"...traditional and newly defined contemporary folk coming
together in ways that stimulate the head and tug at the heart."
--Jim Lipson, The Tucson Weekly

"The music of the Ronstadt Generations family band exemplifies
splendidly the inextricable relationships of diverse ethnic folk forms that comprise?the beautiful tapestry of American folk music,"
--Stephanie P. Ledgin?Author, "Discovering Folk Music"

Introduction

Ronstadt Generations represents the multi-cultural roots America was founded upon. Dating back five generations in North America, Michael J. Ronstadt, younger brother of Linda Ronstadt, continues the family tradition with his two sons, Michael G. and Petie.

These three voices -- all multi-instrumentalists and solo artists in their own right -- bring to life a repertoire that reaches back to the end of the 19th century while continually looking ahead into the 21st, with a rich innovation of original material alongside traditional Southwestern and Mexican songs.

Each comes with the highest credentials, having appeared around the world in performance and on recordings with such diverse artists as Linda Ronstadt, Los Lobos, the Dixie Hummingbirds, Muriel Anderson, and countless others.

Enjoy a fascinating musical journey with Ronstadt Generations.

The History

In 2009, after spending nearly seven years touring the country and the world with Ted Ramirez and the Santa Cruz River Band, Michael J. Ronstadt found himself off the road for the first time in a long while. He quickly set out to put together a project that would explore the musical history of his family- a history that dates back generations in Tucson, Mexico and the Southwest.

The History

Federico José María Ronstadt, better known as Fred in his later years, was born in 1868 on the Hacienda Las Delicias near Cananea, Sonora Mexico. He spent his childhood in Sonora, moving to Tucson at the age of fourteen to learn the wagon-making trade. In addition to an intelligent, curious, retentive mind, and a capacity for hard work, he brought with him a passionate love of music.

Music was a central feature of the Ronstadt household from the very beginning. His daughter Luisa remembered her father sitting under the grape arbor in the yard on summer evenings, playing his guitar and singing old songs from Sonora- songs that are part of the family heritage to this day.

Fred Ronstadt's musicianship was not limited to a family context. Around 1899, he and a group of his friends formed the Club Filarmónico Tucsonenses, one of the city's earliest orchestral groups. Many of the original musical arrangements for the group were written by Fred Ronstadt. Even when the press of business forced him to resign from the orchestra, he found time to play with different groups of friends, and he remained an active and enthusiastic musician to the end of his life.

It is not surprising that Fred's talent and enthusiasm continued as a family tradition. Fred Ronstadt's daughter, Luisa, became an internationally known interpreter of Spanish song and dance in the 1930s, under the name of Luisa Espinel. His sons William J., Alfred, Gilbert and Edward made singing a part of their family activities, and in their turn, raised another generation of singing Ronstadts. The most famous of these performers was Linda Ronstadt, Gilbert's daughter. In addition her siblings and cousins in Tucson, Arizona have performed in private and public for years, putting polished harmonies to a wonderful mixture of folk and popular songs, Mexican and American, old and new. Fred's great grandchildren are now continuing the tradition.

Michael J. Ronstadt began to work on "The Ronstadt Generations' Project". The concept was a multimedia concert that presented music from the Ronstadt Family through time, going all the way back to Michael's grandfather Fred. While this project has not yet been performed or realized on a stage, it is a work in progress and gave birth to the band that is now known as "Ronstadt Generations".

Ronstadt Generations

When Michael J's eldest son, Michael G., was home from Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving, a post-turkey dinner jam session spontaneously broke out, spanning into the early morning hours. Michael J. (guitar/mandolin/mandocello/vocals) found himself running through generations of material with his two sons, Michael G. (cello/mandolin/guitar/vocals) and Petie (guitar/bass/vocals). This session evolved into a rehearsal as the trio played the passages again and again, figuring out harmonies, and coming up with arrangements. Ronstadt Generations was born.

The three Ronstadt's put out their first album Lulo and soon found themselves touring the country (along with friend Josh Hisle who played a multitude of instruments with the band until 2011). They would perform to audiences sharing their family stories, original music, old family favorites from Mexico and elsewhere, and original arrangements of traditional and newer songs. They brought their music to the world and collected songs on their journeys. They have and continue to play festivals, house concerts, theaters, restaurants, and even sidewalks. They have done workshops and taught cooking classes. Trying to share a little piece of their home with the world and taking a little bit of the world back home with them- just as troubadours have always done.

Los Tucsonenses

While off the road the Ronstadt's kept busy in other ways. Michael G. was busy on the east coast and in the Midwest playing solo gigs and lending his cello talents to a multitude of artists. In Tucson Michael J. and Petie started playing duo gigs and began a regular gig at the Chicago Bar on the Monday nights when they were not on the road. They loosely put together a band that evolved and changed faces many times including some great Tucson talents like Mike Hebert (electric guitar), Jon Westfall (drums), Michael P. Nordberg (electric guitar), Michael "Johnny Guitar" Blommer (electric guitar), Kiko Jacome (electric guitar), and many more.

Petie's longtime friend, Sam Eagon, would often hang out on Monday's and would sit in and play bass (usually until the end of the night). Eventually he just started bringing his upright and his gear and was there every Monday night. Later on Alex Flores brought down his Tenor Sax and sat in with the band. The next Monday he was back for more. When Aaron Emery joined the lineup, Los Tucsonenses (The Tucsonans) was born. This dynamic and talented trio (Alex Flores on Tenor Sax/Vocals, Sam Eagon on Upright/Electric Bass, and Aaron Emery on Drums/Percussion), became an integral part of the Ronstadt Generations story. After several months of playing together on Monday nights, the six musicians went into the studio to record and produce a follow-up CD to Lulo in 2012. This recording session led to the release of Ronstadt Generations y Los Tucsonenses: Prelude, a diverse yet cohesive collection of music. In the same year Ronstadt Generations also released two EPs, America, Our Home (a collection of American Patriotic Music performed in traditional Mexican styles) and Memories of Christmas (original arrangements of Christmas favorites with a southwestern twist).

Ronstadt Generations y Los Tucsonenses continue to bring their music to the world. Audiences enjoy a family oriented show full of Ronstadt family stories, traditional songs and old Mexican favorites. Original music by the Ronstadt family, and new arrangements of old favorites by a multitude of song writers (including Stephen Stills, Jimmie Rodgers, Paul Simon, Merl Travis, Robert Johnson, and many more) add to the family's extensive repertoire.

Michael J. Ronstadt summed up the musical family and philosophy:

"As you listen to the music passed down through the generations as well as new compositions, flavored with the rich history of our musical heritage, we hope that it will leave you with a desire from within, to explore your own history of family, songs and stories so that these treasures will continue to live on from generation to generation..."

You may find the Ronstadt Generations in Tucson entertaining locals at a bar or restaurant. You may also find them in a concert venue across the world or in someone's living room for an intimate house concert. Wherever you find them, keep your eyes peeled and ears open for the Ronstadt Generations.

Luisa Espinel. the family's "Poet Laureate" describes the family's musical journey with these words:

"Those long summer evenings of my childhood, when the moon made strange patterns on father's guitar as he sang songs to me, are no more. But the imagination hears the romance and wistfulness of their melodies, hears them with a sweetness as subtle as the fragrance of wild flowers dried in herbs."

Albums

This Artist has 2 Albums
Clean Clean

Clean Clean

Artist Name
00:00 / 00:00