L.A. OGs WAR (the ORIGINAL band): ‘Cinco de Mayo’ (1981 complete)

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This 1981 single from WAR was the first time many non-Latinos heard of Cinco de Mayo. This photo shows the original guys at the Sunset Grill (7439 Sunset, next to their offices (Far Out Productions) at 7417 Sunset. The Guitar Center swallowed up 7417 a while back.

L-R: Charles Miller (sax, RIP), Lonnie Jordan (keyboards, the only original member in the new  WAR), Howard Scott (guitar, Lowrider Band), Harold Brown (drums, Lowrider Band), B.B. Dickerson (bass, RIP), Lee Oskar (harmonica, Lowrider Band). Not pictured, Papa Dee Allen  (RIP, percussion).

  • DISCLOSURE: I was WAR’s National Director of Album Promotion for a while and ate so often at the Sunset Grill (like in the Eagles song) I could run a tab.

Mas…L.A. OGs WAR (the ORIGINAL band): ‘Cinco de Mayo’ (1981 complete)

Happy May Day 2021 from the Workers of the World (video, lyrics)

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Enjoy the Internacional, the world-wide (Get it? It’s international!) anthem of those commie cabrones in Russia and Cuba and Venezuela and China and North Korea (and lurking in secretive corona-is-a-hoax cells here in the Homeland but the lamestream media won’t tell you that).

Today, May 1, is May Day AKA International Workers’ Day, when the comrades sing this stirring appeal, with its hummable melody and a vague vision of making the future great again that’s hard to disagree with, except maybe the LUCHA FINAL aspect.

Mas…Happy May Day 2021 from the Workers of the World (video, lyrics)

New Smithsonian video celebrates the art of POCHO Jefe Lalo Alcaraz


The Smithsonian American Art Museum writes:

Artist Lalo Alcaraz created the striking digital portrait “I Stand with Emma” of Emma González after watching the high school senior advocate for stronger gun control in an impassioned speech days after surviving the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Mas…New Smithsonian video celebrates the art of POCHO Jefe Lalo Alcaraz

Hip Hop Hoodíos: ‘Mexican Miller (The Self-Hating Stephen Miller Song)’

Former nice Jewish boy and current White House official Stephen Miller coagulates coordinates Trump’s bloody anti-immigrant message and policies.

This begs the musical question: What would Miller rap about if he were a self-hating Mexican and not a self-hating Jew?

Mas…Hip Hop Hoodíos: ‘Mexican Miller (The Self-Hating Stephen Miller Song)’

Happy May Day 2020 from the Workers of the World (video, lyrics)

maydaybigEnjoy the Internacional, the world-wide (Get it? It’s international!) anthem of those commie cabrones in Russia and Cuba and Venezuela and China and North Korea (and lurking in secretive anti-lockdown cells here in the Homeland but the lamestream media won’t tell you that).

Today, May 1, is May Day AKA International Workers’ Day, when the comrades sing this stirring appeal, with its hummable melody and a vague vision of making the future great again that’s hard to disagree with, except maybe the LUCHA FINAL aspect.

Mas…Happy May Day 2020 from the Workers of the World (video, lyrics)

Vanessa Del Fierro: ‘Con Este Tequila, I Will Forget You Tonight’ (video y lyrics)


Our favorite mariachi, Vanessa Del Fierro, has a big Texas voice and incredible emotional depth. As the leader of Mariachi Las Coronelas, she’s brought her San Antonio crew crossover popularity with an eclectic mix of traditional tunes and surprise pop favorites.

She’s been teasing this video on her Facebook for a while and now we have it!

She sent us this email last night:

Mas…Vanessa Del Fierro: ‘Con Este Tequila, I Will Forget You Tonight’ (video y lyrics)

Chicana on the Edge Reviews ‘American Dirt’ by Jeanine Cummins (video)

Regina Rodríguez-Martin, aka blogger Chicana on the Edge, read and reviewed Jeanine Cummins American Dirt as a public service.

Her review starts like this:

Three weeks ago I got an email announcing a new book club for women over 50, and the first novel they were going to read was Jeanine Cummins’ American Dirt. The novel focuses on a Mexican woman’s journey from her home in Acapulco to the U.S, crossing without papers in extremely dangerous ways.

Then I read about the book’s big controversy. Latinos were angry about the red carpet treatment given to this book written by a white woman because Mexican Americans telling similar stories don’t get nearly as much attention from publishers. The most scathing review was written by Myriam Gurba (and I urge you to read it). I would usually pass on a book like this.

Mas…Chicana on the Edge Reviews ‘American Dirt’ by Jeanine Cummins (video)

54 Years Ago in East Los: ‘Happy New Year Baby’ from The Sisters


Fifty-four years go – 1965 – big hair and girl groups were what all the cool kids dug in East Los Angeles.

Sisters Rosella, Ersi, and Mary Arvizu believed they could be the next Supremes — even before there were Supremes. They called themselves The Sisters.

Mark Guerrero, son of Chicano music legend Lalo Guerrero, tells the story:

Mas…54 Years Ago in East Los: ‘Happy New Year Baby’ from The Sisters