Joe, its great to see you. [speaking foreign language] little joe im doing great and i hope you and your family are doing well. And let me say first, gracias for having me on. Second, i wanna wish everyone a great thanksgiving holiday, although were in the situation that we are with the virus. And thirdly, i want to offer my condolences to all the families and friends of victims of the virus. Its just so heartbreaking. I do, on behalf of myself and my family, offer condolences and to all families damian yeah, thats very nice of you, joe, and youre speaking from the heart and youre speaking in the first person because you went through it. Talk about what that was like. Were gonna get into your book. We have the whole show with you. But talk about thewhat it was like to go through it and youre still probably in recovery. I dont know if theres any lingering effects that you still have. Little joe well, i as far as lingering effects, i think im just a little short of breath. I hate the word short. But it isntwas an incredible experience for me. And from that, when i emerged from going through the covid19 its something that i can relate and talk about to the people that, you know, may not think that its not what it is, it is a deadly virus and on my experience along with my niece, my daughter, and my wife, all four of us went down with the virus at the same time, and presently one of my kids picked it up but hes doing well. And so many of my friends and colleagues in music are now, you know, ruben ramos, experiencing it so the only thing we can do is we wish em well and, like thousands of people that offered their well wishes and offered their prayers to me, which, you know, im totally indebted for their kindness, kind words. But it was quite an experience and i hope that people will follow the guidelines because right now its happening and surging at a worse pace than as ever so its just something that we cannot kid around, about, or with so [speaking in foreign language] take care of yourself so that you can take care of others. Damian thats well put, joe. Were glad to see that youre okay. Always wear your mask, carry your mask wherever you go and is that important. Glad to see that youre well. Lets talk about your book. It is called no llore, fregon. Theres another word in there but well say, no llore, fregon, here. And there it is. This is kind of like your memoir. Its an american story, little joe of little joe y la familia. Long time in coming, joe. Talk about your thoughts. Its getting great reviews. Your thoughts on your new book. Little joe well, you know, for years, as far back as in the 1980s, people had approached me, often book writers wanting to write my life story. I didnt feel that there was much to, you know, get to talk about that Public Interest and, you know, just human nature. I was too busy doing what i was doing and having a great time and didnt really want to have the book written. But as i got older and, again the word short, shorter on time, i decided that it was time to tell the story. But i needed the right author to do it for me. And you know, i was justive been such a blessed and fortunate person through my whole life and writing the book was just one of the luckiest things thatit happened in terms of finding the right person to write it for me. I wanted the story to be told and understood and i wanted the writer to understand me and Emma Gonzalez was perfect for writing the story because our backgrounds as childs were so similar. You know, Migrant Children working in the fields. But i also wanted the book to be about my family. Its really a little [inaudible] but its a story of my family. Ive always regarded them as my heroes and i didnt, we were about ninety percent done with the book and we moved our offices where we are now and in doing so we found a ledger. My dad wrote his life story. There were, like, four or five ledgers and i happened to find the first ledger he started writing thishis life story and it was just perfect for opening the story of my family in my book and, you know, i feel so bad that i didnt keep up with the ledger but its so lucky that i found the first one. And thats where the story begins, 1912, when my dad first arrived from mexico, the revolution of course him and his family damian lets talk about that in our next segment, joe, because itsand music was always a part, no matter how poor you were, no matter how bad things were, there was always music. Well be back with lite joe of little joe y la familia. Stay with us. Air wick scented oils arences infuseds in nature. With natural essential oils for fragrance day after day,up to 60 days air wick scented oils. Connect to nature. [damian and there he is with the chicano national anthem, las nubes, with little joe, little joe y la familia. And again, music, it was a part of the Family Tradition in the Hernandez Family ever since they left mexico in search for a better life here in the united states. And joe, let me bring you back in becausedid i get this right, you areyour grandfather was a colonel in the mexican army. Little joe thats on my moms side. That was her father and he was [speaking foreign language] jose Maria De Leon and my grandmother named me after my grandfather so im jose Maria De Leon hernandez. And he, during the revolution, sent my greatgrandmother, grandmother, my uncle and mom to texas. They arrived here, my uncle and my mother were just children, 1917 i believe like my father was out of mexico, and its a love story and a tragedy on my moms side. On my dads side, it was justits a story of survival, you know . And i wanted that story to be told because i know it relates to, i suppose, millions of people that grew up in this country like my family did, you know, especially Migrant Workers which are still out there today. And i wanted that part of the story told because its so important that people, the young people of today, need to recognize all the great opportunities that have been bought and paid for by blood, sweat and tears our great grandparents, and there are so many great things that our children of this day can take advantage of. But more importantly for me, i think they need to realize and understand who they are. Be aware of their parentage, of their roots [speaking in foreign lguagan i think when we found out who we are, we just stand on more firm ground and we start to recognize and understand our characteristics because each culture has its own way of doing things and its so important. It doesnt matter where you come from or who you are but its so important to understand yourself and your blood line [speaking in foreign language] i think this makes us, like i said, a more grounded person. Damian and i guess you didnt have a choice in becoming a music legend, right, because back when your families were still in mexico, i mean, the crops werent growing, things were bad. Let me pull out the guitar, let me pull out the violin. Lets make something positive out of this negative. Music was always a part of your growing up. Little joe yes, it did, i got on my fathers side, my grandmother studied music and trained and she taught piano. She played piano. And my uncles, my dads brothers, they all played instruments and sing and wrote songs. Couple of my aunts sing as well. And so there was always music around the house. And my dad and moms house, as a child i remember, there was always a musical environment happening and to me that was a gift because i didnt plan on being an entertainer or singer but i do remember all those beautiful songs that i heard as a kid and today still am amazed how a child of eight, nine, years old would remember these beautiful songs, a love song with beautiful lyrics, beautiful melodies, profound words. And i had no idea how or why a kid of 8, 9, 10 years old would remember those songs which i record on later in my life. And for me it made a very, very important part in our family, and my brothers and sisters of all my siblings, musics always been a very, very important part of our lives. And for me, its been an incredible vehicle, a conduit to parts of the world that i never imagined i could visit, all over europe, over spain, parts of Mexico United states, and it brought me in contact with so many different people from walks of life. Its been an amazing story to me. And i owe it all to music. Damian ah, well, and we are reaping those rewards joe [speaking foreign language] what youve done. Its same thing with us, i guess, when were feeling down and out, just put on some little joe, throw a couple of [speaking foreign language] maybe a couple of [speaking foreign language] and makes us feel a lot better. Were talking about the new book by little joe, little joe y la familia. Its called no llore, fregon. Theres another word there but well use fregon here. Its out so make sure you get that and well talk more with Joe Hernandez of little joe y la familia. Stay with us. Damian and were back withe] little joe of little joe y la familia, talking about his new book, no llore, fregon. Its an american story, the life of little joe y la familia, who grew up, a family of a sharecropper, and look at the heights that hes risen to now. Were honored to be joined here. I mentioned, before we were on the air, joe, that when i was reading the book, id go to bed and id wake up the next day and im thinking, what episode did i leave that netflix show at . Because it felt like i was watching a movie, just reading your book. So im sure youve gotten a lot more reviews like that but its reallyits a really easy, really good read, and makes you feel likemakes you feel like youre little joe. Little joe well, first, the books won two awards and one of em is now, you know, i wrote the book hoping to inspire the reader and so one of the awards is most inspirational nonfiction, and though how this works is once you win the award, then they move the book to the tv, environmental, and the Movie Department and they ask for more information regarding me and my music interests. Send that to the Movie Department and then it happens. Its been for five different categories, i believe it was short film movie; documentary; series. So theyll let us know in december where that goes. But one of the most thrilling things for me was, of course, i mean, thatsthat was unthought of that, you know, i would get a chance, that the book would go to those departments. But aftertheres 220 judges that judge the books and after reading my book, my life story, they come up with a new category for the book awards and thats the best family story. That was not a category in the book awards so theyre going to start a new category, the best familyhistory of the families. So im really honored and proud of that and, of course, excited. And yet, the book, as i said, was my intention to inspire people [speaking in foreign language] you know . But, you know, hard work and everything that comes along with succeeding. Luck plays a big part in it and ive been so lucky. Ive always told you, im so lucky to call you my friend and to know you, and, you know, this is just something that happens in my life that i know that i have stood on so many peoples shoulders to get to where im at. And im grateful and, again, im just real blessed and i always go to and they ask me, well, how do you wanna be remembered i say, blessed, [speaking in foreign language] i mean, i cant explain it in any other way. I just feel very, very blessed. Damian yeah, blessed, that word says it all, for sure. Were watching the music video that has the same video that is on the book cover here. Talk about when are we gonna see this again, joe . I know that, again, youre still recovering but, boy, i really dont know. Wed love to see you back onstage. The saddlerack is not here anymore but wed still love to see you back. Any idea, any thoughts . Little joe ive been ondoing some shows. I prefer to do theof course, ive been doing concerts. It is true that i had to postpone and repostpone and rereschedule, but scheduling shows that we had in vegas and laughlin and other shows that, you know, the big shows like decemberseptember 12 i was supposed to do a show with the temptations in vegas. I was all excited about that. But, again, we had to reschedule but i am doing some shows. I just dont wanna do any indoor shows, especially if the venue doesnt have a big stage and, you know, wellventilated air but im always excited when i think about coming to san jose and im looking forward to visiting with you guys as soon as this terrible virus allows us. Damian all right, well, were talking with the legendary little joe of little joe y la familia. Again, his new book is no llore, an american story by little joe, little joe y la familia. Well be back with this grammy awardwinner, this music icon. Stay with us. [music] damihis new book, noain with littllore, which is out. La you know, i think of myself blessed for doing what i do, joe, going on 26 years now, and im sure that whati think i read youre 80 years young now and youre still going and its on fire. Im sure you feel blessed. You mentioned this a little bit but to be going as long as you have, to have been the mover and shaker that you have been. Little joe its been an incredible journey. Oh, regarding the book, i almost forget to tell you that we have the spanish edition now. Damian oh good. Little joe yeah, yeah, we just got it done last week, friday of last week. I was informed that we have now little joes story in spanish and im excited about that because so many other people that, as i was saying earlier, that arrived in this country from mexico andduring the revolution, because of the revolution, will now be reading their life story as well, so you can now get it in the spanish edition. You know, a big change in my life came when i started touring california, especially when i wound up in the bay area. That changedthat led me to change the name of little joe and the latinaires to la familia little joe y la familia. That was such a big move for me, musically, just awareness and so i was for many, many years my home away from home. And of course its been so many years and weve lost so many of my fan base back then but their families are still around and they still come to the show and im always happy to greet them and, you know. Unfortunately, i dont have much time to spend with anyone anymore, on the go all the time, but im looking forward to get to visit you guys at the bay area now, talk about the good old times, and bring you some good old chicano tejano music. Damian no, we cant wait to see you again, joe, and, in fact, you wrote a song about your tour around california. You mention san jose in that song and so youre near and dear to everyone here. We wannado wanna play a music video so we can entertain our folks but any final thoughts, joe, before we let you go . Little joe i just wanna wish everybody well and i wanna thank you for giving me the opportunity to do this interview with you and, again, i wanna remind the people that they need to take care of themselves, wear the mask, keep the distance, social distance, and, you know, washing your hands and all that. But if you dont take care of yourself, you cant take care of your loved ones. And do any and everything you can to help others. Right now, im in the middle of working with the food banks which is one of the most important, i think, one of the most acts of love that we can do to feed the hungry. So if you have a little extra that you can share and you can spare it, to feedhelp feed others, come forward, do that. Damian oh, thats beautiful. Wish we could spend more time and talk more about la cotorra, your dad who, also a big part. But this is verythis is little joe y la familia, his new book, no llore, fregon. You can buy it now and you can also buy it in spanish [speaking foreign language] there is the book cover. This is just a great reading, again. You feel like youre watching a movie. Joe, thank you so much. Im blessed to have known you, to know you, and to have you cross my path. Gracias, hermano. Little joe damian, gracias [speaking foreign language] and god bless you. Damian gracias. I appreciate you and, well, this is the end of the show, folks. If you wanna get a hold of us, we do have our contact information. You can follow me on twitter. My handle is newsdamian, on instagram is newsdamiantrujillo. Also pick up a copy of El Observador newspaper and support your bilingual weeklies all across the bay area. We thank you once again to la familia and to little joe for joining us here at comunidad del valle. Were gonna leave you now with cartas marcadas, buenos dias. [speaking foreign language] [music] [singing in foreign language] [singing in foreign language] [singing in foreign language] [singing in foreign language] announcer who can you always rely on to be there when you need immediate help . Any time of the day or night, even when youre hundreds of miles away from home, always giving you and your family peace of mind with people, benefits, and services always there for you to make your life a little easier . A company you know is always with you. Aaa, a Company Built by and for members. sentimental music hi there, im jeff thisted. Chances are you know about aaas legendary roadside service, but you might be surprised at what you dont know about aaa. So come along and discover how aaa not only gives you peace of mind, but helps you enjoy lifes little pleasures
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