WHITTIER BOULEVARD
MUSE/IQUE returns to The Huntington with Whittier Boulevard, a story of musical eclecticism where Mexican American musicians blended music from all across Los Angeles to create a whole new genre-defying sound. With influences ranging from the coastal rock 'n' roll of The Beach Boys to the Motown rhythms of Sam Cooke, Whittier represents what happens when a fusion of sounds is filtered through Mexican American culture and experience to become something entirely new. This performance is a life-affirming tribute to the grooving Chicano sounds that form the heartbeat of Los Angeles.
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ABOUT OUR ARTISTS
Betto arcos,
music journalist
Betto Arcos is a freelance music journalist. He writes stories about music from around the world, with an emphasis on Latin America. He has been a contributor to NPR programming since 2009, when he began reviewing music for All Things Considered on the weekends.
Willie "Little Willie G" Garcia, vocals
Guillermo Garcia, known professionally as Little Willie G and often nicknamed"The Godfather of Brown-Eyed Soul", came to fame in the 1960s with his band, Thee Midniters, one of the first and most prominent Chicano rock groups to come out of East Los Angeles.
la marisoul,
vocals and jarana
La Marisoul is the lead singer for the band La Santa Cecilia, named after the Patron Saint of musicians and founded in Los Angeles. La Santa Cecilia plays a blend of cumbia, bossa nova, and boleros, among other styles, and has performed at just about every type of venue from rock clubs to festivals in the U.S. and Mexico. In 2014, La Santa Cecilia won the GRAMMY for Best Latin Rock Album.
gaby moreno, vocals,
guitar, arrangements
Gaby Moreno is a Guatemalan singer, songwriter, and producer. Her accolades include a GRAMMY nomination for her album, Illusion (Best Latin Pop Album, 2017) and a Latin GRAMMY for Best New Artist in 2013. Gaby made her smash debut on the MUSE/IQUE stage in Dylan Goes Hollywood last year.
martha gonzalez, vocals, zapateado, jarana
Martha Gonzalez is a GRAMMY-award winning Chicana musician and scholar. Born and raised in East Los Angeles, Gonzalez has earned most of her musical successes with Chicano rock band Quetzal. In the summer of 2017 Gonzalez’s tarima (stomp box) and dance shoes were acquired by the National Museum of American History and are on permanent display in the “One National Many Voices” in Washington, DC.
José “Pepe” Carlos, accordion, requinto
Pepe plays the requinto romántico and the accordion professionally in the band La Santa Cecilia. He is known as an accomplished requinto player, with a wide repertoire of rancheras, boleros, Oaxacan songs, South American waltzes, and a very unique style that can blend traditional Mexican and Latin styles with blues and rock.
Miguel “Oso” Ramirez, percussion
Miguel "Oso" Ramirez is a professional percussionist and founding member of GRAMMY Award-winning band La Santa Cecilia.
Sebastian Aymanns, drums
Sebastian grew up in Germany and started drumming at a young age when hearing The Beatles with drummer Ringo Starr for the first time. After finishing High School he moved to Los Angeles to study music, earning a Bachelor's Degree from Musicians Institute. He’s been a regular in Gaby Moreno’s band and feels fortunate to have worked with many other artists including Aimee Mann, Van Dyke Parks, Grant-Lee Phillips, Lisa Marie Presley, Omara Portuondo and Davíd Garza.
Matthew DeMerritt, saxophone
Matthew DeMerritt plays tenor, alto and baritone saxes, flute, keyboards, and melodica. In addition to composing and playing his own music he is also a session musician and arranger. He has recorded and worked with a number of artists and can be heard locally with a variety of bands including the Mudbug Brass Band, Dakah, Double G's Jazz Knights, Spain, and supporting singers Brenna Whitaker and Gaby Moreno.
Brett Farkas, guitar
Brett Farkas is a multi-genre solo artist and session musician who has worked with Solomon Burke, Aimee Mann, Rihanna, Princess (w/ Maya Rudolph), and the band Lord Huron, to which his layered guitars can be heard on the certified Gold Record “Lonesome Dreams”. Brett has released a string of singles under his own name as well as three albums fronting the Rock ‘N Roll band Boys School.
alan steinberger, piano
Alan Steinberger is a first-call concert and studio musician. In addition to performing with MUSE/IQUE since its inception, Alan serves as principal pianist/keyboardist for the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Pasadena Symphony and Los Angeles Ballet Orchestra, is a frequent sub or extra with the L.A. Philharmonic and a featured guest artist with the Pacific Symphony.
The Mata Family, mariachi
The Mata Family founded The Mariachi Conservatory in 2007. Richard Mata, Esperanza Juarez, and daugthers Angelica and America Mata have performed in various community events for the City of Boyle Heights and are also members of the highly acclaimed Mariachi VoZ de America which is directed by Richard Mata.
kitty mcnamee, choreography
Kitty McNamee is an artist, a creator, and most importantly a collaborator. Her early years in L.A. were spent honing her craft as Artistic Director of Hysterica Dance Co., a consistently prolific and creative collective that redefined dance in Los Angeles. Her unique approach to direction and choreography was declared by Dance Magazine to possess "an outstanding talent for that most elusive gift, originality."
Additional Credits
Please welcome to the MUSE/IQUE stage, dancers:
Maija Knapp and Marlon Pelayo (soloists). Skylar Rule, Katey Besser, Kailee Kaocharoen, Robert Farr-Jones, Brandon Ray Maxwell, Eva Silverton, Annalise Evans, Cassidy Prasertsit, Mia Maxwell, Bruno Koskoff.
Thank you to our generous season sponsors:
The Havner Family Foundation, The Jerry and Terri Kohl Family Foundation, Anonymous, Alyce de Roulet Williamson, Ellen and Harvey Knell, Anonymous, and Michael Casey.