Richard Campos
Cucaracha 1447 · Fresno, California
- Artist
- Daniel Valdez
- Title
- Richard Campos
- Release
- El Louie / Richard Campos
- Label
- Cucaracha # 1447
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- Spanish
- Country
- Fresno, California, USA
- Songwriter
- Daniel Valdez
- Genre
- Hispanic Music · Corrido · Tejano · Contemporary Folk
- Primary theme
- Peace, Protest & Anti-War
Annotation — Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs
"Richard Campos", an obscure Mexican-American Vietnam War song from California, which also appeared under the name "Corrido de Ricardo Campos". It became more prominent and well-known after its inclusion in the Vietnam War Songbook, published in 1969 by Barbara Dane and Irwin Silber, which contained 100 Vietnam War songs. (1) (2) (3) (4) Dane recorded a version of the song on the album FTA!: Songs of the GI Resistance (Paredon Records # P-1003) called "Ballad of Richard Campos", discussed above. The song detailed the mistreatment of a Mexican-American soldier, K.I.A. in Vietnam: "dead at twenty-seven...killed far away in Viet Nam". The body lay unclaimed at the airport. It called on people to honor him: "for this Mexican boy, let America honor his name". The narrator pondered if he would be treated this way if he had not died. The song also questioned why someone should have to kill for their country, thus presenting anti-war sentiment. This song is based on the true story of Richard F. Campos (5) (6) Daniel Valdez was born 27 April 1949 in California, USA. His brother, Luis Valdez founded the Teatro Campesino in 1965, a Mexican-American theatrical group. There are two other…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Born 27 April 1949 in California, USA.