Post by the Scribe on Aug 4, 2021 12:21:45 GMT
Linda Ronstadt gained fame with pop songs, but now her music reflects her Mexican heritage
www.modbee.com/latest-news/article3115238.html
BY LISA MILLEGAN
LMILLEGAN@MODBEE.COM
OCTOBER 30, 2008 12:46 PM
While Linda Ronstadt started her career singing pop songs like "When Will I Be Loved," she now only has a heart for Mexican music.
The 62-year-old entertainer and her longtime collaborator Mariachi Los Camperos de "Nati" Cano will perform traditional songs in Spanish on Saturday at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto. The show is the hottest program so far at the center this season, with tickets selling out an impressive two months ago.
In a recent phone interview, the outspoken singer talked about her plans for the show, her experience with the Spanish language and her views on the presidential election.
She will perform songs from her popular albums "Canciones de Mi Padre" (1987) and "Mas Canciones" (1991) and will be accompanied by eight dancers in colorful costumes.
"It's more like a variety show," she said. "We've done variations on Broadway and on Carnegie Hall. It's just about foolproof — nothing can kill it."
Ronstadt said she doesn't miss singing pop songs at all and enjoys performing for more family-oriented Mexican audiences. Whereas rock shows just tend to attract adults, Mexican shows will draw children through grandparents.
"It's who I want to communicate with and it's what I have to say," adding that she speaks in both Spanish and English to the crowds.
Born in Arizona to a family of Mexican, German and English ancestry, Ronstadt has sold more than 50 million albums and won 11 Grammy Awards.
She emerged in the music scene in the 1960s when she performed with The Stone Poneys, which recorded the top 20 hit "Different Drum."
Ronstadt became more prominent in the 1970s with her solo career, when she scored string of rock hits including "When Will I Be Loved," "You're No Good" and "It Doesn't Matter Anymore."
Ronstadt was the most successful female rock star of the time, appearing on the magazine covers of Rolling Stone, Newsweek and Time and filling concert arenas. During that time, she also gained a lot of publicity for her relationship with then-California Gov. Jerry Brown, who was a Democratic presidential candidate.
In the 1980s, Ronstadt starred opposite Kevin Kline in the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta "Pirates of Penzance" and recorded the pop ballad "Somewhere Out There," the theme to the animated film "An American Tail." She also recorded her first of two country albums with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris and began singing Spanish music.
While she grew up hearing her father and other relatives speak the language, she is not fluent.
"There was such a bias against it when we were children, we weren't allowed to speak it in school," she said.
Ronstadt now believes strongly that American children should be encouraged to be bilingual just like children from many other countries around the world.
Not shy about stating her opinions, Ronstadt has gotten a lot of publicity for her frankness. In 2004, she attracted controversy for praising the Michael Moore film "Fahrenheit 9/11" at the Aladdin Theater in Las Vegas. Half the crowd reportedly clapped and half booed.
She is a staunch supporter of Barack Obama for president.
"If he doesn't win, it was stolen and I think there's going to be trouble," she said.
She said she usually doesn't talk about politics at her concerts but might say something if the impulse strikes her.
Ronstadt said she enjoys touring with Mariachi Los Camperos, which she describes as one of the top mariachi groups in the world, and promoting Mexican pride. While her shows attract people of all ethnicities, Mexican audiences are among her favorite.
"It's a much more musical response from the crowd," she said. "A rock 'n' roll audience will scream at you, but a Mexican audience will scream at just the right time."