David and Maximiño Manzanares share family stories during their recent presentation at the Rotary Club of Los Alamos. They and the other members of MANZANARES will perform July 31 at Bathtub Row Brewing in the Brews, Bands & BBQ fundraiser for the Rotary Club. Photo by Bob Hull
BY LINDA HULL AND THE MANZANARES FAMILY
“My father, Herman Manzanares, was a troubadour in the classical sense,” reminisced accomplished musician, actor, and producer David Manzanares as he spoke during the July 13 meeting of the Rotary Club of Los Alamos. “Music was a big influence in his life, be it leading the church choir or bringing song to the community for life’s most meaningful events, including baptisms, weddings, and funerals. My dad always had a guitar in his hand.”It is this musical heritage that Manzanares reflects upon, the canciones of Northern New Mexico including rancheras, boleros and corridos, when he describes the broad spectrum of music that surrounded him and his brother Michael throughout their life. They, along with their siblings grew up on the family’s Abiquiu ranch with “a deep respect” for their land, family, and cultures. The multi-generational musical traditions of the family led to the success of MANZANARES, the band David and Michael, a Los Alamos resident and firefighter, founded in the late 1990s. Their music is described as “hot Spanish guitar, sizzling Latin percussion, and soulful vocals creating a high-energy and fiery sound labeled as Nuevo Latino.”
MANZANARES will perform on July 31 to benefit a Rotary Club fundraiser, Brews, Band, and BBQ, at Bathtub Row Brewing. (Ticket information below.)
At the Rotary meeting, David was joined by his son, Maximiño, a junior at Stanford University, who also follows closely in the rich musical heritage of his family – a connection, the elder Manzanares believes, that Maximiño shares with his late grandfather. It is not surprising then that Maximiño “took the stage” with MANZANARES when he was in elementary school. He will join his dad and uncle on stage for the show. He spoke eloquently about the “seeds that have been planted for us” as he explained that his family legacy, especially music, is an essential part of his life. He has already brought his voice and culture to the diverse learning opportunities afforded to him at Stanford, where he is majoring in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity.
Along with music, David and Michael both have a long history in the New Mexico film industry.
Michael was the Key Rigging Grip on the Emmy Award winning show, Breaking Bad. David has worked on many films, including Bless Me Ultima, The Magnificent Seven, Crazy Heart and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. David has brought projects to Los Alamos, including Brothers, Hostiles, Haywire and Into the West. The brothers have also written music for film and television.
David is also an actor having shared the film and tv screen with Jeff Bridges, Nick Nolte, Shirley MacLaine and Chris Pratt to name a few. One of David’s favorite memories is appearing with the late Anthony Bourdain in Parts Unknown—New Mexico in which he, his father, Herman, and Maximiño, gathered around a campfire at Ghost Ranch to share stories and song.
You can read more about MANZANARES at https://manzband.com and http://www.davidmanzanares.com.
MANZANARES will be live at Brews, Band and BBQ on July 31and they are ready to rock Los Alamos. It promises to be great fun for families and friends and supports the Rotary Club of Los Alamos. MANZANARES will play throughout the evening, bring you to your feet, and keep you dancing into the night!
MANZANARES won’t be the only thing sizzling! A $50 ticket purchased online will buy a BBQ dinner of brisket, pork, chicken, sausage, and sides provided by BR Brand Catering, and a pint of beer in a specialty glass that’s yours to keep. Additional beverages available for purchase from Bathtub Row Brewing. There will be also a Paddle Raise and Live Auction of 5-6 exclusive items, including a stay in Pagosa Springs.
Funds raised will combat food insecurity in Northern New Mexico through Meals of Hope (https://mealsofhope.org), will benefit the Navajo Nation by providing food, water, cleaning and sanitation supplies, and will support other community service projects and scholarships of the Rotary Club of Los Alamos. Buy your tickets here: https://brewsbandbbq.eventbrite.com
The Rotary Club of Los Alamos, through its 1312 Club Foundation, is a 501(c)3 non-profit and one of over 34,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary, which now has 1.5 million members, was founded in 1905; the local Club was chartered in 1966. Rotary areas of focus include promoting peace; fighting disease, particularly polio; providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; supporting education; saving and enhancing the lives of mothers and children; growing economies; and protecting the environment.
The Rotary Club of Los Alamos meets in person Tuesdays, 12:00-1:00, in the Community Room, Cottonwood on the Greens, at the golf course. However, the July 27th meeting will meet in the LAPS Board Meeting, 2075 Trinity, behind the school administration building. Guests are always welcome. A Zoom option is available by contacting Linda Hull, 505-662-7950.
To learn more about the Rotary Club of Los Alamos and its humanitarian service, please contact Linda Hull, 505-662-7950.