Composer, musician, singer and actor Daniel Valdez, an associate producer of the 1987 feature film La Bamba, and star of the 1981 movie Zoot Suit with Edward James Olmos, will visit the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum on Wednesday, April 2 for "Music and Conversation," part of a month-long celebration commemorating Cesar Chavez. The public portion of the program begins at 6:45 p.m. and is free and open to the public, with seating on a first-come basis.
Valdez left home at 17 to join his brother Luis in Delano, Calif., in the struggle for the just treatment of farm workers. In January 1966, he joined Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers Union, and it was on the picket lines that Daniel Valdez learned to do Teatro and incorporate his music to bring the message of the UFW to the workers and the rest of the world.
One of the founding members of El Teatro Campesino, a theatrical troupe whose original actors in 1965 were all farm workers, Valdez has been seen in many Teatro productions, including the Chicano film classic Zoot Suit. He also wrote the film's original music and arranged all of its classic Big Band music. In 1987 Daniel co-produced the life story of Ritchie Valensi in the film, La Bamba. Both of these films were written and directed by Luis Valdez.
Daniel Valdez has played roles in numerous other films, including Which Way is Up? (1977) starring Richard Pryor; The China Syndrome (1979) with Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, and Michael Douglas; and Cheech Marin's Born in East L.A. (1987). Along with his list of stage, film, and musical credits, he has worked continuously with community organizations and schools as a positive role model for Hispanic youth, with special guest lectures, performances, workshops and benefits for these organizations.
Valdez's first love has always been music. His first solo album, Mestizo (1973), for A&M records, propelled him into the world of concert performer. Among the musicians he has performed with are Linda Ronstadt, Carlos Santana, Jerry Garcia, Ruben Blades, Celia Cruz, and Tito Puente. In 1996 Valdez composed and wrote the original score for the IMAX film, MEXICO, a 40-minute movie tracing 3,000 years of Mexico's history, beginning at the height of the Mayan civilization.
In September 1997, Valdez worked with the San Diego Repertory Theater and Southwestern College as a musical consultant and historical expert for the re-staging of the Luis Valdez American play, Zoot Suitthe first revival of the classic since its creation 20 years prior. In June of 2000 he reprised his role as musical director at the Goodman Theater in Chicago for their production of Zoot.
Coinciding with a month-long series of activities commemorating Cesar Chavez, Claremont's own 5-College Theater production of Zoot Suit will be held at Seaver Theater on the Pomona College campus. The 30th anniversary production is directed by Pomona College Professor of Theatre Alma Martinez. Opening night performance is Thursday, April 3, with additional performances through Sunday, April 6.
Ticket information: www.theatre.pomona.edu/zootsuit.