In the spirit of commitment to solidarity with migrants, the California Province of the Society of Jesus is a proud sponsor of Honor Migrante, a new CD album produced by Francisco Herrera and the non-profit organization Fundación Caminante. Honor Migrante is a collection of original songs in Spanish that educate migrant communities about fundamental human and worker rights. Fundación Caminante will be producing community concerts across California as fundraisers for local organizations that support migrants and working people.

Hotel workers and their community supporters demonstrated in Union Square, San Francisco, September 24, 2009. Photos: © David Bacon.

Español

Honor Migrante, narrativa musical de una comunidad orgullosamente inmigrante, cuya voz es muy pocas veces escuchada publicamente. Francisco Herrera, historiador/músico lleno de espíritu, que usa un híbrido de estilos de la cultura chicana fronteriza: ése espacio cultural flexible que mantiene la esencia de la identidad mestiza en el centro de la homogeneidad cultural global. Estas canciones, historias y cuentos folclóricos encierran elementos del pasado indígena y el proceso histórico de la mezcla de culturas que se ha convertido la base para que cada generación forje su propia voz.

Las canciones de Francisco llevan la vitalidad de la experiencia migrante, historias de fe, amor y lucha de familias que cabalgan fronteras y culturas. La letra relata historias de árduo trabajar y la separación de familias por su estatus migratorio. Sus canciones combinan la profunda espiritualidad de la clase trabajadora mexicana quienes han usado ésta inmensa devoción para crear comunidades bi-fronterizas que sobreviven y florecen, a pesar de condiciones política y económicas muy dificiles.

La música combina el “swing,” de la música fronteriza conocida como “Tex-Mex,” dándole un acento californiano que incorpora aspectos del “Rock,” “Regea,” música “Afro-Cubana,” y Nueva Canción Lartinoamericano, por lo tanto transformada en “Cal-Mex.” Manteniendo el golpe rítmico de la polka fronteriza con el brinco juguetón que caracteriza las fusiones musicales de la Bahía de San Francisco.

Francisco es un Trabajador Cultural, un organizador que ha dedicado su vida al servicio a su comunidad. Su música es una forma de arte público cantado en iglesias, plazas, escuelas, huelgas, reuniones (mitins); y en todo lugar sus canciones inspiran y nutren la esperanza. Su voz encierra la esencia del alma chicana, que mezcla el calor inspiracional del “rhythm & blues – afro-americano” con la ternura campechana de los cantantes románticos rancheros de México.

English

Honor Migrante is a musical narrative that tells story of a community of proud immigrants whose voices are rarely heard publicly.  Francisco Herrera is soulful border musician/storyteller using the hybrid styles of the Chicano border community, a flexible cultural space that has maintained the spirit of Mestizo identity in the midst of Global cultural homogenization – further influenced by work in Central and South America. These songs, stories and folktales capture elements of the indigenous past and the historical process of cultural mixture that became a building block for each generation to forge its own voice.

Francisco Herrera’s songs capture the vitality of the immigrant experience, stories of faith, love and struggle of families that straddle borders and cultures. Herrera’s lyrics capture the language and stories of the border, narratives of hard work and separation of families by their migration status. His songs combine the deep spirituality of working class Mexicans and Central Americans who have used this profound devotion to create cross border communities that survive and thrive despite harsh economic and political conditions.

The music combines the swing of the border music called Tex-Mex with a very “Californiano” approach that brings in elements of rock music, reggae, Afro-Cuban and the Latin American Nueva Canción, thus the evolution of “Cal-Mex.” You can feel the thump of the border polka with a very different swing to it that playful bounce that marks the San Francisco Bay Area’s characteristic musical fusion.

Francisco Herrera is a cultural worker, a community organizer who has devoted his life to service to his community. His music is a form of public art, sung in churches, plazas, schools, picket lines, meetings and everywhere his songs will provide inspiration and hope. His unique voice captures the essence of “Chicano soul” that blends the soulful inspiration of rhythm and blues with the earthy ranchero crooners of Mexico.

Español

Yo trabajo en el hotel
y el patron tiene welfare.
Mi trabajo le da el dinero
para que coma muy bien.
Me dice el muy embustero
que ya más no puede pagar.
Por eso organizamos
nuestra fuerza laboral.

Refrán:

Pa’ defender la dignidad
y protejer el bienestar
es nuestra union la que nos da
fuerza de pueblo que no se sabe rajar.

Con palmaditas en la espalda
dice "Man, you’re working well."
Pero si hablamos del sueldo
hasta se le olvida el ingles.
Pero en la unión voy aprendiendo
que me puedo organizar
y el ideoma no es escusa
pa mis derechos pelear.

Refrán . . .

English

I work at the hotel
and the boss, well -- he’s on welfare.
My work makes the money
so he can eat very well.
The liar tells me plainly
that he has no more $ to pay.
That's why we have organized
our labor force.

Refrain:

To defend our dignity
and protect our common good,
it is our union that gives us
strength of a people that will not be trampled.

With little pats on the back
He says “Man! You’re workin’ well!”
But if we speak about salaries
he even forgets his English.
In the Union I am learning
that I can get organized
and that language is no barrier
for me to fight for my rights.

Refrain . . .

Personnel: Francisco Herrera, vocals; Rafael, Liliana Herrera, backup vocals; Josh "El Chino" Jones, drums, batería; Geoff Brennan, bass/bajo; Eddie Pérez, acordión/bajo sexto; Joe Goldmark, slide guitar; Greg Landau, Camilo Landau, John Greenham, production.

Francisco Herrera is a member of AFM Local 1000.