Ken Keppeler and Jeanie McLerie collection of Northern New Mexico Hispanic music
Collection
Identifier: MSS-838-BC
Scope and Content
This collection, recorded in the 1980s, reflects Ken Keppeler and Jeanie McLerie’s interests in the traditional Spanish music and dances of northern New Mexico, particularly in old time Spanish music featuring the violin or fiddle. Songs in the collection include old New Mexico Spanish valses, polkas, varsovianas, marchas, chotis, and inditas, as well as some rag time, country and Mexican tunes - some with vocals, some as instrumentals. The songs were recorded on 6 reel to reel tapes that have been reformatted to 6 CDs. The song titles have been provided by Ken Keppeler and Jeanie McLerie. Ken and Jeanie spent time playing with and learning from some of the finest Hispanic musicians of the day, including Isaac Martinez of Santa Fe, Eliseo Marquez of Chama, Eluterio Marquez at the Los Ojos Senior Center near Tierra Amarilla, and Cleofes Ortiz of Bernal, New Mexico. For example, they apprenticed and played with Cleofes Ortiz from 1984 to 1996, when he died. They learned about seventy five older Spanish colonial dance tunes from Ortiz.
Ken and Jeanie continue to play and teach the songs of these musicians as well as others they have known over the years. They donated these recordings to the John Donald Robb Archive in the Fine Arts Library of UNM. The collection was transferred to the Center for Southwest Research in the mid-1990s. Donating these recordings to the University of New Mexico fulfills part of their education mission.
Ken and Jeanie continue to play and teach the songs of these musicians as well as others they have known over the years. They donated these recordings to the John Donald Robb Archive in the Fine Arts Library of UNM. The collection was transferred to the Center for Southwest Research in the mid-1990s. Donating these recordings to the University of New Mexico fulfills part of their education mission.
Dates
- 1980-1985
Language of Materials
English Spanish
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Biography / History
Kenneth Keppeler was born in Los Angeles, CA and has family ties to New Mexico and Arizona. A professional musician since 1972, he sings and plays the fiddle, guitar, accordion, banjo, harmonica and mandolin. He received his BA in American Studies from UNM in 1994. As part of his study of traditional music, he completed a survey of cowboy songs and dances for the Smithsonian Institution. He and Peter White handmake a famed five-string violin.
Keppeler went to Louisiana in 1978 to learn Cajun music and met Jeanie McLerie. McLerie is from New Jersey and began playing professionally in 1962. She sings and plays the fiddle and guitar. They teamed up to play old time music and later married. They moved to New Mexico for her health and formed the Bayou Seco band. They now live in Silver City, New Mexico.
Keppeler and McLerie have expanded their research, study and performances to include Cajun, Creole, Zydeco, West Virginia bluegrass, country, cowboy, Tex-Mex, Tohono O’Odham Papago violin, Basque and northern colonial Spanish New Mexican music and dances. This New Mexican music collection is only a small part of their work. They continue to play and teach music and dance across New Mexico, the U.S. and in many other countries. They wrote a song “Obama’s Train" for the 2008 Presidential campaign visit in Silver City, New Mexico.
Keppeler went to Louisiana in 1978 to learn Cajun music and met Jeanie McLerie. McLerie is from New Jersey and began playing professionally in 1962. She sings and plays the fiddle and guitar. They teamed up to play old time music and later married. They moved to New Mexico for her health and formed the Bayou Seco band. They now live in Silver City, New Mexico.
Keppeler and McLerie have expanded their research, study and performances to include Cajun, Creole, Zydeco, West Virginia bluegrass, country, cowboy, Tex-Mex, Tohono O’Odham Papago violin, Basque and northern colonial Spanish New Mexican music and dances. This New Mexican music collection is only a small part of their work. They continue to play and teach music and dance across New Mexico, the U.S. and in many other countries. They wrote a song “Obama’s Train" for the 2008 Presidential campaign visit in Silver City, New Mexico.
Extent
1 box (6 CDs)
Abstract
This collection consists primarily of recordings of traditional Hispanic folk music performed by musicians in Santa Fe, Chama, Tierra Amarilla, and Bernal, New Mexico. Included are a few ragtime, country, Mexican tunes, and other favorites.
Separated Material
Original reels and archival CD masters housed on B3.
Processing Information
Audio (pitch) editing to be done by Ken Keppeler and Jeanie McLerie
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Ken Keppeler and Jeanie McLerie collection of Northern New Mexico Hispanic music, 1980-1985
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- A. Saletta, N. Brown-Martinez
- Date
- © 2011
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
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
cswrref@unm.edu
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
cswrref@unm.edu