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They’ve toured the United States,
creating a myriad of string sounds and passionate picks that have moved
audiences literally and emotionally for three generations.
They are so rich in the very fabric of music that the Smithsonian came calling
for a piece for posterity. Other museums have also recognized the significance
and made calls as well.
And while the past is steeped in tradition, the future holds much more for
the hand-made guitars of Candelas Guitars, a Latino-owned family shop that
has been a fixture in Los Angeles since the 1940s.
Still in East LA on Cesar Chavez Avenue (respect and grace to Señor Chavez,
but that street will always be Brooklyn Avenue to many, including those
at Candelas Guitars), the Delgado family creates hand-made guitars that
are the best in the world. The who’s who of customers – return customers
– reads like a Latino Music Hall of Fame:
Andres Segovia, Jose Feliciano, Los Lobos, Vicente Gomez, Jose Barroso,
Pepe Romero, Laurindo Almeida, Vicente Gomez, Ozomatli and Charo, Mario
Moreno “Cantinflas”, Miguel Aceves Mejia, Marcello Chavez, “Tin Tan”, Hermanos
Villa, Los Hermanos Flores, Los Tres Cahelleros (known for their Walt Disney
films), Trio Urquiza, and Pepe Gamboa (a custom three-neck guitar). And
then there's The Kingston Trio, Arlo Guthrie, Jackson Browne, Paul Young,
William Clauson, Hoyt Axton, Burl Ives, Theador Bikel, and The Christy Minstrels.
Remember Ricky Ricardo on “I Love Lucy?”
Well the guy playing guitar – Eduardo Ruiz – used only Candelas guitars
as Desi Arnez’ lead guitarist.
While today’s kids might only know Ozomatli and Los Lobos, the tradition
is alive and well with the hermanos Delgado. Tomas and Manuel craft each
guitar according to how long it takes to make. Along with a small staff
and Spartan work areas, the tradition of quality and community is honored.
In the wake of 9/11, the brothers found that their community stretched beyond
the marked boundaries of Boyle Heights. Manuel, driven by divine inspiration,
created a guitar to be raffled to raise money for the victims. This is no
ordinary guitar. Painted with the image of the American flag, the stars
made of mother-of-pearl, it has been signed by some of the world’s most
famous musicians. Named the “Unity Guitar,” it is made with wood from around
the world: Canadian spruce on the face, American maple on the back, Honduran
mahogany for the neck and African ebony for the fingerboard. At face value,
it might sell for $8,000.
The 30 or so signatures have a cumulative total of 47 Grammy awards and
include Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and Grammy Hall of Fame members. The
signatures are diverse with artists ranging from the Dixie Chicks to Luis
Miguel, from Little Richard to David Lee Roth. The signatures have made
the guitar peerless and priceless.
On Saturday, September 28, the brothers will raffle the Unity Guitar as
part of a tremendous concert/street fair that is headlined by Ozomatli.
Again, the lineup is diverse in Spanish-language music: The Mariachi Divas,
Sol de Alegria, Domingo Siete, Son del Sur, Latin Sensation and LA Blues
Central. Los Angeles Councilmember Nick Pacheco is co-hosting the event
and Pepe Baretto, Cecilia Bográn and Salvador Morales will emcee.
How does one bring together a community of artists, politicians and television
personalities? The same way they have united a community for three generations.
By touching those in real need.
The proceeds will benefit Latino families victimized by the 9/11 attacks
that are not able to receive funds from the government although their tragedy
is the same as any affected on that day. These forgotten Latinos were often
overlooked even before the attacks: Food service workers, maintenance workers,
construction workers, etc. The non-profit Tepeyac Association of New York
http://www.Tepeyac.org helped the Delgado brothers identify these families
in need.
Meanwhile, the fire near La Verne threatens Tomas’ home. Tomas keeps his
calm, keeps his humor and trusts his volunteers completely.
“Hey, they are the experts at doing things like this,” Tomas said just five
days before an event expected to pour anywhere from 3,000-5,000 onto Cesar
Chavez Avenue between Mott and Evergreen for a show of compassion and Unity.
“You have to remember, I’m just a guitar maker.”
Ah, but it’s obvious that los hermanos Delgado are much more than that.
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