Happy 64th Birthday to Alejandro Escovedo (born January 10, 1951, in San Antonio, Texas) Mexican American singer-songwriter. Escovedo is from a family that includes several professional musicians, including brothers (and percussionists) Coke Escovedo and Pete Escovedo, and Sheila E (Petes daughter and Alejandros niece). Escovedo began performing in the first-wave punk rock group The Nuns, with Jennifer Miro, and Jeff Olener, in San Francisco, California. In the 1980s Escovedo moved to Austin, Texas, where formed Rank and File (with Chip and Tony Kinman) and the True Believers (with his brother Javier, Jon Dee Graham and bass player Denny DeGorio). In 2003, after having lived with hepatitis-C for many years, Escovedo collapsed onstage in Arizona as a result of the disease. In his long road to recovery, he faced increasing medical bills. Without medical insurance, Escovedo could not pay his substantial medical bills. Friends and admirers around the country organized benefit shows to help the songwriter. This effort grew into the album Por Vida: A Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo, a two-disc set whose proceeds benefit the Alejandro Escovedo Medical and Living Expense Fund. Contributing musicians included Steve Earle, Jon Dee Graham, Lucinda Williams, John Cale, Jennifer Warnes, Ian Hunter, The Jayhawks, Bob Neuwirth and Son Volt, as well as family members Pete Escovedo (with niece Sheila E.), Javier Escovedo, and The Dragons (featuring youngest brother, Mario Escovedo). In 2005, Escovedos song Castanets appeared on the iPod playlist of George W. Bush. Upon learning of Castanets being there, Escovedo announced that he would not play the song again as long it was on Bushs iPod or until he was out of office. After two Castanets-free years, as Bush was winding down his term, Escovedo lifted the moratorium and began performing the song again.In 1998 No Depression magazine named him Artist of the Decade.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 20:35:33 +0000
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