Santa Cruz River Band Newsletter

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November, 2007


Gilbert Brown , Michael Ronstadt ,
Ted Ramirez

Hello, Good Friends! Welcome to our very special tortilla edition of the newsletter! We are back now from a very extensive tour that took us all over North America, Ireland, Wales, and Holland, and we can't wait to tell you about it!

So sit back and relax, and grab the nearest plate of tortillas, because here we go!

In this issue:
A very special tortilla edition!

Tales From The Trail

Ted Ramirez

Hello Good Friends,

Here is another "Tale from the Trail"; a brief account describing the second part of our summer tour.

As described in my last report, this tour started out as quite an adventure. This certainly remained true the second half of this tour.

To be sure, we had many things go wrong, but we also had a lot of things go right!

Overall, we handled trials and joys very well, and in the end this summer was a fantastic time for the Santa Cruz River Band.

We traveled 17,000 road miles through Western Canada and the Eastern and Western part of the United States in our faithful 1976 GMC motor home “Bessie”. She did her job admirably once again. We had a tire blow while traveling in Canada, but even with a tire blown “Bessie” brought us to our destination safely.

We flew 2,400 air miles in the U.S. and 10,000 air miles to Europe and back and we traveled an additional 2,000 miles by automobile in Europe. “Hard Road Traveling” has a real and distinct meaning for me, as you can imagine.

The places visited grabbed my imagination to a profound degree. The beauty of the planet is staggering. Western Canada’s beauty is breath taking and grand. Equally, the majesty and size of the United States is awesome. Europe is just as beautiful, both the topography and people.

While driving across central England I can truthfully describe myself as being in the state of “High Lonesome”. I was amazed to be just a few miles from Eyam in Derbyshire a place now known, as the “Plague Village”. A few weeks earlier in San Francisco, my wife Loraine had given me a novel entitled “Year of Wonders” written by Geraldine Brooks. The book describes the time when this small English village was dealing with the horrible effects of the 1666 plague.

Equally amazing was our visit to historic Harlech, in North Wales. This area is the birthplace of many famous Celtic folk tales. I have read the “Mabinogion” (the premier collection of Welsh folktales) at least twice. To see and be in the place where many of the best Celtic folktales originated was really special for me!

Our journey was truly fantastic, and the most exciting part was coming back home to the Southwest. I rarely felt lonely or homesick on this tour, as my adopted European family, friends and our fans helped keep that feeling from taking hold. Mostly, I felt delighted and appreciative of the many wonders witnessed in this traveling, but still I looked forward to seeing the beautiful Arizona deserts, the giant saguaros, our mountains, and breathing the desert air after a good rain. Foremost in my mind is my family, and especially my wife Loraine. To me there is no place like home.

To put things in the right perspective, the most important part of touring is the performing. I love that part more than any other. A chance to play music is really what it is all about, and we surely got our chance. From New Mexico to Holland we played, played and played some more… It was great! Every event, festival and venue had its own special feel, and I enjoyed it all!

When I think about the summer’s performances they seem almost surreal. We shared the stage with many of folk music’s best artists including: The Battlefield Band, Buffy Saint Marie, Utah Phillips, Iris Dement, Tish Hinojosa, Linda Ronstadt, Los Lobos, Mariachi Cobre, Crooked Still, Outlaw Social, T. Niles, the Morales Sisters and many more… I wish we had the time and space to describe each and every performance and performer, there is certainly a lot to tell, but it would take easily 200 pages.

A couple of performances really stand out for me: Big Top Chautauqua with the great Tish Hinojosa and our appearance at the San Jose Mariachi Festival with the legendary Linda Ronstadt - both shows were highly special.

Getting the chance to share the bill with Tish Hinojosa at “Big Top Chautauqua” was a great honor. She is a wonderfully warm person. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting her and seeing her perform. I am a really big fan and felt very lucky to be able to talk with her about Tucson and the music of the Southwest. Hopefully, we will get the opportunity again sometime-maybe in Tucson? I sure hope so…Tish is a great lady and a very important Southwestern artist.

In our last newsletter I described this tour as “Our Sister’s Tour”. All of our sisters did their utmost to help us and clearly went the extra mile for us. Gil’s sister Sharon hosted a wonderful and very successful house concert for us in Reno, Nevada. My sister Maria and her husband David contracted us for a special fundraiser in Boulder, Colorado to benefit the “Center For People With Disabilities”, and Mike’s sister Linda asked us to be part of her show in San Jose, California.

As you all know, we are a pretty hard-working little traveling band from Arizona and we do our very best at each and every performance. It was wonderful to have all the performance opportunities of this summer. We hope our work added a little something special to each show.

Working with Linda was the musical highlight of the summer. She is an amazing artist and a real professional. We enjoyed our experience and learned so much. We love all our sisters, Linda, Sharon and Maria-they are the coolest sisters in the world!

On a closing note: I must mention another very special part of this tour. In San Jose, I was able to see and perform with two of my childhood’s best friends, Randy Carrillo and his brother Steve of Mariachi Cobre!

Randy, Steve and I grew up in Tucson. Randy and I were in the same grade at Saint Ambrose Elementary School. We formed a guitar duo around age 12 playing all the church and community functions we could. Steve was just a little guy then, but already showing very strong musical skills. Wow! What a kick it was to be on stage again with Randy and Steve! It touched my heart to see my musical brothers.


11 or 12-year-old Randy Carrillo and Ted Ramirez, far right, in 1963 or '64.

Well good friends, all things considered, this tour was the greatest! Although, at times, it gave us serious fits, it also gave us great opportunity to explore vast territories both physically and emotionally.

We experienced everything with acute clarity. We felt everything from regretful pain associated with a broken heart to the joy that comes from fulfilled dreams. We suffered bravely through physical pain, and in the end, enjoyed the strength that can only come when profound emotional growth has taken place, and most importantly we witnessed love.

My sincere thanks to all the people we were privileged to meet this tour. I have you all in my heart and think of you often…

So, until we meet again - Adios,
Ted Ramirez

Welcome to the Tortillas Edition of the SCRB Newlsetter!

We lovingly dedicate this edition of the newsletter to the wonderful goodness of tortillas, which is the common thread that binds we readers and music lovers together all over the world! It's true! Have you noticed that tortillas are round, like the Earth upon which our Dear Band has journeyed so extensively since out last meeting? Tortillas (not unlike the SCRB) are warm and satisfying, bring friends together, and transmit a sense of comfort and home everywhere they go, as you will discover in a few moments.

But before we continue our story, here is a brief history of tortillas..............

History of Tortillas

Why perfect the perfect? Tortillas have been a staple food in the Meso Americas since around 10,000 BCE! Mayan and Aztec civilizations ground dry, native corn into meal, which was the basis for the corn tortillas that is the main staple of Mexico and the South Americas up to this day.

Tortillas are such an important part of the meal, that it is indeed a sad, sad day if none are on the table! Not only are they the basis of the meal, but also the actual plate, fork and spoon as well- as they support, scoop, and hold the food they are eaten with. Tortillas can be filled, topped, rolled, sauced, and fried. They be eaten topped with, tucked between, or dunked into sauces, meat, beans, and vegetables. As elegantly simple and versatile a tortilla is, it is also simply enjoyed as a pure comfort food all by itself, without any embellishment at all.

So far we've talked about the corn ones...but how about the flour ones? Flour tortillas are mostly a regional specialty of the northern states of Mexico. The advent of flour tortillas came with the Spaniards, who imported wheat, beginning in the 1500s. It's interesting to note that, along with wheat, the Spanish brought pork, beef, lamb, citrus fruits, garlic, cheese, milk, vinegar and wine. Combine these ingredients with the chocolate, peanuts, vanilla, beans, squash, avocados, coconuts, corn and tomatoes of Native Mexico, and you can see how the delicious Mexican cuisine came about!

Tortilla popularity is spreading up into the North American Continent. A study in 2002 revealed that tortillas make up 32 percent of the bread market in the US- selling more than whole wheat bread, and trailing the white bread sales by only 2 percent! According to the Tortilla Industry Association, Americans consumed approximately 85 billion tortillas in the year 2000. (not including tortilla chips).

May you always have a warm tortilla to tenderly hold and fold! May you never need to resort to squishing a slice of bread flat to pretend it is a tortilla! But if you ever have the misfortune of having no tortillas, you know a song that will speak to the woefulness of your heart!

TACOS AND TORTILLAS IN WALES

by Jan Hedgecock, Editor, and beloved North Wales hostess with the mostest

As I was unsure of tacos making, I asked the SCRB to bring some Tortillas with them this year…. As we had been sent some especially last year from a good friend in the US. Here’s what followed!

Email correspondence. August, 2007:

Hi Jan,

Well, unfortunately, we DID forget the corn tortillas...and we talked about it several times. Just got so busy the last few days I think. What ever shall we do...I think corned beef with chutney and Tabasco sauce will go down just as well with a glass of port.

Love, Gil

Dear Gil,

Please see this correspondence with the Farmers Market in SF...one Erin....which came to our notice just in time for you to be IN THE DOG HOUSE!!!!

Love Jan

But what is this???? Read on!!!!!

Field Notes: Coastside Farmers Market San Francisco. Posted on the Internet in August 2007.

So, earlier this week I had a troupe o’ Tucson troubadours staying ala mi casa for a layover on a summer long tour that included a spin through Canada, a slingshot back to Seattle followed by a jag out to Wisconsin, a subsequent haulass back to the Left Coast arriving just in time to do some laundry, then jump on a flight to the UK for the next go-round. Great fun was had by all as 3 large men with larger hats and substantial boots piled into the Market Van along with a minimum of 15 instruments, and suitcases stuffed with the requisite amount now clean socks and other dude-ly unmentionables, parts of a banjo and a mic as big as a canary melon.

Having been on the road for months and roaring through places without decent tortillas and stuff to put in them, and with a month of travels through Holland, England, Ireland and Wales directly ahead, the mandolin player was desperate for something, anything resembling a real taco. The Guapango maestro and the Big Man with the Penny Whistle are so smitten with tortillas that they sing a love song to them. I am not kidding. I have proof. Anyway, the gents in question here are from Tucson, where they know tacos. Lucky for them I am from the Coast, know a thing or two about the stuff that goes in a taco , knows who grows and catches same, and know where to get it, so happiness and great satisfaction was achieved. Cause let me tell ya something. You simply cannot get a decent taco in Wales .

(NOW, who said this to you, Erin!? Was it Mr. Gilbert? )

Dear Gilbert.........
. WELL.....Don't think YOU will be sleeping in our house Giblet Brown!!! It’s in the garden in the rain for YOU!

Plus, tacos are terrific Company Food. There is simply no way to make tacos without having a great time. There’ a lot to do, and a job for everyone. And as soon as you start cooking the onions, everyone is going to end up in the kitchen anyway so they might as well have something to do while you discuss the state of the world, the vagaries of the human condition, the progress of a romance down the road and what everyone is reading this summer. Tacos cheer you up. You get to get a little messy, improvise like crazy, have them exactly the way you like them and plus, you get to eat with your hands and with your elbows on the table. There is no way not to do this and keep your shirt clean. I had not thought to make up a batch of tacos in a long time, and so at this moment, I am feeling grateful to the gents of the Santa Cruz River Band, especially the mandolin player, for creating the occasion to make a batch o’ tacos, a jug of Sangria and a delightfully huge mess of my clothing and kitchen. And for straightening me out on the differences between a requinto and a vihuela.

Most folks have their secret traditional recipes for the fillings, so I won’t go all nutty there, but this week the two toppings to follow made the difference between a good taco and a great one, and sent a band of Arizona men off into the culinary hinterlands of Wales with a satisfied mind. Give it a rip the next time you have things of great importance to discuss among friends like the problem of men wearing black socks with their sandals, how to manage a guapango in three part harmony or the difficulty of ever finding shorts that actually fit. . Aaron Dinwoodie grows amazing cabbages. They are perfect, tender, sweet even. Pick up one of these wonders, shave it really thin, tear up some of Eda’s cilantro, dice up a few of Orlando’s scallions and one of Joon’s Pasilla chiles and toss it all together with a good splash of juice from a couple of Santiago’s limes, some sea salt and cracked black pepper.

Get someone else to make a fresh salsa with some of Ed’s dry farmed tomatoes, Orlando’s chiles, Aarons onions, Eda’s cilantro and one more of those limes. You already know that this salsa is called Pico de Gallo because you are supposed to cut the bits of everything in it to the size of a Rooster’s beak, don’t you?

Pile a nice bunch of either or both of these on your next batch o’ tacos, and I am here to tell you, delight is in hand, as it were.

Muchas Gracias to all of the musicians who play at the Market, and to all our sponsors who help us support our local musicians and performers by making sure there is a little bit of cash to help us insure and compensate the myriad talented performers who play for hours for next to nothing. Y Muchas, Muchas gracias to those of you shoppers that know what to do when faced with a ridiculously talented musician singing next to an open guitar case.

See you at the Market-
Erin

Erin Tormey Coastside Farmers Markets

Dear Erin,

It was with great fun I read your article on the Santa Cruz River Band in the Coastside Farmer’s Market News and Community on the web.

efore you say anything! I am the Band's friend and booking agent/ hostess (with the mostest!) in WALES!

I read with great consternation about someone's opinion of TACOS making in Wales.....or rather the non existence of tacos making! .I can only conclude it was GIL!! SOOOOOOOOOOO it's sleeping in the garden in the rain for HIM! We have to have CORN ones because Ted is allergic to wheat products! Last year I was driven to a frenzy about these ------- tacos! The Boys made some in the end for themselves but they didn't last long and then they couldn't summon enough energy to do any more! I certainly didn't know how to make them BUT I asked them to bring some from the States and they say they haven't brought any!! I am FURIOUS especially as my beloved Wales is getting all the flac.... ! I hope you have read the SCRB Newsletter on their website in which you will notice Kristy Hom's contribution. www.santacruzriverband.com

We two have been in hot line talk and she has given me 2 great recipes for these Mexican Men. Yes! I will use them as filling for my tacos!

Anyhow, if you have decent Tacos over there please send me some!!!

I love MY BOYS but I am going to get my revenge for those comments about Wales!!

Of course we don't DO Tacos here...we are Welsh!! THERE’S NO TORTILLAS … Good ol' stews are what we have here to keep us warm all year round.....it’s raining now!!!

I look forward to hearing from you Erin!!

Best Wishes, Janet Hedgecock

Dear Jan,

I too have smuggled tortillas and tequilla to both Wales and Ireland as recently as 2 years ago. One day I'll tell you about the effects of that combination!

Erin

Jan cooked these Tortillas for the Boys this year…..made from Oat Flour! As we can’t find CORN flour handily here in Wales!

They are different, but I think good enough to work! They have the texture and consistency of a corn tortilla, and the flavor more like a flour tortilla. I got that good, comfort-food feeling as I popped a warm piece in my mouth. When I added beans and salsa, they were even better! They tear into pieces nicely too- which seems an important ritual when eating tortillas.

Editor's Corner

Jan Hedgecock

SANTA CRUZ RIVER BAND WALES TOUR 2007

Here we go for another year, laughing, singing, teasing and oh yes! playing! OH! And eating! I can write about it all now as I have had a week’s rest!

Having been in Holland the last two weeks of August, the Band left for Ireland by plane on August 24.

They had been invited to play at the World Culture Festival in Dunlaoghaire, Dublin that same evening at Eagle House Bar. Who won over the Irish audience? Ha ha! And who was there to welcome them first, on soil this side of the Atlantic but Mike and Lynn Seiler who had hopped across from Wales to be the first of their friends to greet them!

The Boys were looked after extremely well by the Irish Organizers and were ferried about from plane to gig to accommodation and to the boat for Wales the next day. More could not have been done for them and they have nothing but praise for the arrangements.

Aug 25: We, Jan and Maurice, met them in Holyhead at midday, only to whisk them away to Conwy with hardly a breath taken, dump their luggage and drive them straight to their first gig. This had been arranged by Elvina’s daughter, Elen. (our friends!) She had been working with the Macmillan Cancer Project and this was part of a fund raising event amongst others, in Hendre Hall, Bangor. It is a converted farm, all the barns made into rooms for various events. This event was called Snogfest………Snowdonia Nights Out Gazette.

The audience was young and enthusiastic and left other Band performances elsewhere on the site to come to the SCRB concert. This was a fun venue and we left with many a fan!

Aug 26: We rushed down to Hereford in the morning (after stopping at a very nice Diner on the way!) to The Barrels Pub. It was the Annual Beer Festival! Hereford is in England and we were in a foreign land!

The Band was to play outdoors in the yard, and was to perform first, before Ricky Cool and the Hoola Boola Boys Rhythm and Blues Band. Martin Pryce, their bass guitarist, had arranged this gig for us.

There were hundreds of people and there was a lot of noise but the Boys held a special group of people who stood directly in front of them and who gave them a very welcoming response.

Aug 29: Nikki Ip, who owns our favourite Chinese restaurant, invited the Boys the play for the evening! In return he cooked us a special Banquet! It was fantastic! Maurice and I were hangers-on! Prawns in all kinds of sauces and shapes! Fish, chicken, beef, duck, dressed up to the nines! We waddled out at an unearthly hour, full of Chinese Cheer! Thank you Nikki and Helen!

Unfortunately, on Aug 30, Gil was taken ill and we rushed him to our local hospital, Glan Clwyd. He was put to bed, given pain killers and told to go to sleep! He stayed for 4 days, had an op. then we rescued him from the clutches of our Welsh nurses………! (But he went back the next week for a night as he missed them so much!) This was not due to Nikki’s food by the way…..this unfortunate attack would have been experienced whenever. We others are still fighting fit and have kept running ever since, to keep down the extra pounds we put on that night!

Aug 31: Saw Ted and Michael on their own in Y Caban in Brynrefail, in the heart of Snowdonia National Park.

The place was packed as their fame had gone before them! We had a great welcome and entirely Organic FOOD! Mexican Style as it was their themed Mexican Evening!! We left there much loved… and very healthy!

Sept 1: We arrived at the Springfield Hotel in Pentre Halkyn, Holywell. We had acquired a trailer to carry the PA speakers etc this year and we were glad that it was still with us when we arrived! We used one car this year and it was very snug in the back, I must say …me sandwiched between Ted and Mike/Gil…….. I like being sandwiched!

Putting on our seat belts was quite a feat…..!! I certainly enjoyed that part!

But, getting back to the Springfield…..who was there to pounce on the Boys but Beryl, Joan and Kathy! It was sooo nice to see them and a great re-union took place. Also, Glenys and Gwyn arrived soon after so a double re-union took place! We all thought of Gil still in hospital being nursed……..

Sept 5: Back to the Pantasaph Friary, Holywell, and our church St David’s. We had the concert inside the Pilgrim’s Hall this year as it was colder and darker outside, than last year. The Padre Pio Garden would have been uncomfortable for the audience. The Hall was packed and again the Boys were received with joy. The Justice and Peace Group from the Parish had organized the event extremely well, they feel professional now! and the proceeds went again to the South African Aids Orphans.

Mike took time off to see his friend, Daphne, who had come to see them a second time later. Mmmmmmmmm! I think there’s something “going on” there between those two! They look quite smitten!

Sept 6: A new venue this year, the Oswestry Iron Works, hosted the gig. This is a new place for “Live Music” and is a converted industrial building.

The Iron Industry first started in the area and the building was a fine place for this reconstruction of use. Many Bands of varying genres play here and after hearing OUR Boys, Ros, the owner, immediately invited them back for next year! (She recognized their unquestionable talents!!)

Gil was amazing in his stoicism! He was very brave as he was still feeling very uncomfortable after anaesthetic and pills.

Sept 8: Back to the Abbey Grange in Llangollen! Steven and Llinos were pleased to welcome us all once again.

Gil was amazing in his stoicism! He was very brave as he was still feeling very uncomfortable after anaesthetic and pills.

Sept 8: Back to the Abbey Grange in Llangollen! Steven and Llinos were pleased to welcome us all once again.

There was a 21st birthday party on the same night. They had been relegated to a Marquee outside but as soon as they heard the music inside they started to come in to the Bar for their drinks and listened to the Band as well… extra pleasure!!

Sept 9: The North Wales Country Music Festival with Iona and Andy, our Hosts, was again, met with the now usual enthusiasm! The audience, a lot were friends of old, were delighted to see the band. The Boys had to contend with a silent microphone at one point in the show and a broken Mike guitar string, but Gil stepped in with one of his jokes and held the audience in his hand! The whole situation passed without a flicker of discord!

Sept 12: Hello again to the Victoria Hotel in Menai Bridge! This was absolutely full of past and new friends who had come long distances to be at the concert here! What a welcome…I really feel, no, I know, that the fan base is increasing tremendously each year!! We are getting “groupies”!!

Sept 13: We were invited back to Saint Ffraid Church in Glan Conwy. The Vicar, Christine, and James, welcomed the Boys back once again, to help raise funds for the Church renovation scheme. The church was full and everyone enjoyed the concert as usual! (I am getting a bit blasé about each concert now, as I know it to be a foregone conclusion that it will be a huge success, every performance, and I am right every time!!) The ladies of the Parish had prepared refreshments again which went down very well afterwards! (They are ALWAYS ready for food! “Let’s go eat” is their famous cry!)

Sept 14: A new and prestigious venue! Theatr Ardudwy, Harlech! We had been invited by Iona and Andy (our very own Welsh Singing Duo), to join them in a concert here in the heart of true Welsh land….by the Castle on the edge of Cardigan Bay on the West coast of our beloved Wales.

This was a new audience, apart from Glenys and Gwyn who had come all the way from Ruthin, especially, to see the Boys again before they went off to Germany with Iona and Andy on a holiday trip. Iona sang Homeplace with the Boys and this went down a storm! They felt very comfortable in this intimate theatre, as the acoustics were wonderful. They would love to visit and play again next year!

Sept 15: Off to England today! We travelled down to the heart of the Midlands, to Worcestershire…Stourbridge, in fact. This was another purpose music pub called Katy Fitzgerald’s. We had to wait around a bit from the time when they did a sound check to the actual performance….here they are settling in!

Another new audience to woo! And they did….naturally! And then another wait around whilst we ate our supper after the Gig! We hadn’t chosen the best of spots for our picnic!!!!!

Sept 16: Back to St. Mary’s church in Towyn near Rhyl, for another year’s concert. This was the fourth year! Mike and Joan Mason had prepared the Parish well yet again for this event and many came who were old friends. Beryl and Joan were there as normal! Last year Beryl and Joan and Kathy had been to most every concert and it was the same this year…although I am not mentioning it the same because it is now an accepted occurrence and happens automatically! It would be peculiar if they weren’t there!!!

Sept 18: Off to England once more! Biddulph in Cheshire this time…. The Biddulph Up In Arms society had invited the Band to perform for their group of music folk. They were given a great welcome and were invited back after another wonderful concert! Andy and June, fans of yore, and who had introduced us to Eric who had organised the gig, were there and a great re-union took place. There was great joy! I am getting feeble with my adjectives to describe each show….I can’t think of any better words to describe the pleasure and joy that is emitted and radiated between Michael, Ted and Gil and so to their audiences. (Well…. You ALL know, because you read this and I know I am speaking to the converted anyway! Kristy, I can sense, is yawning!! She KNOWS the Boys! And is of course a huge fan…so can you think of words to describe what we all feel?) Sept 19: We drove a LONG way over to the East of England to Leicester….passing through the Potteries where all the famous English porcelain and pottery was made. People like Clarice Cliff worked here in the 1930’s and companies such as Wedgewood made their world wide exported wares. We arrived at the place called The Musician and were made most welcome by Nicola, the owner. She enjoyed, the unheard of…. there, Santa Cruz River Band and once more they received the invitation to return next year! We stayed overnight for this venue as it was not a short trip, although I myself had no problem, warmly snug in the back seat between Mike and Ted……and we stopped off at a Diner on the way….!

Sept 20: On our way back from Leicester we went North close to Sheffield and doubled back down the Motor Way through the Pennines, the highland of Derbyshire and Yorkshire. We thought the Boys should see the English countryside!

We stopped off in Wrexham to go to the Wrexham Folk Club held at the Nag’s Head pub. Again, a new audience, except for Andy and June who had come once more to see the Boys. This was to prove to be another wonderful concert and yet more fans were born!

On Sept 21 Gil had a return visit to Glan Clwyd Hospital to see the nurses……I took him in my car and we had left Ted to put my home made bread in the oven. He was to put it in when the oven light went out, leave it for half an hour and then take it out……… I had had experience with Ted over cooking “things”; things like switching off the electric hob after doing our Blind Mice Rice and Rice Milk and my Welsh Tortillas etc etc…you know what I mean, girls?! I phoned him from the hospital to ask him had he taken the bread out?... “Yes! I have” he said… oh good, I thought! Well done Ted! Then a small pause ….he added “but I don’t think it’s quite how it should be…it’s a bit flat…. But it’s out now anyway and I have turned the oven off!” Hmmmm! Oh well, that’s good at least…I’ll just have to see, I thought.

I arrived home later having left Gil for a night…. Oven was still on! The bread was certainly flat and totally uncooked! What did you do, I asked! “I put it in here…”……TED! That was the TOP COLD OVEN! The big Bottom Oven was the hot one!!

So there we have it! A new proverb! Always cook your bread in a hot oven! It gets done!

Sept 21: Minus Gil, and singing a new song “ There’s no cooked bread, there’s only tortillas”, we set off for the Redbill Art Gallery. Whilst people wandered about looking at and buying pictures Ted and Mike played a good Duo concert!

Fortunately, Sam from Bangor and who had leant the Boys the PA stuff for their Tour, was also there and he took a turn at joining the two for quite a number of songs. He had heard them many times so knew the arrangements on the guitar!

Sept 22: Gil’s home! So back into the heartland of Wales, Corwen! The Harp Hotel was home for an evening with hosts, Phil and Gill. Ar Lan Y Mor was greatly appreciated here and they had to sing it twice! The locals know their Welsh!!

Is that Beryl, Kathy and Joan I see here?

Sept 23: We have not forgotten Trish and Talwrn in Anglesey! What a phenomenal party atmosphere was awaiting us here this evening! Full house and a “concert listening audience” after all the food had been distributed and eaten by everyone! Crowded out! Many old friends again from the village, who put off their annual holidays for this! A fantastic evening….thank you Trish and Gang……and what a lovely surprise to see Patrick and Diane again. And that trailer is still holding up!!

Sept 24: This is the LAST NIGHT! What a way to finish the Tour at the Conwy Folk Club! So many old friends again! It was packed! Re-union after re-union and more new fans too! Rick and Mick and Mike and Tony and Phil and Alison and Derek, poor Dennis was ill, and Mike and Lynn and …… Do you really want these Boys back in the US? I am loathe to let them out of the house and would like to kidnap them……. What do you think about that?!

Sept 25: Day spent in mourning….the Boys go tonight or early tomorrow morning! We left home at 1am on the Wednesday Sept 26.

We had a relatively uneventful journey over to Manchester Airport. We stopped off at a Diner on the way. Ted had a nice rest in a vibrating chair there. We arrived at the airport to a wail…. “I’ve left my hat in the Diner!” Ted! Ok we’ll send it on via Ups and hope you get it for Saturday for the Mariachi Festival. On the way home I said to Maurice… “let’s try to get it now if it’s still there and go back to the airport. We’ll have time!” So we did and it was so we did! Maurice went in and found our Boys just about to go through to the Departure Lounge! Was TED overjoyed! So were we! A man and his hat are never to be parted!


The Musician’s Corner

Gilbert Brown

Song Writing

Frequently I am asked about how I go about writing a song; where the ideas originate, what part comes first. Not surprisingly, it’s different for different writers. I know some whose approach is near opposite mine.

I don’t recall ever putting thoughts to a melody, with the exception of parodies, of which I’m a huge fan and love to do. Initially, something such as an event, a memory, an observation or some strong feeling grabs my attention. I may not get a whole line on paper before a melody starts to emerge though it’s apt to change as much as the words before I’m finished. Generally, the melody is well established if I get as far as a verse and more so, a chorus to go with it. Verses may get swapped, or omitted along the way. An ongoing editing process takes place; sometimes long after it’s been recorded and lots of folks are sitting at home, listening to it. That’s another topic however. Ideas come from living, and from observing. Maybe it’s something you only read about, but even that has become part of your life. Of course, it may be a surreal life you write about, which explains “JAIL HOUSE ROCK”, and that works great for me too.

Here is a new experience I’ll share. Recently, I was browsing through a book of poems for the sake of observing styles of writing them. I ran across one that just floored me and I saw a wonderful song just waiting. It was saying “pick me, pick me”, and so I did. A melody sprang to life almost instantaneously, and now I can’t stop singing it in my head. I’m beginning to wonder if I haven’t heard the whole thing before, and that wouldn’t be a tragedy if it were true. (Though I hope it’s not)

Hasta Luego,
GB

The Web Page

Kristy Hom

Hello Everyone! It's Kristy, filling in at The Web Page column! Mike and I are swapping columns in this issue, and you will find him telling some great stories in the Special Interest Section, as you read onward!

Photos, photos, photos! We have become rich with photos from friends attending the Band's concerts since our last issue! We wish everyone a special thank you for sharing the photos you take at the concerts! Ted, Mike and Gil appreciate the memories of their visits with you. With your permission, we would love to feature them here in the newsletter, or in the online photo gallery for all to see.

Here are the photos sent to us by friends in the past few months:


John and Julie Coyle, friends residing in Wales, attended the concert at Pantasaph in Wales on September 5th. They snapped this great photo!



This is The Band's young friend, Lucy and her mother at the concert at the Abbey Grange Hotel, in Wales, on September 8th. Lucy is a musician herself as you see here, and was playing a few songs for Ted, Michael and Gil after the concert.
Lucy knows all the SCRB songs by heart!


These 3 great photos were taken by Katherine Burdick of Tucson, Az. Kathy came with friends to see The Band at the Arizona Folklore Preserve in Hereford, Az on October 5th.







Speaking of photos, there are many from the summer tour up in the photo gallery on the website! You can vicariously attend nearly every SCRB performance of this year's tour in the Concerts and Festivals album. Also check out the Roadside Wanderings album for photos of The Band's travels along the way! It's a great way to be an armchair traveler as you speed along the edge of a mountain cliff in Wales, gaze in wonderment up into the Redwood Canopy in California, stop to marvel at the incredible mountains along the Colombia Ice Field Parkway in Western Canada, or get wrapped up in the moment as you admire one of Mike's beautiful flower photos.

Have you been receiving the SCRB emails? The Band sends out special announcements periodically, including announcements of the release of this newsletter. If you would like to be on that list, you can sign up by clicking this link. In the Fall of 2007, there have been 2 emails. One announced the release of the new Signal Fire cd, and another told about a special autographed guitar auction benefiting The Big Top Chautauqua concert venue.

If you are already on the SCRB email list, have you received these emails? We have learned that some folks on the mail list did not receive these mailings in their inboxes. If you think this is happening to you as well, please drop me a line at kristy@santacruzriverband.com, and I will check to be sure we have your correct email information.

The other action you can take is to edit your spam filter or junk mail settings to permit emails from newsletter@santacruzriverband.com to be delivered to your inbox. Spam filters are getting very effective at screening junk mail, but any email being sent out to a group of people can be suspect to their filtering systems. Unfortunately, this includes our mailings sometimes.

There's No Tortillas!!!!!!!!

It is with great pleasure in this special Tortilla-Themed Edition of the SCRB Newsletter, to announce the arrival of the SCRB cd, Signal Fire (Volume 4), in the online store! And yes, yes....for those who have been waiting for their "no tortilla" fix, your wait is over! "There's No Tortillas" is indeed on this cd!

But that isn't the only morsel contained in this recording. If you are hungry for new, original songs from the Band, you will be delighted to know that the three new songs, "Wagon Mound" from Michael, "Solano's Hats" from Gil, and "Born Unaware" from Ted, are also on the album. Since your appetite will be in full swing by this time, rest assured the feast rounds out with even more of your favorites that The Band has been playing this year: "Serenata Huasteca", "Ar Lan Y Mor", California Blues", Cielito Lindo", "Friend For Life", "Lonesome When You Go", and "Who Will Watch The Home Place".

So come on over to the online store, and pick up as many cds as you like! All of your favorites from the SCRB are available there, plus other recordings by Michael and his family, and vintage SCRB albums that may be new to you!

Wishing you happy travels on the road before you, and see you next time!
Kristy

A Special Interest Spotlight

Michael J. Ronstadt

Who am I?

When Ted introduces his new song “Born Unaware” he speaks of a conversation he had with his Grandmother, where he asked her “Who Am I?” When I was growing up and would tell my father about one of my friends he would always ask “Who is he?” and I would answer with his name and he would reply, “Yes I know that but who is he?”

In times past, folks would give their names including their mother’s maiden name as well, which would give a bit more information about who they were.

One of the wonderful things that happen when we play for people from all over is that it gets them thinking about where they came from and who they are.

Below are some excerpts from websites I have visited about my family. On my father’s side are my Great Grandfather, Frederick Augustus Ronstadt and Great Great Grandfather Henry Dalton, and on my mother’s side is my Grandfather, Lloyd Copeman.

This is one of the wonders of the World Wide Web that always excites me, the ability to ask it a question and have it give you an answer. These are some links to the sites I visited in my wanderings through my family history. If in your travels on the Web you come across something you might be interested in sharing with our readers please let us know and we will do our best to incorporate them in the newsletter.

Frederick Augustus Ronstadt: (Great Grandfather, Father's side)

Transcription of the Original Text
From the manuscript in the Ronstadt Family archives
at Special Collections, The University of Arizona Library
Part 1

Before I say anything about myself, I wish to note down a few things about my father and my mother. My father, Frederick Augustus Ronstadt, was born in Hanover, Germany, and educated at the university of the same city. His father's name was Godfrey Ronstadt, and as far as we knew he had only one sister, named Henrietta. He came from Germany with a group of engineers to Buenos Aires, from there by muleback across the Andes to Chile and by water to San Francisco; from San Francisco overland to San Diego and Arizona & Sonora in the early fifties. In the records of the Arizona Pioneers' Historical Society there is a paper telling of a report made by my father at that time on what was then the Ajo Mine. Mr. Sam Hughes knew about this, and he told us about this paper. In Sonora my father found ready occupation, not only in mining work but also in managing the large haciendas for some of the leading men of that state at that time. He took charge of General Gandara's Hacienda de Topahui between Ures and Hermosillo and here he built a cotton and wool mill, a flour mill, and tannery & made cotton & wool fabrics, leather, soap, candles, sugar, flour & other food products; also lumber and iron things needed were all made there by native labor from raw materials produced in the same place. He made many friends, and when the country needed trained soldiers he was given command of Mexican troops to fight Indians and revolutionists. He served as an officer in the Mexican army during the French invasion when Maximilian tried to establish his empire (1864-1867) and also during the 3 years' war of the Reforma (1858-1860). When General Pesqueira, then Governor of Sonora, General Garcia Morales and their staffs had to change the state capital from Ures to Tubac on account of the Maximilian supporters (1865-1866), my father came with them and happened to be the only one of the entire party who escaped the malaria that attacked all of them soon after they arrived at Tubac. He had to take charge and doctor the sick with large doses of quinine until they could help themselves. It was here that Governor Pesqueira commissioned my father to negotiate a loan from the people of Tucson pledging the revenue of the state of Sonora and his own personal wealth as security. My father obtained some $24000.00 from Sam Hughes, Tully & Ochoa, Hiram Stevens and other Tucson citizens. Firearms, ammunition, provisions and other materials were purchased to equip a troop of Mexican volunteers, and with these as a nucleus they incorporated more as they marched to Hermosillo where Maximilian sympathizers were in control. The morning of May the 4th they attacked the city from the Cerro de las Campanas and drove the traitors out of Hermosillo and soon after from the entire state. The Governor appointed my father State Treasurer and Tax Commissioner with power to collect revenues and pay off the various loans due the citizens of Tucson. After that my father served the State of Sonora as Prefect and Military Commander of every district in Sonora at different times, the last time during the revolution of General Serna in 1874 when he was transferred from the Altar District to Guaymas. By this time he had given 22 years of service to the Mexican Government, much of this during periods when the soldiers had to procure their own living as best they could, and he decided to retire to private life. He accepted the management of a group of copper mines in the southern part of Lower California belonging to Mueller & Co which several years later were sold to the French Co known as Sta. Rosalia - El Boleo.

http://www.library.arizona.edu/exhibits/ronstadt/bordermn/bmpt1.html

Henry Dalton:
(Great Great Grandfather, Father's side)

From the Henry Dalton Collection
Processed by The Huntington Library staff; supplementary encoding and revision supplied by Xiuzhi Zhou.
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2203
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: lgarcia@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2000
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Biography

Henry Dalton was born in London on October 8, 1804. On July 7, 1819, at age 14, he was apprenticed to Winnall Thomas Dalton as merchant tailor for a period of seven years. In 1827 he was in Peru, where he purchased for $3000.00 certain articles in corner Public House in Callao, apparently for commercial purposes. He engaged in coastal trade and commerce in Peru and Mexico, extending his interests in Mexico when he contracted for the purchase of the estate of the Marques de San Miguel de Aguayo. Through 1842 Dalton's business correspondence, although including Peruvian interests, was written from cities on the Pacific coast of Mexico, while his coastal trade was extended northward to San Diego, San Pedro and Los Angeles. He acquired property in both San Pedro and Los Angeles as early as 1843, from which time he appears to have been definitely established in California. In 1844 he purchased Rancho Azusa from its original grantee Luis Arenas; thereafter interested himself more in ranching than in shipping, although he maintained his commercial establishment in Los Angeles as an outlet for the surplus production of his various ranches. After 1846, when he charted a cargo vessel between Callao, Peru and California, he seems to have diminished his trading relations with Peru, but he never abandoned his Mexican contacts.

http://content.cdlib.org/view?docId=tf5d5nb0qt&doc.view=entire_text&brand=oac http://www.ci.covina.ca.us/cityview/2007Fall/Vintageyearspg53.pdf

Lloyd Copeman
(Grandfather, Mother's side)

About Lloyd G. Copeman

These notes were found in the papers of the late C. S. Mott. At one time Mott was General Motors largest stockholder and was also a one-time mayor of Flint, Michigan. He was a good friend of Lloyd G. Copeman.

Sunday, August 27, 1933 by C. S. Mott

Roy Brownell (prominent Flint lawyer and first cousin of Copeman) came over with his car and drove me over to Lloyd Copeman’s country place south of Lapeer and just east of Hadley. He is an inventive genius. He invented the Copeman Electric Automatic Stove, which was built in Flint for a while and is now taken over by the Westinghouse Electric Company. He also invented the rubber trays for electric refrigerators, from which he is getting a nice revenue. He has invented a lot of other things, some which will show up well. He has now worked out a process for covering leather and fabrics, etc. with a coating of rubber or latex in such a way that it can be stripped off clean when the article is ready for use. For example, in the making of ladies’ shoes the tops of many are either delicate leather or have to be cleaned. Through this process the covering can be taken off by the purchaser just before wearing and insures a perfect article. The same thing applies to upholstering on chairs, sofas, etc. – subject not only to damage or deterioration in manufacturing, but also in case of fire, water or smoke damage, dampness or suchlike. He says he can also spray this on automobile upholstering, even after it has been installed, so that when the car leaves the factory in proper condition, it will be fresh and perfect when the customer buys it and strips the cover off. There is no limit to this chap’s ideas.

For the sake of information – he has been raising ducks wholesale, some geese and now chickens. He is building a place to hold about 60 hens, each in its own enclosure, some 36 inches square, where the hen is going to spend all her useful life alone. She gets the usually daylight while it exists and early morning and evening light from lamps so she has only six hours of darkness. The air is to be conditioned and regulated and she is to be fed scientific food. The eggs she lays automatically roll out of the nest and are automatically registered, so a check-up is made of the exact production of each hen. When she is finished her egg-laying life she is sold for meat. I do not know much about hen philosophy; her deep thoughts in spare time or her sex life, but with a future before her as laid out by Copeman, I do not think she has much to look forward to. I do not know how his experiments will come out, but presume that Lloyd will get some kind of an answer.

http://www.lloydcopeman.com/index.html
New Articles and Reviews

The Band was featured in three North Wales newspapers during the Summer of 2007! Enjoy this fresh, European perspective!

Cruz-ing In For A Tour

by: David Waddington
as printed in The Pioneer, The Rhyl Journal, and The North Wales Chronicle

The authentic sounds of the South West of America will be visiting North Wales later this month when the Santa Cruz River Band embark on their worldwide tour. With their outstanding vocals and harmonies, and powerful acoustic instrumental sounds, The Santa Cruz River Band have enjoyed a hectic touring schedule and numerous album releases to this date. Based in Tucson, Arizona, the trio of Gilbert Brown, Michael J. Ronstadt, and Ted Ramirez are currently busy gigging across the USA

before their leap across the pond to Europe at the end of August. Singing in English, Spanish and American Indian languages, the trio present a powerful musical assortment that is filled with the history of essence of the great American cowboy heritage. And their repertoire has even extended into Welsh with the group mastering songs like Ar Lan Y Mor!

The band will be performing live at Y Caban in Brynrefail near Caernarfon on Friday, August 31 before visiting various venues throughout North Wales including the Springfield Hotel at Pentre Halkyn near Holywell on Saturday September 1 and Venue Cymru on Sunday, September 9 as part of the Country Music Festival Llandudno. For more information on this genuine American band, visit their website at santacruzriverband.com

Folklore - Myth - History - Truth

Traditions And Folklore Of Wales

by Jan Hedgecock, Editor

Wales is a country steeped in tradition. Even the Methodist revival in the 18th century, whose stern Puritanism banished the ancient Celtic traditions, was unable to stamp out all remains of their traditions.

Today the old tales are kept alive by the Welsh speakers. There are an estimated 600,000 of them and the numbers are increasing. Traditional Welsh culture has been kept alive by the popularity of the Royal National Eisteddford, a ceremonial gathering of musicians, poets and craftsmen.

In the late 19th century children were not encouraged to speak Welsh in school. If they did so, they were punished by having a piece of wood called a 'Welsh Not' hung around their neck.

The Welsh Folk Museum at St. Fagans in Glamorgan has many folklore pieces. The carved wooden spoons, called 'Love Spoons', were carved by young men while they visited their sweethearts. The carving of these spoons apparently was encouraged by the young lady's father as it ensured that the young mans hands were kept occupied! The spoons are beautifully carved and combine both ancient Celtic designs and symbols of affection, commitment and faith.

Mining has long been a staple occupation in Wales. The Romans were the first to to extensively mine for gold and lead. One of the largest lead mines was at Cwmystwth where in the 18th century silver was also mined.

Dolaucothi near Pumpsaint is the site of a Roman gold mine, the only one in Britain. The gold near the surface was exploited by open-cast working and the deeper ore was reached underground by galleries. The galleries were drained by a timber water-wheel, part of which can be seen in the National Museum in Cardiff.

Underground coal mining began in Wales over 400 years ago.

In the past, superstitions were rife in all the coal mining communities and were always heeded!

In South Wales, Friday is associated with bad luck. Miners refuse to start any new work on a Friday and pit-men always stayed away from the mines on Good Friday throughout Wales.

A robin, pigeon and dove seen flying around the pit head foretold of disaster. They were called 'corpse birds' and were said to have been seen before the explosion at Senghennydd Colliery in Glamorgan in 1913 when 400 miners died.

In 1890 at Morfa Colliery near Port Talbot, a sweet rose-like perfume was noted. The perfume was said to be coming from invisible 'death flowers'. On March 10th half the miners on the morning shift stayed at home. Later that day there was an explosion at the colliery and 87 miners were buried alive and then perished in the disaster.

Many precautions against bad luck were taken. If a 'squinting' woman was met on the way to work, the miner would go back home again. The women-folk also tried to banish any bad luck. When lots were being drawn for a position at the coal face, the miner's wife would hang the fire-tongs from the mantle-piece and put the family cat in the un-lit oven!

Useful links:

National Museum in Cardiff
Museum of Welsh Life, St. Fagans, Glamorgan
Heritage Accommodation in Wales

La Cocina

The weather is turning cooler in the Northern Hemisphere. It's time for Fall gatherings, and of course, yummy food to share with family and friends! Here is a holiday favorite from Good Friend, Sharon Heikkinen, of Southern Arizona. This is her story that accompanies the recipe:

"I used to make these every year for a midnight run on New Year's Eve (back in the days when we were runners). People would start running right at midnight, run between 3-5 miles, and then go back to the church where the run began and enjoy hot cider, tea & coffee along with an assortment of finger foods. A great non-alcoholic way to start the new year. I made these spinach balls every year for this run, and I usually increased the recipe to make between 500-750 balls. Everyone loved them - even people who wouldn't eat spinach. They are great to keep in the freezer and bake when needed. This recipe was published in an employee cookbook by the county where Jerry and I worked, and I called them... "

NEW YEAR'S EVE SPINACH BALLS

2 pkg. frozen, chopped spinach 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
6 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup softened butter or margarine
1/4 cup softened cream cheese
2 cups sage & onion stuffing mix (crumby kind, not cubes)

Cook spinach according to directions; drain well. Combine spinach with cheese, eggs, butter/margarine, cream cheese and stuffing mix. Add stuffing mix last. Drop by spoonfuls (or use a melon baller) onto a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until browned. To be cooked later Drop balls on cookie sheet and freeze, When frozen, remove spinach balls from cookie sheet and store in airtight bags or containers. Remove as many balls as desired, place on cookie sheet and bake about 15 minutes. Serve hot. Makes 70-100 balls, depending on size.

The Corn Ones..... Homemade Tortillas!

As we all know, (either by direct experience, or by listening to The Band romancing them so well) tortillas fit generally into two types: the corn and flour varities. If you were in Wales in the Summer of 2007, you may have tried an unheard-of oat flour tortilla!

The original ones in Mexico were made of the native corn, where they remain the staple. It is said that flour tortillas are mostly regional to Northern Mexico.

This recipe for corn tortillas was found on the underside of a thatched roof in the Welsh countryside, written in Egyptian Hieroglyphics. (I'm sure that is right, do you think so, Ted?)

4 cups masa harina *
½ tsp. Salt
2 1/2 cups hot but not boiling water

* Masa harina (corn flour) can be purchased in most supermarkets. If you are fortunate to have a specialty Mexican market nearby, you can purchase the masa dough freshly made and ready to press or roll out.

Place the masa harina and salt in a large bowl. Add the water and mix with your hands to make a dough that comes together in a soft ball. Continue mixing and kneading until the dough is elastic enough to hold together without cracking, about 3 minutes. If using right away, divide the dough into 18 equal portions and cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel. If making ahead for later use, wrap the whole ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 day and then divide. To form the tortillas, place a portion of dough between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. Press with a tortilla press or roll out with a rolling pin into a circle 6 or 7 inches in diameter. Use your fingers to smooth any raggedy edges. Continue with the remaining portions until the dough is used up. To cook the tortillas, heat a heavy skillet, griddle or comal over high heat until it begins to smoke. Peel the plastic wrap off a tortilla and place the tortilla in the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-high and cook for 30 seconds. Turn and cook on the other side for 1 minute. Turn again, and cook until the corn tortilla puffs a bit but is still pliable, not crisp, about 30 seconds more. Remove and continue until all the corn tortillas are cooked. Serve right away as this is when they are the best.

The SCRB Pony Express

Here comes the mail train! Thank you all for your great letters in our guestbook and from email this Summer and Fall! Here are just a few:

Mon 08 Oct 2007
Saw you at Tohono Chul and loved every minute. I have another Tucson river story you may have heard but it fits your song about the ladies. Pedro: I just got back from Ohio. Juan: Did you see the beautiful rivers there? Pedro: No, I couldn't. Juan: Porque? Pedro: No, I couldn't see them cuz they wuz all full of water! Hope to hear you again soon.
Bob Kish

Thu 04 Oct 2007
Hey,Teddy my daughter and I caught your performance at the San Jose Mariachi Festival, on stage with Linda Ronstadt, Los Lobos and with Randy and the other fine musicians and singers. The last time I saw you perform with Randy Carrillo was at one of the gigs you did back when you two were playing Beatles' songs at one of his Uncle Tony's political shindigs, back in 1965 ? '66. Anyway it just warmed my heart and I went nostalgic for those old days. But it was absolutely too much seeing you on stage with Randy and Stevie together and at this point in your professional careers, some 40 plus years later. too much! See you & the SCRB in Tucson.
Danny Gallardo

Wed 26 Sep 2007
Well, it was quite a thing to play on the same stage as these men (at the Conwy Folk Club). There is something very passionate and powerful about men singing and playing with such heart. I often wonder why music is such a connecting force between us all.....its just love i guess and they are overflowing with it....thank you it was a lovely evening..
Jane Williams x

Mon 24 Sep 2007
Just a quick note to say how much we enjoyed the performance In Wrexham.The music was exquisite and such friendly and charming people performing it.Spoke to Michael during the interval about some of the instruments.Very much looking forward to their next visit to North Wales.
Tom Nicholls

Tue 18 Sep 2007
Hi there - just back from Biddulph and just wanted to thank you for a fantastic evening of music. to me you gave us what live music is all about - bringing an understanding of different cultures in an informative and entertaining way. Both the songs and the musicianship were special and thanks for bringing it to us. Best wishes for the rest of the tour and we'll definitely make a point of seeing you next tim eyou are over here
Richard and Jean

Thu 23 Aug 2007
Hey Guys, what a wonderful show !! My friends and I had not been acquainted with your band before this evening. We were very happy and glad that we atteneded this particular Big Top show. I love southwestern/Spanish music and now so do my friends. We have been coming to Big Top shows for about ten years and your show ranks right up there at the top. Thanks for a wonderful evening of music and history.
Hal and Maggie Anderson

Wed 22 Aug 2007
Hello Michael, Ted and Gilbert, I want to thank you once more for your great show last night. I hope you will come back soon to the Netherlands..... I wish you all the best,
Ingrid

"So, until we meet again......."

~High Lonesome Thoughts~

We would like to sign off with a few ordinary words which convey extraordinary meaning...

The winds of grace blow all the time. All we need to do is set our sails
~Ramakrishna

When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest.
~Henry David Thoreau


When weasels appear to be alone, Learn to be silent and be as of stone!

A bath a day keeps the fleas away! A bath a month keeps everyone away!

~Lady Floppy Ears (of course!)

So from all of us....Gil, Michael, Ted, Jan, Kristy, and most especially Lady Floppy Ears....until we meet again....
Adios!

Contact information:

Newsletter Editor:
Jan Hedgecock: jan@santacruzriverband.com

Website and Newsletter Design:
Kristy Hom: kristy@santacruzriverband.com

Information and Spanish Language Contact:
Loraine Ramirez: loraine@santacruzriverband.com

Band Contacts:
Michael Ronstadt: mike@santacruzriverband.com
Ted Ramirez: ted@santacruzriverband.com

Snail Mail:

Santa Cruz River Band
P.O. Box 19023
Tucson, AZ 85730

For booking and Information: info@santacruzriverband.com

Band Website: santacruzriverband.com

Band Myspace site: myspace.com/ronstadtramirez

The Santa Cruz River Band Newsletter, June, 2007