Ersi Arvizu

Ersi Arvizu stopped by the KXCI Studios ahead of her performance at Lalopalooza on Friday, December 9th at El Casino Ballroom as we celebrate the upcoming 100th Anniversary of legendary Tucson Born Musician Lalo Guerrero who was born on December 24th, 1916.

Ersi Arvizu is a voice from the past. Not in the dust-and-mothballs fashion, but in that tugging, gooseflesh-raising way – something wholly familiar yet seductively un-pinpointable. Ersi, Rosella and Mary Arvizu made up the 1960’s female group The Sisters. Ersi went on to sing with El Chicano where she provided the lead vocal to their classic recording of “Sabor a Mi.”  Ersi’s father, Arturo, was raised in Tucson’s Barrio Libre, where Lalo Guerrero also grew up and he is mentioned in Lalo’s classic song “Barrio Viejo.” Ersi Arvizu now lives in Mesa, Arizona. Read more about Ersi Arvizu on her artist page at Anti– and on Lalo Guerrero’s son Mark Guerrero’s page devoted to The Sisters.

Not to be missed, Ry Cooder will perform a selection of songs with Ersi Arvizu on vocals and a band put together by esteemed international bassist, and Tucson native, Rene Camacho. That same band will also back Adalberto Gallegos, a Tejano Music Hall of Fame singer and leader of Latin Breed.

Lalo Guerrero recorded three songs on the 2005 release Chávez Ravine: A Record by Ry Cooder; which was the twelfth studio album by Ry Cooder. It tells the story of Chávez Ravine, a Mexican-American community demolished in the 1950s to build public housing, which instead became Dodger Stadium. Ry collaborated with Lalo on those recordings as well as with Ersi Arvizu, an East L.A. singer who had hits with ’70s band El Chicano. Ry and Ersi went on to record 2008’s Friend For Life (Anti-) by Ersi Arvizu. The backup band on that album also included Rene Camacho.

Pepe Galvez and mariachi historian Daniel Buckley have helped to curate a night of music and memories celebrating the heritage of Lalo Guerrero. Special guests and musical performances for the evening include Lalo Guerrero’s sons Dan Guerrero and Mark Guerrero, Ersi Arvizu with Ry Cooder, Rene Camacho Band with Adalberto Gallegos, Los Nawdy Dawgs, Ismael Barajas, Ted Ramirez, Bobby Benton, and more.

ON LINE TICKET SALES ARE COMPLETED. YOU ARE WELCOME TO TAKE YOUR CHANCES AT THE VENUE.

Recorded and produced by Amanda Shauger.

The following three tracks are used in the interview and highlight Ersi Arvizu’s vocal talent.

Sabor a Mi 3:18
El Chicano
The Best Of El Chicano 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection
Geffen 2004

Muy Fifi 4:03
Chavez Ravine
A Record by Ry Cooder,
Nonesuch 2005

Mil Besos 3″57
Ersi Arvizu
Friend for Life
Anti- 2008