Los Cenzontles Timeline
Over 30 Years of Crossing Barriers and Building Bridges
1989
1989
Los Cenzontles records at Dolby Labs in San Francisco.
1989
Los Cenzontles students record 10 cassettes between 1989 and 1996 as a learning and fundraising tool.
1992
Eugene initiates the Fandango Project to establish the fandango jarocho in California with funds from the Mexican-based Fideicomiso para la cultura. He organizes music, dance, and luthier workshops with son Jarocho master Gilberto Guiterrez. The project is documented by photographer Silvia Gonzalez de Leon. Eugene’s goal is to reinvigorate Mexican music in Chicano communities.
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1993
Los Cenzontles meet Linda Ronstadt who supports the group’s travel to the youth music and dance camp in Veracruz.
Fandango: The Pajapan Tapes
1993In 1993, Chicano teens from Los Cenzontles traveled to a music and dance camp in a remote area of Veracruz, Mexico to learn the traditional son jarocho from master artists Grupo Mono Blanco, alongside Mestizo, Popoluca and Nahuatl students. This video below, titled Fandango, The Pajapan Tapes, is a joyful depiction of the passing of tradition, connecting across cultural and language divides, and the power of the traditional arts to cultivate the voices of marginalized youth.
Read more1994
Kristal, Lucina, Amalia, and Ruth sing El Corrido de Cecilia Rios at the Great American Music Hall.
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1994
Eugene incorporates Los Cenzontles Mexican Arts Center as a non-profit organization; Alicia Marines joins as administrator. He rents the San Pablo Civic Center to hold after-school classes in music, dance, arts and crafts, and cooking. Initial teachers include Francisco ‘Pato’ Diaz of Mariachi Azteca de San Jose, Pato’s children Carla and Juan , Eugene Rodriguez, Gilberto Gutierrez, Silvia Gonzalez de Leon, and Tom Fuglestad. Soon, the students themselves begin teaching classes as well. The first week of classes attracts 175 students.
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1995
Los Cenzontles appears on their first CD on Arhoolie Records, Con Su Permiso, Señores.
1995
Los Cenzontles perform at the Arhoolie Records 35th Anniversary concert series alongside Flaco Jimenez, Lalo Guerrero, and others.
1995
Children’s album Papa’s Dream is released by Los Lobos and Lalo Guerrero and features Los Cenzontles’s musicians and singers. Produced by Eugene Rodriguez, the album is nominated for a Grammy.
1995
Los Cenzontles performs at the Bay Area Grammy party at Bimbo’s in San Francisco to celebrate the nomination of Papa’s Dream.
1997
Los Cenzontles releases You’ll Come Flying CD, a collection of traditional and original music in an array of styles.
1997
Los Cenzontles produces the Festival of Youth in the Tradition featuring youth groups and master artists of mariachi, banda, and the son jarocho. Students attend classes at several sites throughout San Pablo and Richmond, including Contra Costa College, the Richmond Auditorium, and the San Pablo Civic Center. The festival features Yolanda del Rio, Graciela Beltan, Lalo Guerrero, Mono Blanco, Banda La Movida, Mariachi Azteca de San Jose, and others.
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1998
Los Cenzontles students take their third student trip to Veracruz to study, play and dance at fandangos in Santiago Tuxtla.
1998
Los Cenzontles youth, family and friends renovate a former liquor store in Dias Plaza into their first permanent home with support from the City of San Pablo and the Dias family. Dance, music, and arts and crafts classes continue here.
1999
1999
Los Cenzontles releases Volando en los Cafetales, an album of son Jarocho, traditional music from Southern Veracruz, Mexico.
1999
Los Cenzontles releases Hypnotizada, an album of brass-band music produced by Los Cenzontles students Hugo Arroyo and Hector Espinoza.
1999
Los Cenzontles releases Amor Paz y Sinceridad, an album of a cappela alabanzas, songs of praise to the virgin of Guadalupe, patron saint of Mexico.
2000
Los Cenzontles releases Cancionero, an album of popular romantic boleros and rancheras.
2000
Los Cenzontles releases a compilation album called De Una Bonita on Arhoolie Records.
2000
Los Cenzontles meet master artist Atilano Lopez from Jaracuaro, Michoacan to learn pirekuas and sones.
2001
Los Cenzontles releases the Cuatro Maestros CD that includes collaborations with master artists representing four regional styles. Santiago Jimenez Jr. of San Antonio, Texas; Julian Gonzalez of Jalisco, Mexico; Atilano Lopez of Michocan; and Andres Vega of Veracruz.
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2001
Los Cenzontles produces Cuatro Maestros tour of California representing four regional traditions. The group performs at Sacramento State University; Arte Americas, Fresno; City of San Fernando; CSU Monterey; Julia Morgan Theater, Berkeley; California Plaza, Los Angeles.
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2001
Los Cenzontles presents a Danza de Los Copetones reenactment at the San Pablo Civic Center. Taught by master folk artist Julian Gonzalez to Los Cenzontles members.
2001
Los Cenzontles meet traditional mariachi practitioner Julian Gonzalez and begin weekly workshops to revive the lost music and dance style son abajeño. The workshops were made possible with a Master Apprenticeship grant from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts.
Read more2001
Los Cenzontles releases CD Media Vida, an album of traditional and popular styles.
2002
Los Cenzontles receives the Coming Up Taller Award from the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
2002
Dia de los Muertos – Los Cenzontles presents an annual event that is reflective and celebratory in honor of our loved ones who have passed on. We invite the community to place offerings on the altar that is created by our artesania teacher Marie-Astrid Do-Rodriguez each year with a different theme and design.
Read more2002
Los Cenzontles opens for Los Lobos at the California State Fair.
2002
Los Cenzontles releases CD Plan de la Villa, the first of four albums of traditional and little-known sones abajenos of the traditional mariachi with Julian Gonzalez.
Danza de los Copetones
2002Students of Los Cenzontles perform Danza de los Copetones from Jalisco Mexico, directed by Julian Gonzalez Saldaña in 2002, in San Pablo, California.
2003
Los Cenzontles Academy is awarded the East Bay Express’ “Best After-School Program”
2003
Los Cenzontles is featured in the Contra Costa Times
2003
Los Cenzontles releases the CD El Pasajero, an album of traditional and seldom-heard sones abajeños and rancheras of the traditional mariachi with Julian Gonzalez.
2004
Los Cenzontles releases Pasajero, A Journey of Time and Memory, a documentary directed and filmed by Ricardo Braojos and produced by Eugene Rodriguez.
2004
Los Cenzontles releases CD El Chivo, Traditional Mariachi Volume III, an album of little-known sones abajeños and rancheras of the traditional mariachi with Julian Gonzalez.
2006
Los Cenzontles is featured in the West County Times
2006
Los Cenzontles presents its annual Dia de los Muertos event. Altar by Marie-Astrid Do-Rodriguez.
2006
Los Cenzontles releases the CD El Toro Viejo Traditional Mariachi Volume IV, an album of rarely-heard sones abajeños and rancheras of the traditional mariachi with Julian Gonzalez.
2007
Los Cenzontles launches its YouTube channel.Los Cenzontles on YouTube
2007
Los Cenzontles releases the CD Los Senn-sont-less, an album of original music.
2007
Los Cenzontles presents its annual Dia de los Muertos event. Dia de los Muertos – Altar by Marie-Astrid Do-Rodriguez.
2008
Los Cenzontles initiate a partnership with California Migrant Education to provide workshops in the cultural arts statewide.
2008
Los Cenzontles releases the CD Songs of Wood & Steel, an album of music fusing traditional, popular and original music. It is Los Cenzontles’s first full album collaborating with David Hidalgo.
2009
Los Cenzontles performs at the Hollywood bowl event Bienvenido Gustavo to welcome Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel.
2009
Los Cenzontles releases the CD American Horizon, an album of original music fusing Mexican and African American music in collaboration with David Hidalgo and Taj Mahal. Funded by the Creative Work Fund.
2010
Los Cenzontles is invited to appear on the San Patricio CD by The Chieftains and Ry Cooder, an album that fuses Mexican and Irish music with fellow guest artists Linda Ronstadt, Chavela Vargas, Los Tigres del Norte, and many others.
2010
Los Cenzontles tour the UK and Ireland with The Chieftains and Ry Cooder.
2010
Los Cenzontles initiate the Routes of Resilience video short series.
2010
Los Cenzontles and Maribel Alvarez, Ph.D. release the document “Los Cenzontles: This is How We Work. Reflections, Testimonies and Lessons on Artistic Practices and Teaching Strategies.”
Read more2010
Los Cenzontles perform with the Chieftains in Glasgow.
2010
Los Cenzontles releases the CD Raza de Oro, an album of traditional, popular and original music.
2010
Eugene pens “Estado de Verguenza”, a song meant to decry the discrimination of Arizona’s anti-immigration legislation. The single is soon recorded and released.
2011
Los Cenzontles presents its annual Dia de los Muertos event. Altar by Marie-Astrid Do-Rodriguez.
2011
Los Cenzontles performs at Arhoolie Records 50th Anniversary Concert
2011
Los Cenzontles releases the CD Flor de Canela, 10 Anos de Dueto, a compilation album featuring the vocal duet of Fabiola Trujillo and Lucina Rodriguez.
2012
Los Cenzontles presents its annual Dia de los Muertos event. Altar by Marie-Astrid Do-Rodriguez.
2012
Los Cenzontles releases its first LP, Puro Jam, with David Hidalgo.
2012
Los Cenzontles releases the CD Regeneration, an album of mostly original music in celebration of the Latinization of America.
2013
Los Cenzontles completes Phase 1 of its facility expansion and “Supporting Roots Campaign.” Los Cenzontles takes over the adjacent storefront and builds a new kitchen, office, and art room.
2013
Eugene Rodriguez is awarded a United States Artists Oliver Fellowship. With Tim Robbins (left) and David Hildago (right)
2013
Los Cenzontles headlines at SFJazz.
2013
Los Cenzontles releases the singles “Cortez the Killer” (with David Hidalgo), “American Roulette,” “Invisible Man,” and “El Mexicano.”
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2014
Filmmaker Dionisio Ceballos and Los Cenzontles collaborate on an animated short – Tata’s Gift – as a Creative Work Fund project that unites traditional crafts with digital arts.
2014
Los Cenzontles Teen Jarocho Ensemble perform at the Oakland Museum Dia de los Muertos
2014
LC Academy initiates Noche Cultural cultural music concert series featuring artists from different backgrounds that include Los Guevara (Son Huasteco), Jose Roberto Hernandez (Bolero), Tish Hinojosa (Indie/Folk), Fito Reynoso (Son Cubano), Rompe y Raja (Afro-Peruano), Mariachi Halcones (Mariachi), Razilla Chiquilla (Conjunto de Arpa), and Los Compas (Latin).
Read more2014
Monsignor Anthony Valdivia blesses our newly added space
2014
Los Cenzontles Facebook page tops 9,000 fans. Los Cenzontles on Facebook
2015
LC release Alma Campirana CD comprised of acoustic traditional Mexican songs.
2015
Shades of Brown CD Release – the Mexican Zydeco Connection
2015
Los Cenzontles Traditional Mariachi included in the LA Plaza Museum Exhibit
2015
Los Cenzontles’s YouTube channel reaches over 2 million viewers with over 1,700 subscribers. Los Cenzontles on YouTube
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2015
LC Academy hosts workshops by guest artists Guillermo Velazquez y los Leones de la Sierra de Xichú, Astrid Haddad from Mexico, José Galvez from Spain, Randall kohl of Veracruz, Elvia Gomez from Chiapas as part of the Jolom Mayeatik weaving collective, and José Valencia & Luis de la Tota from Spain.
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2016
LC Academy hosts workshops by guest artists Atilano Lopez Patricio of Michoacan, Los Vega of Veracruz, Patricio Hidalgo of Veracruz, and Perico Pañero, José Pañero, & Rafael del Zambo from Spain.
2016
Academy students record on the Songs for Cesar Chavez album with Abel Maldonado, Taj Mahal, Danny Valdez, Jorge Santana and others. Fantasy Studios, Berkeley.
2016
LC 11 day tour of Cuba performing in Havana, Sancti Spiritus, Las Tunas and Santa Clara.
2016
LC release Covers album of classic rock songs with Latin American instruments and rhythms on CD and Vinyl. Features compositions by Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, ELO, Jimi Hendrix, The Killers, Robert Palmer, The Pogues & Sixto Rodriguez.
Read more2016
LC performs at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass with members of Los Texmaniacs.
2016
Annual Dia de los Muertos event with a special altar by Marie-Astrid with contributions of France Do and LC Academy students.
2017
2017
Convivencia de Grupos de Arpa Grande, Modesto, 2017 is released; A two-hour concert video featuring six Modesto based groups performing in the Arpa Grande tradition from the Tierra Caliente region of Michoacan. The video already has enjoyed nearly 330,000 views on YouTube, and millions more views on Facebook. We manufactured DVDs as well for the participating musical groups to sell.
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2017
Los Cenzontles released Carta Jugada, a collaborative album of classic songs with San Antonio-based Los Texmaniacs and accordion legend Flaco Jiménez.
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2017
A video featuring our Academy students performing La Manta, a traditional son Jarocho from Veracruz, Mexico was released.
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2017
We released, and hosted the first of two screenings of, our film Conexiones: Los Cenzontles In Cuba, A Musical Journey of Connection, chronicling Los Cenzontles’ 2016 cultural exchange to Cuba.
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2017
Concerts of 2017 September 21—Los Cenzontles hosted the legendary David Hidalgo, from Los Lobos—a master singer, multi-instrumentalist, and composer—to present “One Lobo One Night”: Mexican roots fused with rock and blues. October 16—Master folk artist Atilano Lopez Patricio from Jaracuara, Michoacan (with whom Los Cenzontles have collaborated since 2000) joined us for a full week, and Los Cenzontles presented a performance of unique and beautiful pirekuas and sones abajeños in the traditional style of the P’urepecha people, native to the Mexican state of Michoacan.
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2018
Los Cenzontles releases a new album of cover songs – “Covers 2” – Infusing Latin sounds into classic American rock songs.
2018
Conexiones, A Cuban Mexican Connection is screened at film festivals and broadcast on PBS affiliates throughout the country.
2018
Release of musical album Alma P’urhépecha with maestro Atilano López Patricio. Features pirekuas and sones abajeños of Indigenous Michoacán.
2018
For one week in December, 2018, Los Cenzontles was hosted by the famous New Orleans institution, Preservation Hall, as their artist-in-residence. Documenting the week-long collaboration with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, (as well as other local arts and culture organizations), was filmmaker James Hall. James edited the wonderful photomontage video below.
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2019
Los Cenzontles performs on the steps of the Capital in Sacramento at California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Inauguration.
2019
Los Cenzontles performed on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage and at the Library of Congress with support from the American Folklife Center. It was a wonderful recognition of our 30 years of promoting Mexican traditions.
2019
The Los Cenzontles Touring Band and 17 youth, traveled with Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, and a documentary film crew, to the Rio Sonora Valley in Sonora, Mexico, to perform a variety of traditional Mexican music in the pueblos of Banamichi and Arizpe. The performances took place in the town plazas, free to the public, on Saturday and Sunday, February 16 & 17. The March 10th Sunday edition of the L.A. Times included cover article on the trip and many Los Cenzontles voices were represented–students, teachers, and band members.
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2020
Release of the original song and video El Corrido de Anza recounting the Anza expedition of 1775-76 that founded the San Francisco Presidio. The project was produced in partnership with the National Park Service.
Timeline photographs by: Mike Melnyk, Craig Sherod, Armando Quintero and members of Los Cenzontles.
