It's a Take: Life in the Studio

I'm no stranger to the recording studio. During the 1980's, my friend Richard Zapata and I, recorded numerous episodes of "Cho & Lo", at the University of the Pacific's KUOP-FM, an NPR affiliate, a street-savvy duo from the barrios who through satire and humor addressed issues of culture, language, education, and gangs. (A CD of actual recordings from this period is in the works).

So the recent production of a companion CD of selections from my newly-published book, "Songs From the Barrio" was certainly familiar with the exception that the recording industry has come a long way since the 1980s: completely digital. I clearly recall the "dubbing" process during the production of each "Cho & Lo" episode, the ability to record new "takes" each time we made an error, and the reel-to-reel squeals of the fast-forwards or rewinds, and the actual cutting and splicing of the tape! At first, we did the episodes "live" over the air which was plain riveting, complete with errors for all to hear!

Working with Mike Torres, Jr. in his recording studio in Stockton was a bit different. Familiar was the masses of wires leading to and from computer monitors and the stacks of  machines, but the process was completely new for me. Mike made certain to include me in every decision as to the quality of the recording, intonation and pace of each story or poem I read. 

New takes were easy: stop/pause/and re-read and re-record the entire story, or just a single line or passage . No more reel-to-reel machines; all was plainly visible on the computer monitor and fast-forwarding or rewinding was done at the click of a mouse. His enthusiasm for the project was simply infectious.

Once the tracks were laid down we discussed adding sound effects to certain parts of the pieces and again, all it took was to go to YouTube, type in the kind of sound desired, a passing train, water pouring into a glass, a flushing toilet, a woman screaming and scroll through the links to find the one which would work. 

Mike then downloaded the sound and dubbed it in at just the right place! We could manipulate exactly where to place it - before, just after or during a certain word or passage, then its volume could be adjusted, louder, fainter. We could also add echo or reverb to the sound!

As with the designing of the front and back cover of the book, I thoroughly enjoyed the entire creative process, aside from the writing and the self-publishing experience on my PC. Working with my friends, graphic designer, Roberto Radrigan, photographer, Arturo Vera and of course, Mike Torres, Jr. was special. It felt like "familia."

As I have learned from years of teaching Literature, the Literary Experience, that of reading a story or poem is a silent and private journey into the imagination which readers cherish, but the "listening" to of a poem or "story" read aloud by an animated reader, is another, completely different one. Notice how children love for adults to "read to them." No matter how noisy or boisterous they might be, once the reading begins: silence. Adult audiences are the same. They have just forgotten how to use their imaginations until someone, a poet or an author, re-awakens it in them.

As you might suspect by now, I am making a "pitch" for my new CD! It is not available on any sites, so If you would like to purchase one contact me personally and I can make arrangements to mail one to you. The cost of the CD is $6.50 + shipping and handling.
You can also contact me on Facebook by visiting my page "Songs From the Barrio."

Give it a "listen" and become a child, again. 

 

La Bloga: Barrio Songs: An Interview with Richard Ríos

www.chican-izmo.blogspot.comLa Bloga: Barrio Songs: An Interview with Richard Ríos

Raving Review

 Please take a moment of your precious time to read this generous review of my book"Songs From the Barrio: A Coming of Age in Modesto, Ca." written by author Rosa Martha Villarreal. Makes a man, well... feel good.

www.somosenescrito.blogspot.com

Poem "Para Los Tres Grandes" (For the Three Great Ones)

When I was in high school, I wrote my first term paper in a Junior Composition Class on three of Mexico's greatest artists, muralists Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Jose Clemente Orozco. To that point I had no idea that Mexico had artists, let alone great ones.

I wrote this poem, wrote and rewrote it over the years, refining it, and finally decided to include it in my book. It is an homage to these three great ones who tell of Mexico's tumultuous history in graphic images, fixing them on enormous walls and ceilings throughout Mexico... for all to see.

Yo Soy Latino Poem From My Book "Songs From The Barrio"

This is a poem I wrote several years ago and it departs a little from the kind of poems I normally write, which are free verse with little or no rhyme. I always enjoy the "sound" of words, word-play and I try to capture some of this when I read.

I love to incorporate Spanish words and phrases into my work because the Spanish language has its own intrinsic beauty in the vowels, and multi-syllabled words. The poem sets out to define what a Latino is, to destroy myths and stereotypes. It is one of the poems sprinkled between the stories which make up my book.

La Bloga: Barrio Songs: An Interview with Richard Ríos

La Bloga: Barrio Songs: An Interview with Richard Ríos

The following interview was conducted by my friend, Nancy Aide Gonzalez on the writing of my book, "SongsFrom the Barrio: A Coming of Age in Modesto, Ca."

On The Peddling of a Book

The other day, my neighbor, a humble, weathered man, uneducated, but street-smart, with all the scars to prove it asked "What you been up to, Richard?" "Not, much. I just published a book." With a look of astonishment he shook his saying "I never knew anyone who wrote a book." "Yeah, now I have to go out a peddle it", I continued. He was amused by the word "peddle" and laughed out loud. A couple of days later, he commented "You been busy peddling you book? Who buys books anyway?" he asked incredulously. "Anybody I can trick into it", I said. He laughed out loud again.

And there you have it. Now that my book is published I have been busy "marketing" it. Actually, this is the best part of the whole thing. Writing, especially the editing was an exhausting and tedious process. But the peddling has been fun.

In a college I had an English professor, Mr. Noyes, an ivy-league clad, bespeckled man who taught us the love of Literature by reading to us. I loved kicking back, not having to take notes and just "listen" to the poems and stories come to life as he passionately read them to us! In a way, I felt as we were being cheated out of something since I had grown up listening to lectures all my life.

I love reading to people. Poems, stories mine or those by other writers. I love the audience response, the frowns, the smiles, the laughter, the tears which in turn make me read with more passion. The kids along with the old-timers listen with earnest intent as I take them on a literary journey into the mind, the imagination. I read for a 7th grade class the other day and they loved the stories and even rushed me at the end of the session for my autograph on little slips of paper they had torn from their binders. A couple of weeks later, four of them gave their teacher some money to purchase a book for them. I was honored.

So I am busy doing local readings and book signings and tricking people into buying my book. On Facebook I have gotten dozens of "Likes" from my "Friends", but few have actually purchased a book. Who needs "likes" or "friends" like this? But hey, I'm not into it for the money, mind you; but damn it, I had to pay a small bundle to publish it, and I also have to pay for each copy I sell. Have pity on me. Some people actually expect me to give them a copy for free! And I have handed out several freebies, too, asking them to help me spread the word on my book if they "liked" it. But for the ones who do buy a book, and actually read it, I must confess I am dying to know if they "liked" it, and in that department, so far, things are going well with many positive comments.

I called the principal from my old high school the other day, Modesto High School, which I graduated from in 1957, to tell him about my book, offering to do a presentation for the school or English classes (free), and finally got a response from an English teacher who scheduled me to do presentations for five sections of her Senior English classes! I will tell those students that I once sat in the very seats they are sitting in, walked the very hallways they walk, went to the same Friday night "Panther's" games just like they do, but that I began running with the wrong crowd until two of my art teachers discovered me, and put me on the path to a college education, a degree, a teaching career, becoming an artist, and now and author, and I will read them stories from my book, one titled "Los Tres Grandes", about how I discovered I could write after a Junior Composition assignment for a term paper, led me research the life and art of three of Mexico's greatest muralists, Diego Rivera, David Siqueiros, and Jose Orozco, and got an "A" on it and the teacher read it to the class.

More readings and booksignings are on the way and I am looking forward to each one, especially one I will be doing as guest author for National Poetry Month in April, at the college where I taught for 33 years. A homecoming, of sorts. And I will continue to peddle my book.

In fact, while I am on it, would you like to buy a book?