La tragedia del 29 de Agosto
Colonial 596 · Monterey Park, California
- Artist
- Lalo Guerrero
- Title
- La tragedia del 29 de Agosto
- Release
- La tragedia del 29 de Agosto / Homenaje a Ruben Salazar
- Label
- Colonial # 596
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- Spanish
- Country
- Monterey Park, California, USA
- Songwriter
- Lalo Guerrero
- Genre
- Hispanic Music · Corrido · Tejano
- Primary theme
- Home Front Perspective / Soldier's Perspective
Annotation — Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs
Double-sided Vietnam War record, with the song "La tragedia del 29 de Agosto" (The tragedy of August 29) and the track "Homenaje a Ruben Salazar" ("Tribute to Ruben Salazar") (Colonial # 596), released in Monterey Park, California, USA. Lalo Guerrero was born 24 December 1916, in Tucson, Arizona, USA, and died 17 March 2005, in Rancho Mirage, California, USA. He has the nickname "The Father of Chicano Music". Both songs are about the death of Mexican-American journalist Ruben Salazar, who died while covering the Chicano Moratorium protest march on 29 August 1970. In his book, Lalo Guerrero said:"On August 29 1970, thousands of anti-war demonstrators gathered in Laguna Park in East Los Angeles. Most of them were young Latinos, but there were also Anglos and blacks. It started as a peaceful march, but people got all worked up. As far as I can remember that's the firs time I heard the word 'Chicano' used as a battle cry. They were raising their fists and yelling 'Viva la raso' and 'Somos Chicanos'. Then the police came and it got really rough. Everyone started running. Ruben Salazar, a KMEX-TV news director and a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, was there to cover the story. A few blocks from the park he ducked into the Silver Dollar Bar and was accidentally killed by a tear gas canister that was shot into the room. Another life wasted. For him I wrote the corrido 'La tragedia del 29 de Agosto'".
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: On August 29 1970, thousands of anti-war demonstrators gathered in Laguna Park in East Los Angeles. Most of them were young Latinos, but there were also Anglos and blacks. It started as a peaceful march, but people got all worked up. As far as I can remember that's the firs time I heard the word 'Chicano' used as a battle cry. They were raising their fists and yelling 'Viva la raso' and 'Somos Chicanos'. Then the police came and it got really rough. Everyone started running. Ruben Salazar, a KMEX-TV news director and a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, was there to cover the story. A few blocks from the park he ducked into the Silver Dollar Bar and was accidently killed by a tear gas canister that was shot into the room. Another life wasted. For him I wrote the corrido 'La tragedia del 29 de Agosto'".
About the artist
Born 24 December 1916, Tucson, Arizona, USA. Died 17 March 2005, Rancho Mirage, California, USA