MUSICIANS JANEY KATZ - Zia Publishing

At 71, Lorenzo Cabrerahas been sharing musicwith others for 66 years. His father, also namedLorenzo, was a mariachi who played the violin, guitar,bull fiddle and guitarron. He taught his son to playguitar and sing by age five, and young Lorenzo wasperforming in public soon after. At 15, Lorenzo wasalso playing the vijuela, a five-stringed instrument,and appearing with his father’s band, Los Gavilanes,at such 1950s venues as the Fiero Nightclub and theEl Dorado Lounge in Hanover.His music changed direction when he learned to playthe saxophone and joined the Swing Kings. He was amember of Soto’s Pan American Band and theMaruffo Latineers before starting his own band,the Coronados. After several years with theCoronados, the course of his music changedonce more when he picked up his guitaragain and began playing at his church,where he organized a choir.With a family to support, Lorenzo alwayskept his day job and retired after 34 yearsat Kennecott Corp. He opened a guitarstudio in Silver City where he soldinstruments and gave lessons until healthproblems forced him to give it up. He thought hehad retired again until Cobre High School called,asking him to help organize and teach the CobreMariachis. That was ten years ago. Since then, hehas taught several of his own grandchildren in theclass.“The kids have gotten used to me,” Lorenzosays, “They won’t let me retire.” He doesn’t seemto mind. He enjoys working with the studentsand helping with their problems when asked.Lorenzo and his wife Belia have five grownchildren, all musicians.LORENZOCabreraPHOTOS COURTESY LORENZO CABRERAWhere are you from originally, andhow long have you lived here? – I wasborn in Rincón, a farming village nearHatch. My family moved here in the ‘40s.What sort of work did you do? I retiredfrom Kennecott as a repairman. Duringstrikes and layoffs I worked at the countyor for several different building contractors.I always had a job with one of them.Were the “good old days” really all thatgood? Let’s say that when there waswork, they were real good.As a child, what was one of the thingsyou enjoyed most? Playing music andsinging.As a child, what was one of the thingsyou enjoyed least? Working. (Laughs.)Is life better/easier now? Oh yes, it’svery differentWas life better/simpler then? No. Itwas rough.If you had all the money in the world,what would you do with it? – In myexperience, it’s not what you have; it’s howyou use it. I’d share it with the ones whoreally don’t have it.Is there something in life you’d stilllike to do? – I’d like to travel someday,maybe to Europe just to see what’s on theother side of the world.What event or occurrence do you feelhad a large impact on our area or onyou personally? Mine strikes and layoffsalways had a big impact. The economywas different than today. Without thatmoney, everything started to die. Therewas very little credit. Like you said in themagazine [the previous Silver City Life],people like Gabby Armendariz and BenAltamirano [who extended credit ongroceries] helped tremendously, but thereweren’t many of them. My wife’s uncle hadLa Fe Store in Vanadium, and he would letpeople charge. I think the community grewas more places offered charge accounts.Is there something helpful you wouldlike to say to young people who arejust starting out? I deal a lot with kids.When I was young my dad and I werefriends. That’s missing now. Maybe life isharder now, because both parents have towork. Families don’t eat meals together.We’re so involved with ourselves that kidsget neglected in different ways. We needto spend more time with them and showthem more love. I wish I could help eachone individually. I’ll tell you this: musicworks wonders.www.ziapublishing.com – 57