THIS WEEK ON LATINOPIA: CELEBRATING RUDY SALAS MUSICIAN EXTRAORDINAIRE, LOUIE PÉREZ ON IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON MUSIC IN 2020 AND WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2021, EVELINA FERNÁNDEZ ON COVID IMPACT ON TEATRO IN 2020 AND WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2021, AND REMEMBERING THOSE WE LOST IN 2020.
End of one year and beginning of another, and with it many changes.
The Latino arts were greatly impacted in 2020 by the Covid-19 virus. This was particularly true of the creative arts: Literature, Music, Theater, Art, and Cinema. This week we begin a series of platicas with five prominent artists, each a giant in their own field, as they reflect on the impact of Covid 19 and what to expect in 2021. We begin this week interviewing Louie Pérez, musician and songwriter and co-founder of the music group Los Lobos, as he discusses how the virus impacted music last year and what we can expect in the field of music in 2021. Also this week, Evelina Fernández, playwright and Associate Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Theater Center, as she comments on the impact of the virus on teatro and what we may expect in 2021.
This week we lost a giant in Latino/Chicano music, Rudy Salas. He and his brother, Steve Salas, co-founded the music group Tierra and helped establish a unique Chicano sound out of East Los Angeles. We reprise interviews with Rudy and Steve speaking about how Tierra came about, the success of their music, especially the song “Together,” and their performance at Carnegie Hall.
Rudy Salas was only the latest of creative people in the arts whom we lost, we post here a partial listing of some of these “Latinopia Heroes.”
As we jump into the New Year let’s not lose sight of the fact that, despite the ravages of last year, we have much to be optimistic about. We have a new President and at least two versions of the Covid-19 vaccine have been approved for use on Americans. It may take us a moment, but we will bounce back. In the meantime, now is not the time to let our guard down. Please remember to wear your mask, wash your hands regularly and keep distancing. Stay safe for must a few more months until you can receive the vaccine.
In the meantime, keep enjoying Latinopia every week!
Adelante!
Tia Tenopia