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Guide to Cantos, Corridos and Alabanzas de Juan Sebedeo Lucero y Otero - under the title of - Canciones and Alabanzas de Juan Sebedeo Lucero y Otero (photocopy)

 Item — Box: 1, Folder: 2

Scope and Contents

The book contains song lyrics and song commentaries, photos and background on Juan and his family. It also contains lyrics and background for several songs that were not recorded for this collection.

Among them are various alabados, including Lucero's Pobrecitos Angeles, about abortion, Anglo American greed, mistreatment of the Mexicano, immigrants, injustice, and children suffering around the world. Another is the Corrido de Ernesto Trujillo, about the death of a young Chicano at Roosevelt Park in Albuquerque, June 22, 1975, fight between Chicanos and African Americans, setting fires, African Americans with guns, police coming, four wounded, Trujillo died.

The song, Escuela de error, tells how in his school years Juan Lucero, as a manito, experienced hatred and racism against his Spanish raza, prejudice, damage to the manitos, not able to speak their Spanish language, Anglo American mistreatment of those in hunger, need, injustice. Another song is Tonterias, about how in the past in his youth Juan knew love, joy, faith, good mothers, fathers and friends, and now in 1985 he saw all the stupidities of the society, no respect, nothing matters, only bars, bingo, money, envy and anger.

There are also some short parts of Canciones viejas del Torreon, New Mexico or old songs from Torreon, referring to the Indians of San Juan Pueblo, the Indita de Cochiti, el Indio Manuel and driving his old Ford with the girls to dances at Torreon. One longer one is Lamento de un Borreguero, and the rats, coyotes and rough life of a shepherd living out on the praire with his sheep. Another is Arizona el mentado, about a manito from Torrance County, by Pablo Perea, who went to work in Arizona for opportunities, but in the end did not get paid. A third is the Corrido del Llano de Siete Lagunas, about a borreguero or shepherd who worked for the Oteros, out on the plains, met an Indita at the lagunas, bastante americanada, a song for the deceased Juan Perea, of Torreon.

One long song, both as a recording and with lyrics, is sort of a history about Torrance County, references to Spanish settlement in Estancia Valley, missions, ranchos, towns, arrival of Anglo American gringos from Texas who took control of the land with their guns, had no respect for rights, lives or the law, their lies, injustice, bloody history, they made slaves of the Hispanos, Hispano resistance, the fight for land grants, mentions of Manzano, Abo, Tijeras, Escobosa, San Isidro, Chilili, Tajique, Padre Francisco de Lllana, Quarai, Torreon, Punta de Agua, etc. There is a song called Lucero J, SP/4, which is Juan's tribute to the paratroopers who served in World War II, who landed in Sicily, in Italy, in Normandy, Holland, Belgium, France and Germany, gave their lives so that others can be free, death of soldier. Another of his songs is There Comes a Time, when we really all need to create love in the world and not war. He also composed Dear Estancia High School about remembering his teenage school years. Also the song El Pajaro is dedicated to the local soldiers who died in Vietnam.

Dates

  • 1950-2008

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Extent

From the Collection: 1 box (.38 cu. ft.)

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451