-dollar deals common today, many million-selling artists were lucky to have anything left when agents, managers, labels and publishers were through taking their cuts. It’s tragic, but that was the way the music industry generally operated in the ‘50s and ‘60s.

Somehow, when hit artists from that day are discovered to be down on their luck, too many of us today assume that they’ve blown their money on wine, women and song. Chances are they received little money to blow on anything.

Unlike the motion picture industry, the music industry does not take care of its own who are ill and destitute.

It is important to me to try to keep these artists visible. Many are still viable and exciting performers.

I recall a concert several years ago that featured Thurston Harris, a major R&B; singer from the ‘50s. Although he suffered myriad personal and financial problems, he was still a show-stopping talent. After receiving a thunderous ovation, he left the stage, wiping tears from his eyes and exclaimed: “You know, it’s great to be remembered. It makes you feel like you’ve lived for something.” Six months later, he was dead.

No, the “Latino Legends” concert was not intended to put up barriers: It was to honor some influential and overlooked artists. The music business is quick to sweep yesterday’s artists under a rug, minimizing and denying their contributions and achievements. I’m sure that as an artist with a current contract, Louis Perez realizes how truly difficult it is to pick up “where they left off.”

Age is a minus in a youth-oriented industry, though I have noticed an ever-growing number of teen-agers and young people who are taking an interest in “roots music.” As I recall, Los Lobos’ largest-selling record, “La Bamba,” was an almost note-for-note remake of Ritchie Valens’ 1958 original.

As the late blues singer Sonny Boy Williamson once said, “Send me flowers while I’m living.”