KZSM — A new show in Spanish
KZSM.org, your true community radio station, strives to represent our richly diverse population. With that in mind, we are happy to introduce a new Spanish-language broadcast, “Música con Ganas” (Sundays 10-11 a.m.). Hosted by “El Tío,” the program features a variety of music from Mexico and beyond.
“There’s not enough Spanish programming in San Marcos,” El Tío observes, even though “a large segment of the population in San Marcos is of Mexican-American and Latino Roots.” He closes the show with a song that celebrates those roots, “Yo Soy Mexico-Americano.” The lyrics express pride in possessing two cultures and two languages.
“Música con Ganas” also celebrates the variety of Mexican music. To the uneducated,” El Tío explains, Mexican music is Mexican music because it’s all in Spanish,” but there are many different genres. A recent show includes sonoras and rondalla as well as the more familiar mariachi. Sonoras are choral groups, and rondalla are smaller instrumental groups featuring strings exclusively.
Upcoming special shows will showcase more kinds of music. A special with accordion music will include Flaco Jiménez, Little Joe y La Familia, and others. Another special will feature selections from Rosina Records, an independently owned record label based in San Marcos, founded in the 1960s by community leader Ruben Ruiz Sr. and recently revived through the efforts of his daughters Dr. Rosina Ruiz Valle and Rhea Kimbell.
El Tío signs on as “un viejo,” an old guy, and acknowledges the nostalgic appeal of his music. “We have a lot of old people like me who don’t have music to listen to—we grew up with that stuff.” With “Música con Ganas,” the host explores his own roots along with those of his audience. “Spanish is my primary language but for the past 50-some years I’ve spoken English almost exclusively,” he says. “As I ease into a comfort zone, I’ll be more comfortable describing and talking about the types of music that I play.”
“Música con Ganas” roughly translates to “music with feeling,” and many of El Tío’s songs express the emotional intensity of Mexican music. “You have to understand the culture,” he says. It sounds violent, like ‘signing my name in the blood of my heart.’ You don’t get that kind of passion and fire anywhere else, I don’t think.”
If you have a passion you would like to share with San Marcos and the world, contact us—kzsmsanmarcos@gmail.com.
