The ripple effect
Posted July 1, 2008 3:38 am (about 143 days ago)
In ’97 or so, Cornelius of Underground Resistance (UR) sent an e-mail to the Native American Student Association (NASA) at the University of Michigan, where I was a student. The record label was looking for a Native American DJ to help promote them and I responded, asking if being Mexican was indigenous enough. Little did I know what types of opportunities would open and that Corn is still one of my closest friends till this day. Through him I met Mike Banks, DJ Marquis, and Mark Flash. Mike has inspired me in many ways, Marquis became a good friend and taught me countless things about DJing, and life in general, while I collaborated with Mark Flash on the one record that ever came out with my name on itAt some point I received an e-mail from London from a like-minded music lover, Louis Digital and forwarded it to Cornelius. Before I knew it the two of us and Mark Flash were spinning over in the UK, something I had wondered if was possible for me. That was still one of the best experiences in my life and inspired me to book other gigs overseas, including Australia, where I worked with one of UR’s contacts, Southern Outpost. Additionally, I caught up with a friend from Taiwan, Mike, during which time we developed the foundation for the site you’re now looking at and he continues to maintain.
Later, when I moved to the California, I showed my portfolio during a job interview and this portfolio included a compilation CD I had put together, which featured a track by UR. One of the interviewers recognized the track, called me after the interview and we talked about music. I ended up taking the job, where I taught for four years. Now I’m the Vice Principal and the interviewer, David Castillo, is the Principal. Of course, I’ve stayed in touch with Cornelius and he hooked me up with his friend Marie, who got me a gig DJing at the Rex Club in Paris for New Year’s Eve 2006. Not only was that one of the final thing on my DJ “To Do List,” but Marie came to California in 2007 and presented at my school.
Finally, a couple of months ago, a group of teachers and students from my school went to New Orleans and Mobile. I mentioned the project to Cornelius, who told me about one of our DJ buddies from Michigan, Miguel Solari, who was now living in San Francisco and recently completed a documentary on Latinos in New Orleans; which was part of our group’s focus. Not only did Miguel share some advice with our students, but he also referred us to a woman in New Orleans. This woman, Eva San Martin took us under her wing and allowed us to have a fabulous, if not eye-opening, trip. Beyond her expertise, fun spirit, and care for the community, I also made another friend. For the second part of our trip, we went to Mobile to be hosted by my friend Gloria, who I met in Japan when we were on the same teaching program together. We were talking one night about having our students meet up and less than a year we made it happen. I found out about this program through my sister, who casually passed the information on to me after her friend mentioned it to her. Incidentally, I’m writing this as I leave Cleveland, where I presented a workshop on techno, which heavily featured the work of Cornelius, Mike Banks, and Mark Flash. I’m catching up with Gloria next month in Chicago. Everything’s come back full circle.
So yeah, the world is a small place and one small action can ripple into who knows how many others. Despite whatever fantasies I may have had as a kid about my life, I don’t know if I could have truly imagined the great people I’ve met along the way, but I’m grateful for everyone of them!
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