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• | June 2006 |
• | July 2006 |
• | June 2007 |
• | August 2007 |
• | November 2007 |

Ted Ramirez , Michael Ronstadt ,
Gilbert Brown

Editor's Comment: This is Lady Floppy Ears IVth the Anthropomorphic Rabbit.......Look out! From my experience, she is absolutely guileless, (ignorance is bliss?) and totally in love with herself! She gets things wrong constantly, but has an answer for everything, which you cannot dispute! She is completely confident and Self centred beyond belief! If she gets your name wrong it’s because she hasn't listened in the first place! She is the most lovable, funny, honest and shameless friend you could have! Her favourite pastime is "MEEEEEEEE” !!

Sad to Have to Say - So Long to Raices...

Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop

Over the last couple of years we had a very wonderful association with Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery and Workshop. We have put on numerous concerts, and have made many wonderful friends. We were informed by the Gallery that they will not be able to host our concerts due to a low number of staff and volunteer personnel. We understand the situation and have cancelled our future 4th Friday concerts there at Raices Taller.

We wish to thank all the people involved in helping us with the Raices Concerts especially John, Ceci and all the Raices artists, Bob Wagner, and Joy Holdread. We hope to continue to work with Raices whenever possible.

You Can Host or Sponsor a House Concert Too!

Do you see your town on the Santa Cruz River Band Schedule? Well, if you'd like to have the Santa Cruz River Band visit and perform for you and your friends in a very special concert setting, all you need to do is sponsor your own house concert. Here is how to put one together!

SCRB House Concert Overview & Guidelines

SCRB house concerts build strong lasting friendships between us, the presenters and your friends and listeners. For us a house concert provides an intimate, wonderful performance environment-one that they love to be in. The house concert setting also plays an important role in our band's touring schedule.

There are many towns where it is hard to find a good venue to perform in. There are many times when our travel take us through area where we have lots of good friends, but not on a Friday or Saturday night when most venues present music-so we just keep on moving to the next gig.

A house concert can help us to stop, perform and connect with our friends-it gives us a chance to play for you! There are folks that would love to see and hear the Santa Cruz River Band in a more private setting. The house concert is an answer to all of these situations.

Lots of good things come out of a house concert. For us, it’s a chance to do our thing in front of a friendly “listening environment”-it also helps us earn a little travel money and that helps to keep us touring. For the audience, it’s a chance to get a little closer and really hear the songs. We always get a chance to talk and learn for each other too. For me that is one of the best parts. I have enjoyed many wonderful conversations with people after a performance.

House concerts are as different as the personality and the inclination of the host. Some provide snacks and beverages, others invite people to bring a plate of finger food. Some concerts are held inside others outdoors-anywhere the host finds to be the best and most inviting spot for the event.

Promotion

In our experience, people will come to a house concert for the following reasons:

A big reason for the house concerts is that people are interested in a safe, friendly social activity that isn't’t commercialized.

It is essential to promote the event in the same way you would any celebration you have decided to host in your own home. You might phone people, send written invitations, (personal contact is crucial).

You might want to advertise, by putting a poster up at your office, church, etc., or a note in a community news letter. You can distribute fliers or (if it is a public event) you can put an announcement in the calendar section of your local newspaper (often this is free in local papers). We will help you with materials just give us a call.

Most house concerts are private events. The host usually makes telephone calls and sends e-mails to friends and neighbors about the event. The “Public” do not usually come to House Concerts, but this depends on the host.

A House Concert's Basic Ingredients

1. Around 25 People.
2. A place for them to sit comfortably.

The actual size of the room will pretty much determine the potential audience. A good rule of thumb is 3 square feet per person. There are several ways to seat 40 people in a living room. Ask everyone to bring a folding chair or a cushion. Borrow stacking chairs from a church or union hall.

If your living room is too small-remember the sponsor and the host need not be the same person. It is a long standing and sensible tradition to ask a friend with a big living room into offering it for the occasion.

The shows can be preceded or followed by a pot luck dinner, a catered meal or finger food. Living rooms are generally preferred to yards and porches because they are more intimate, the acoustics are better. P. A. is usually not required for a house concert, but is available if required. We take great care to insure the sound level is not a problem for your neighbors. Smoking is generally forbidden!

Concerts can be held anytime convenient for the host and the band, usually in the afternoon or early evening.

The Concert usually begins with an introduction by the host, or friend and then we play for two 45 minute sets with a break in the middle.

What does it Cost?

The cost to have a Santa Cruz River Band House Concert depends on the day of the week and the geographical location. Usually the host will charge an admission fee (usually $10-$20 per ticket). Tickets are usually sold in advance-that way we all know what to expect. Some hosts like to use evite.com or paypal.com – both are excellent tools to handle ticket sales. Others prefer to have a check mailed or delivered.

$300 to $400 is probably a pretty fair base rate for the band on a quiet night, and that breaks down to only $10-$15 per person for 15 couples. Getting 15 friends is usually an easy thing to do! We sell our CDs and we retain the proceeds from our sales this helps make it a profitable venture for us.

Most sponsors give the full door to the band, but some take out expenses for the coffee, tea, etc. Some like a small cut of the door or share the money with a favorite cause. We work this out on an individual basis.

A house concert is something sponsored primarily for the music and the fun, not for money. That is a big part of the charm. It makes the whole thing very personal.

The Performance

The Santa Cruz River Band will do a full “show” just like a public concert, but will be more intimate and a little more casual! We will provide all the musical equipment (if needed). We provide promo materials, including graphics, poster art and a write up the sponsor can send out or draw upon.

Tickets

Should there be printed tickets? A reservation list? RSVP’s? This is what the host must decide! However, we recommend the advance ticket route or pre-paid reservations. People who have already bought tickets don’t usually change their minds at the last minute. We have seen an RSVP 'd (un ticketed) full house evaporate because a storm blew in. The best advertisement is someone who has already bought a ticket!

Concert Fundraisers

Fund raising by holding a house concert can work out well, but demands careful planning, and may involve increased costs and a higher guarantee to the Band. A lot will depend on the size of the event.

A gathering of 40 people can raise less than $100 or over $1000. It is not a lot harder to raise a larger amount, but the event must be planned with the fund raising goal firmly in mind.

Would you like to host a House Concert? Please call or send us an e-mail with your House Concert Proposal! We look forward to hearing from you!

Rae Miller is a very happy host already and here is what she wrote to us after her House Concert with us!

Mary Rosas is another very happy host-here is what she and her guests wrote about Mary's outdoor House Concert!

The Band has been invited to a Welsh House Concert in Llanrwst, Conwy, North Wales on July 23rd. This is being hosted by Elvina! The view from her home is a complete panorama of the Snowdonia Mountain Range! A sight to take your breath away! JH-editor

Delgado Guitars!

Last summer while touring in and around Nashville, we had the pleasure of meeting Manuel Delgado master luthier. Below is a short list of musicians who use his guitars and his family's history. TR

Celedonio Romero, Andrès Segovia, Theodore Bikel, Josè Feliciano, Jackson Browne, Sheryl Crow, Louie Pèrez & David Hidalgo of Los Lobos and many more...

Manuel’s story really begins in the early 1900's in Torreón, México, in the state of Coahuila, Mexico. Manuel’s Great-Uncle, Candelario Delgado Flores (Candelas), born in 1911 and his Grandfather Porfirio Delgado Flores (Pilo), born in 1913 began with different careers. Pilo was a cabinet-maker and Candelas was a singer/guitarist. The brothers joined forces and began building guitars in their home. They soon organized a Cuban-style band called "Son Torreón." The Delgado brothers made all of the instruments for the band and Manuel’s Great-uncle, Candelas is credited for making the first "cut-away" guitar for their band.

The band and guitar making continued and a shop was rented on Xavier Mina Street in Torreón. Soon the repair business grew. Most of the guitars in Mexico at that time came from Spain, and their closest local competitor was 800 miles away in Aguas Calientes. Before too long, the brother’s hard work built a thriving business.

In 1937, both brothers decided to relocate to Juárez, Mexico. They operated the shop together until 1945 when Candelas went to El Paso to work for the defense industry.

Candelas, in his many years of marriage, had never sired any offspring. However, his younger brother, Pilo had five children, four daughters and a son named after his brother. "Candelitas" Delgado was born March 1, 1944. Candelario, Manuel’s father, represented the second-generation luthier.

Pilo continued to operate the shop in Juárez until the end of World War II when Candelas opened his own store in El Paso, Texas in 1946. But the demand for their work was great in Los Angeles. So in 1948, Pilo and Candelas opened their first shop at 2718 Brooklyn Avenue, Los Angeles, California. They continued to import guitars from Juárez and El Paso and to make fine guitars in their shop.

In 1950, the brothers opened a new shop at 1066 Sunset Blvd that remained open for over 30 years. During that period, instruments were made for many famous artists.

In 1955, Manuel’s father, "Candelitas," as he was called, started coming to the store to help his father and uncle every day. He learned to repair instruments and became a master luthier. In 1962, Manuel’s Great-Uncle, Candelas made the first guitar carved from a solid piece of Honduras mahogany. Eventually, Candelas Delgado created an impressive list of clients from all over the world. including; Theodore Bikel, Burl Ives, Laurindo Almeida, Vicenete Gomes, William Clauson, Arlo Guthrie, Hoyt Axton, Jose Feliciano, Charo, Jose Barroso, Luis Florriaga, Virginia Santos, Arturo Valdez, Jose Oribe, The Kingston Trio, The Christy Minstrels, Pepe Romero, Celedonio Romero, and Andrès Segovia.

Candelas, "Candelitas", married in 1967 to Marta Loredo and started a family. Together they had three children, Monica, Thomas, and Manuel.

Manuel loved to spend time with his father and learned to fix anything from wood projects to damaged electronic devices the neighboring shop-keepers would throw in the dumpster! Manuel’s father built his first guitar at age 14. When Manuel was 12, he set out to beat his father’s record. Manuel succeeded, completing his first guitar by age 12, two years younger than his father’s first build.

After the death of Manuel’s Great-Uncle, Candelario "Candelas" Delgado in 1985, Pilo and his son Candelas continued the business for some time. Eventually, the young Candelas took over the business and brought it to new heights.

As Manuel grew up, he spent more time at the shop working beside his father. After school, summers during middle and high school, Manuel spent many hours learning the fine points of building guitars and perfecting his technique. He worked full time while tending to his studies in college.

After 9/11, Manuel designed and built, "The Unity Guitar."

Created to raise money for the undocumented victims of 9/11, Manuel sought out artists from all styles of music to support the project. The goal was for not only the instrument that was made from woods from around the world, to represent unity, but the artists as well. Manuel’s guitar raised over $35,000. To read more about Manuel’s “Unity Guitar,” click on the Unity Guitar.

Early in 2005, Manuel moved to “Music City, USA,” city of Nashville, Tennessee, to continue following his family’s tradition. Manuel now has a shop of his own. Here he creates high-end Classical guitars, steel-strings, Resophonics, classical concert guitars, flamenco guitars, bajo sextos, requintos románticos, requintos jarochos, jaranas, steel string acoustics, tres, guitarrones, vihuelas, many of the traditional instruments he grew up around. Each instrument is built entirely by Manuel. He has no apprentices or helpers and chooses to design and build from start to finish. Local stores in Nashville currently carry "Delgado Guitars" and many others have shown interest.

Manuel is committed to build fine instruments with the integrity and respect of the Delgado family’s tradition.

Call Delgado Guitars at (615) 227-4578 and visit their website at www.delgadoguitars.com today!

The Music Corner!

Greetings! I hope everyone has had a good month and is having a good day. I consider any day good if I take my requinto out of its case, and the bridge is still glued on. Well, there are other benchmarks, but that’s one of ‘em. GB

Live Performance Techniques Part 2

Our frame of mind has much to do with our success or failure on stage. You can be angry and upset and dig one heck of a ditch, but try singing a ballad that way. Often easier said than done, try to check all your troubles and attitudes before hitting the stage. They will still be there when you finish your performance and you can deal with them at that time. If you are unable to do this, it will wreak havoc with your focus and timing, and it will get communicated to your audience.

Shall I sit or stand? We in the band used to ask ourselves that before every performance but seldom these days. There are occasions where sitting can be the best choice; for example when you are in a very small room and intimacy is desired way above energy. Another time I would prefer to sit is when doing something especially demanding instrumentally. But for the vast majority of performances, we always stand. It adds energy, enables us to sing with the most power and makes the best presentation to the audience. You may struggle at first, trying to stand, maintain control of your instrument and sing at the same time, but with practice it will become second nature and a real plus to your performance.

Till next time, adios. GB

The Web Page!

Hello everyone…..

I would like to thank Alan Hom for last months drawing. We will see more of Alan’s work in the future.

Thank you for all the photos sent in this month. We will be getting some of them up on our gallery at http://santacruzriverband.com/gallery.html.

If you have photos or images that you would like to share please send those to my Gmail address at Michael.ronstadt@gmail.com. I use the Gmail address because it will accept files up to 10MB. Someone sent me a picture of one of the windmills my grandfather sold in Southern Arizona with the F. Ronstadt Hardware name on the tail and it was inspired by the “Mill of Oracle” song on our Volume 1 CD.

I look forward to hearing from you and seeing what visual treasures the Santa Cruz River Band fan base may hold.

This Issue's Featured Image

This photo was taken by Arthur Miscione on our Northern California Tour in February 2005. I am glad we do not have to travel to Wales this year on this ship!

Guest Book

We also have a new guest book where you can leave messages and comments. Click Here To Check It Out!

Here is one of this month's comments:

Thank you to everyone who has added to our Gallery and Guest Book. I am looking forward to seeing what next month brings...

Until next time… Adios MR

Folklore - Myth - History - Truth!

Arthur was the legendary King of medieval Britain, and the hero of one of the most exciting and often recounted cycle of legends and romances. He is said to have been born in Tintagel in Cornwall, son of King Uther Pendragon and the Duke of Tintagel's wife Igraine. The sorceror Merlin arranged the deceit that allowed the joining of the two, and asked that the product of that union, Arthur, be turned over to him for nurturing and learning. Arthur went on to become King of Britain and, with the help and support of his advisor Merlin, he held court at Camelot as the leader of the nights of the Round Table. The knights rode out to accomplish great deeds and to seek adventure, their most notable mission, the quest of the Holy Grail-in Christian legend the holy cup used by Christ at the Last Supper. Betrayed by his wife Guinevere and his son or nephew Mordred, he was mortally wounded in battle against Mordred and carried away to Avalon, the land of immortal heroes. Legends tell that he will return from Avalon to lead his countrymen in the time of their greatest peril.

Little is known of the real Arthur, though most historians agree that the Arthur of legend is probably based on a British war-chief of the 6th century A.D named Roman Artorius. He was likely a leader of the Romanized Britons against the Saxon war-bands which invaded Britain from around 450 A.D onwards. In the Book of Complaints written by Gildas around the year 540 AD, it says that the Saxons were defeated in a great battle at Mount Badon in about the year 500. Although Arthur isn't mentioned by name in that account, Nennius' History of the Britons written in the early 9th century says that Arthur was dux bellorum of the Britons -- war chief -- or general, at the Battle of Mount Badon. The Cambrian Annals written in the 10th century say that Arthur defeated the Saxons at Mount Badon in 516, and also mentions the battle of Camlann, in which Arthur and Medraut (Mordred) fell. Arthur dreaming of a boar vanquishing a dragon The Arthur of Celtic legend was a hero of Herculean proportions. He rid the land of giants, and fought monsters and witches. He slaughtered the Demon Cat of Losanne, and hunted the fabulous boar Twrch Trwyth, driving him into the sea. One of Arthur's titles was 'The Boar of Cornwall. A Welsh poem, The Spoils of Annwn probably written in the 10th century, refers to Arthur's raid on the land of the dead, the isle of Annwn. The object of the raid was to seize the magic cauldron of Annwn, from which only the brave and the true could eat. This cauldron may be the original Grail, and, supplying the food of immortal heroes, Arthur may have gained immortality by seizing it. In the early Celtic stories Arthur has a large band of comrades, including Cei Wynn (Sir Kay in the later romances), Gereint (Sir Gareth), and Llenlleawc (Sir Lancelot). His wife is Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere). The old Celtic Gods, now men, are also in these stories. Manawydan, Teyrnon, and Gwynn son of Nudd, the master of Hell.

La Cocina!

The above recipes are from Lisa Rodriguez. Thank you Lisa!

The one below is one of my own - Jan Hedgcock.

Letters to the Editor!

From: Sally Yeatman
Sent: Sunday, July 02, 2006

Am a big fan and so enjoyed seeing the band at Ramsey Canyon and Pt. Reyes CA last year. (Add me to your list!) Will be at Ramsey Canyon the first week-end in November and if Brown anniversary is open to public, will see you, or perhaps in Tucson. Have a good Wales tour; so sorry to hear of Arthur's death. Sally - from northern California

• | June 2006 |
• | July 2006 |
• | June 2007 |
• | August 2007 |
• | November 2007 |