Last Saturday night at the Disney Concert Hall, a PBS documentary I scored LALO GUERRERO, THE ORIGINAL CHICANO won the 2007 Imagen Award for TV and Film Best Documentary. It has been a real pleasure to work with the producers Nancy De Los Santos and Dan Guerrero (Lalo's son, for those of you who didn't know). I hope more and more people would become familiar with Lalo's music. He really was an incredible musician. Here's a link to a "best of" CD.

Dan Guerrero's hilarious GAYTINO! will be performed as part of the Latino Laugh Festival in Los Angeles from June 22nd to June 24th. Dan will amaze the audience with this one-(gay)man show Saturday, June 23 at 7:30p.



Written and performed by Dan Guerrero
Directed by Diane Rodriguez

"A lovable wit… infectious lunacy!"
--Los Angeles Times


From Ethel Merman to Mariachi, Stephen Sondheim to Cesar Chávez, actor/producer Dan Guerrero tells all in ¡Gaytino!, his hilarious and touching autobiographical one-man show. Through memories and song, Guerrero traces his relationship with his late father, National Medal of Arts recipient and "father of Chicano music" Lalo Guerrero, to his time as a Broadway agent--he once represented child star Sarah Jessica Parker!--and current life in Los Angeles. Together, his stories form a remarkable journey through the gay experience and Chicano culture and history. Don't miss this compelling performance from an artist hailed by Hispanic Magazine as "one of the 25 most powerful Latinos in Hollywood."

Press Release

It has been a great week for Simple Music Productions. First of all,

STEAL A PENCIL FOR ME, the true story of a love triangle set in a concentration camp during the holocaust, won the "Best of the Fest" Audience Award at the Sonoma Valley Film Festival in California.



and

ANGELS IN THE DUST, a documentary about the Bothshabelo orphanage in South Africa, won the Audience Award at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham, North Carolina.




Also, The documentary I scored, LALO GUERRERO: THE ORIGINAL CHICANO, was nominated for a 2007 Alma Award.

After a weekend full of screenings, catching up with people, and having a great time, I can report that both Lalo Guerrero The Original Chicano and Los Lonely Boys: Cottonfields and Crossroads were a big hit! For those in Los Angeles, don't forget to see Lalo Guerero on KCET this Thursday at 8pm



Hanging out with Lalo Guerrero producers Dan Guerrero (aka Gaytino!) and Nancy De Los Santos. Oh, and of course, Edward James Olmos.

I have two documentaries that I scored in the Latino International Film Institute Film Festival in Los Angeles this year.  The first one is Lalo Guerrero The Original Chicano this Saturday, October 7th, at 3:45p at the Egyptian Theater.  The next one is Los Lonely Boys:  Cottonfields and Crossroads Sunday, October 8th at the Lloyd E. Rigler Theater.  I don't know if either of them repeat but you could download the entire schedule at the LALIFF web site.

www.latinofilm.org/index.php

This is a great film festival with some great films.  It's a good place to see what's going on in the Latino film world.

UPDATE
I forgot to put the time when Los Lonely Boys: Cottonfields and Crossroads starts. It is Sunday October 8th at 1:00p in the Lloyd E. Rigler Theater.

I went the other night to the premiere screening of the documentary Lalo Guerrero: The Original Chicano at the KCET lot on Sunset Blvd. This was the first time seeing the whole doc together in its final form and let me tell you it is an entertaining and comprehensive testament to the life and work of this wonderful musician. It is really a must-see for those interested in the evolution of the blending of Mexican and American culture in the United States and the role Lalo Guerrero played in it.

Ry Cooder, the slide guitar wonder and producer of Buena Vista Social Club, figures in prominently in the doc. Cooder was a big fan of Lalo and even produced an album together with him.

I myself am a big fan of Cooder and think that the score he composed for Paris Texas is one of the best and most original scores ever produced.


With Ry Cooder

Lalo Guerrero aires on KCET Thursday October 12th @ 8 PM and Sunday October 15th @ 10:30 PM.

Dan Guerrero's hilarious "Gaytino!" is performing right now at tthe Diversionary Theatre in San Diego. It runs until October 1. Come hear my music and see Dan's incredible performance.



“A master story teller, Guerrero takes us on a rollercoaster ride…"  LA Stage Magazine
“Fun…highly energetic presence….charming.”  Variety
“Blessed with charm, stature”  Los Angeles Weekly

Lalo Guerrero the Original Chicano
Produced by Dan Guerrero and Nancy de Los Santos
Original Music Score by Joseph Julian Gonzalez

Thursday October 12th @ 8 PM and Sunday October 15th @ 10:30 PM. 

Voces is a thirteen part series hosted by Edward James Olmos and showcasing the best of Latino culture.

You can get information about Voces and airings in other cities on their website. 
www.voces.tv