If you love music, this issue of Borderlands is for you.
If you don’t love music, this issue of Borderlands is also for you.
Whether you are a heavy live-music goer or a light live-music goer, a practicing musician, one who once played an instrument or sang, or one who has never been a musician; whether you are a hard-core music fan, a middle-of-the-way music fan, or not a music fan at all, a casual listener or a devoted song freak; whether you hang out with music connoisseurs or besmirch music connoisseurs; this issue of Borderlands is for you.
Image caption: Tony Procell
This is a different kind of issue. It is not one you pick up and read straight through. It is meant to provoke discussion among friends and acquaintances, to reminisce about times gone by and new discoveries. It is an issue filled with articles on musical artists, historical and contemporary; music-infused nightclubs and cantinas, recording studios, orchestras, festivals, genres, songs, short stories and poems related to music, art pieces that resonate with music, and there is even something for kids and youth. Above all, this issue is filled with inspiration, hope and that mighty propulsion to drive you forward with that dream that would assuredly become a reality with a bit of persistence and a lot of soul. It can happen, as the pages of this issue harmoniously point out. This issue encourages you to tap your foot to the next song you hear, be inspired by it, share it with a friend, look up the artist, and surrender to that temptation to immerse yourself in music at any level, in any form.
The best thing about this issue of Borderlands is that the very essence of the musicality found within these pages is either homegrown, had some involvement with, or reflects on the El Paso music scene. Perhaps the incredible music is among the defining features of this border town we call El Paso.
Eat your hearts out Chicago, New Orleans, Austin, Nashville, Los Angeles, New York, Miami; El Paso is right up there with you. You just don’t know it!
This has been a year of constant changes for us all, so it’s fitting to have new leadership at Borderlands. Welcome to our new Faculty Advisor/Editor Tony Procell from the Northwest campus of EPCC! He’s got great plans to continue the traditions of the publication and implement new ways as well. Speaking of new…We will be splitting up our articles for this issue. We will publish some in the print supplement to the El Paso Inc. and others online only in a “flip book” version. Stay tuned to our website! Both editions of Borderlands will give you a flavor of the old and new of El Paso’s music.
Speaking of changes…
Our students went through upheaval this scholastic year, adapting to online only classes and research. The classes on library research that I teach went online, as well as my extra individual sessions with students. Seeing them over video chat was exciting and cemented a rapport with them. Our theme of El Paso music fits in nicely with only using online sources, and many of them enjoyed the opportunity to write about current musicians and groups. There were several students who caught the “bug” of being a Borderlands detective, enjoying the historical hunt for clues to tell the story of musicians in our past!
Image caption: Rachel Murphree
I was fortunate to be able to write a long article on Trinidad Concha which will appear online in the flipbook version. If you don’t know him, he was an influential bandleader, composer, musician and musical director of the San Ignacio parish in the Segundo Barrio. If you drive by his former house at the corner of Virginia and 5th streets, you’ll see a Texas Historic Marker which was placed there in 2011.
Be sure to check out our flipbook on our website: http://epcc.libguides.com/borderlands to read my article on his impact on the pioneer music scene in our great city, and to learn about other El Paso musicians!
Thank you everyone who helped make this issue a possibility, especially all the English 1302 students who worked tirelessly researching and writing papers in consideration for publication. Thank you also to those listed below for their support, guidance and help.
The El Paso Community College Board of Trustees
Dr. William Serrata, EPCC President
Dr. Steve Smith, EPCC Vice President of Instruction and Workforce Education
Dr. Lydia Tena, Campus Dean and Dean of Instructional Programs, Northwest Campus
Lorely Ambriz, Northwest Campus Head Librarian
Michael Duncan, EPCC NW English Professor
Brooke Bryan, EPCC Northwest Writing Center Tutor
Elvia Guzman-Jarnagin, Senior Administrative Associate, Northwest Campus
James Heiney, Interim Director, Marketing and Community Relations
James O’Keeffe, NECHS English Professor
Ellie Fenton, PDX Printing
Beatriz Garcia, Graphic Designer, PDX Printing
El Paso, Inc.
Dr. Ginger Scarbrough, Program Manager, NMSU
Richard Baron, Photographer of Art Lewis
Hector Montes, Photographer of Art Lewis
Rick Pawlenty, Photographer of Rosa’s Cantina, RPalentry Photography
Lilly Sanchez, Mariachi Femenil Flores Mexicanas
Enrique Aragon, Mariachi Alegre
Claudia Rivers, UTEP Library, Head of Special Collections
Abbie Weiser, CA UTEP Library, Assistant Head of Special Collections
Rosemary Flores, Operations Manager for El Paso Symphony Orchestra
The Arhoolie Foundation
Brontë Procell, Studio Artist and Creative Writer
Mary Procell, CSR Reporter
Front cover artwork by Mason Pascal. A special thanks to you!
Front Cover from top left to right then bottom left to right: Don Tosti, Zuill Bailey, Art Lewis, Khalid and Lucy Scarbrough
This publication could not have been put together had it not been for the encouragement, support and dedication of Northwest librarian Rachel Murphree. Her superior library and research skills, coupled with her vast knowledge of the El Paso landscape, proved invaluable during the last several months as this issue of Borderlands came together. At the end of the day, Rachel’s navigation and vast Borderlands experience is what kept the ship afloat. Thank you, Rachel!
Above all, the warmest of thanks to Ruth Vise, retired El Paso Community College English Professor and the previous, long-standing Borderlands Faculty Advisor/Editor. Ruth left behind a legacy that will live beyond this century and traverse well into the next. The 28 issues that bloomed under her guidance exhibit a standard and presence that serve as the foundation for future issues. The heart and soul she poured into every issue she oversaw is a testament to her love of the El Paso Southwest history and culture, and her dedication to information sharing. Thank you, Ruth, for the very spirit you breathed into what we know as Borderlands.
Daris Aguilar, Victoria Alcantar,Eric Apodaca,Ashley Avila, Brandon Bigler, Alejandro Caballero, Andrew Cabrera, Stephanie Castillo, Daniella Chavez, Patricia Colon,Jacob Cruz,Anahi De La Cruz, Joann De La Cruz, Liliana De La Rosa, Brianna Del Real, Devion Denmark, Karla Enriquez, Magelin Espina de Zambrano, Kennadi Espinoza, Daniela Esquivel Castro, Robert Dozal, Karla Estrada,Zahid Fernandez Ashley Flores Virginia Gabriel, Idaly Gamboa, Julie Gonzalez, Dalia Hajir, Alejandro Holguin, John Ibarra, Alan Infante, Aliana Jimenez, Samantha Linn,
Sanai Lozano,,Adrian Martinez, Paulina Martinez, Oscar Mendez, Adrian Morales, Elisha Morales,Leslie Morales Saucedo, Rachel Murphree, Grace Murray, Ha Ngo, Brianna Ortiz, Luis Otero, Anai Perez, Mario Perez, Arianna Peru, Carols Ramirez, Marco Renderos, Kenia Rios,
Karina Rivas, Brandon Rivera, Bryan Robledo, Jacklyn Rodriguez, Mazzy Rojas, Astrid Saenz, Celeste Sanchez, David Silva, Damian Soto, Anahi Talamantes, Jacob Torre, Noe Valdez, Kennedy Varela, Rosalva Varela, Oscar Velasquez, Ximena Villa, Sheena Viramontes, Lawrence Welsh, Abraham Zambrano.
Produced by Students and Publication Staff of El Paso Community College.
El Paso County Community College District does not discriminate on the basis or race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Borderlands is published annually by El Paso Community College, P. O. 20500, El Paso, TX 79998. It is researched and written by English 1302 students and the Borderlands staff of the College. All rights reserved.
Printing is by PDX Printing, 208 Octavia St., El Paso, TX 79901, a private firm in no way connected with theEl Paso Community College. Funds for the publication of this issue are provided by the El Paso Community College District; however, the views and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the El Paso Community College. Furthermore, El Paso Community College does not accept responsibility for possible errors in the accuracy of student research that is represented in these articles, although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy.
Student editors
I have been a resident of El Paso, Texas, for over five years. I am majoring in English and American Literature and minoring in Philosophy at the University of Texas at El Paso This is my second year as Borderlands editor, and I hope to use the research and investigative skills acquired during my time with the publication in my future en-deavors in creative nonfiction writing. I enjoy exploring El Paso’s diverse, colorful history and hope to continue to draw attention to the city through my academic and professional careers. --Samantha Linn
I am currently in my second year of college as a biology major, focusing on dentistry. I’ve always loved science, as I find it interesting how our world works, especially the human body. I also love learning and exploring; it is a great opportunity to grow and gain experience. One day I hope to travel to underprivileged countries and help people who need oral care. Besides studying science, I love to swim. I was a competitive swimmer for 13 years, and I like the feeling of the water rushing through my body. It almost makes me feel like I am a superhero going through the water. Swimming is therapeutic; I use it to relieve stress and forget about everything. --Karla Estrada
I am a sophomore currently studying Studio Art at El Paso Community College. I'll never forget the moment when I saw the film WALL-E onscreen; it changed my whole world! Inspired as a child by other engaging cartoons, movies, and shows, I love to create my own stories and characters to share with others and wish to do so for a living. And though I focus on the visual arts, writing found a place in my heart! By pursuing Creative Writing and Studio Art as majors, my goal is to become a professional character designer for DreamWorks, Pixar, Cartoon Network, or another animation studio, and hopefully become a source of motivation for aspiring artists! -- Dalia Hajir
I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. I am attending El Paso Community College as an English major. I hold immense appreciation for any and all kinds of art forms. During my childhood, I especially found solace in music, something that will be an essential part of who I am for eternity. Over the years I have grown to love writing. It has given me the freedom to express my thoughts and ideas in a safe, articulate manner. It’s fair to say that I would not be the person I am without these two art forms, music and writing. They are two things that help me make sense of myself and the world that surrounds us. They are the essence of me. --Marco Renderos
