By: Joseph Rios
This year’s Chicano Music Hall of Fame honors inductees “Dolly” Kelley, Robert “Bobby” Vasquez, Fidel Robles and the Robles Family, Bonna Pluma, and Abel Aragon. This past weekend, Su Teatro, a cultural and performing arts center in Denver, honored the musicians at the Chicano Music Festival. The theme of this year’s Chicano Music Hall of Fame inductees was “Borne in Mejico, but raised in Colorado.” Inductees are judged on excellence, uniqueness, innovation and longevity in Chicano music and honors those who have advanced Chicano music.
Here is a rundown on this year’s Chicano Music Hall of Fame inductees.
“Dolly” Kelley: Kelley, who was born Betty Jaramillo has been called Dolly since birth, owned and operated Dolly’s Party Time in Globeville. Dolly’s Party Time was a place to gather and hear New Mexico bands and acts like Darren Cordova, Gonzalo and Tobias Renee.
Over her career that lasted for more than 40 years, Kelley owned and operated Dolly’s Party Time and Muñeca’s. According to a release from Su Teatro, musicians sought Dolly out for engagements while venue owners would ask her for advice on acts to book.
Robert “Bobby” Vasquez: Vasquez had his finger prints all over Denver Public Schools where he taught and became the band director at West High School. He participated in a tour in the army as part of the Enlisted Men’s Band and became the first Chicano to lead the Denver All City Marching Band. Today, Vasquez conducts the annual Chicano Veterans Mothers and Father’s Day celebration and still plays music.
Fidel Robles and the Robles Family: Robles and the rest of the Robles Family have been involved in Chicano music for almost 100 years. Robles’ father, Lugando Robles Sr. was a self-taught musician and formed the Los Robles Orchestra. Lugando Jr. was a saxophonist and played with Chicano Music Festival Hall of Fame inductee Albert Arias. Robles has played the trumpet and drums for bands like the Rick Garcia Band and the Rudy Bustos Band.
Bonna Pluma: Pluma has been performing in Colorado for more than 50 years. His band Los Originales has toured Colorado while his sound has been at the forefront of Colorado Chicano music, Su Teatro says. In Northern Colorado, Bonna was responsible for the assembling of top-quality bands in the area.
Abel Aragon: Aragon grew up playing guitar and loving artists like Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix. Aragon fused Latin Rock and has been playing in the Denver area for the past 35 years. Today, he serves as the guitarist for Latin SOL and was the first-place winner of Carlos Santana Jam Off at the Chicano Music Festival in 2011.
