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Leo Lara

Leo Lara

Ecuadorian-born musician who grew up on a sugar plantation for African descendants.

Born: Cuajara, Ecuador
Heritage: African / Ecuadorian

This is the time you have to be aware of things—your surroundings, your school, your neighborhoods. Be aware that you have a great responsibility on your shoulders. We are people of many colors of skin and different cultural backgrounds and if we learn about one another we become aware of the good around us. Don’t take education for granted because people in other places don’t have your opportunities. Come to school to do your work and to study. Keep your nose clean!

Leo Lara

Ecuadorian-born musician who grew up on a sugar plantation for African descendants.

My name is Leo Lara. I was born on December 5, 1962, in Cuajara, Ecuador, which is located in Valle del Chota in the middle of the Andes Mountains. I grew up in Ecuador surrounded by mountains and my family’s love. My family worked very hard on a sugar plantation but sometimes we did not have enough food to eat.

When I was young my mother had to leave me and go into the city of Quito to find work. She cleaned and cooked for a wealthy family there and finally made enough money to come back and take me to the city with her.

This was my first time out of the mountains and my first time seeing a train—I couldn’t believe my eyes! When we arrived in Quito I saw things I had never seen before: fancy lights, big buildings, cars and lots of people.

Growing up in Ecuador, I became aware of the situation in my country that not everyone was treated kindly and fairly and that there was a lot of discrimination against the poor people. Many businesses and wealthy families were taking advantage of the people, which created violence and fighting.

When I was 17 years old, I became aware that I could make a difference in society through music and I began playing a Charingo and singing what we called “music of social content.” These songs helped get the message out to the people about freedom and equal rights.

I met my wife Kathy in Ecuador when she was doing work with children who lived on the streets. We got married and moved to the United States and we have five wonderful children.

I have joined in with other people here in the US who want to use music to speak about the people in their home countries. We call this the Movement of Nuevo Cancion (New Song Movement) which helps to create bridges between the cultures of Latin America and North America. We have become the international voices of the people.

HONOR SONG LYRICS

Nueva Cancion

Honoring Leo Lara

Nuevo Cancion
(Honoring Leo Lara)

What if this world was filled
With love sweet love
And all the kids had
Three square meals a day
Shelter and clothing
And health care
And everybody
knew how to read
Nuevo, Nuevo Cancion
My name is Leo Lara
I was born in Cuajara
In the lowlands
Of the Andes Mountains
In Valle Del Chita
One of the many haciendas
On a sugar plantation
Descendents of slaves
Nuevo, Nuevo Cancion
My mother like so many
Other poor people
Had to leave her
Children behind
To find work
Cleaning houses in Quito
The Capitol City of Ecuador
Nuevo, Nuevo Cancion
I missed her
Oh how I missed my mother
Then one day
She came back for me
For the first time
I left those mountains
With my mother
In a shiny smoking machine
Nuevo, Nuevo Cancion

The next morning
On a train we came rolling
Into Quito
By the university
Into a big home
Where I worked
with my mother
Scrubbing and washing
The homes of the wealthy
Nuevo, Nuevo Cancion
Sometimes
I played with their children
Sometimes we fought
And if we did
Mom would spank me
While the children
Of the wealthy
Would look on
And not get spanked
Nuevo, Nuevo Cancion
Then one day
Students I saw marching
Standing up
For folks like you and me
Heard explosions
Then saw bullets flying
Students got killed at the University
Nuevo, Nuevo Cancion
Started playing
Music for the people
On a charingo
In schools and factories
Out in the country
With doctors and nurses
Caring for the poor
Liberation Theology
Nuevo, Nuevo Cancion

Met my wife
While she was working
Helping children
Down in Ecuador
Got married
Moved to Minnesota
Had five children
All of whom are grown
Nuevo, Nuevo Cancion
What if this world was filled
With love sweet love
And all the kids had three square meals a day
Shelter and clothing
And health care
And everybody new how to read
Nuevo, Nuevo Cancion

Music by Larry Long. Words by Larry Long with Mrs. Natzel’s 4th Grade Class of North Park Elementary
(Fridley, Minnesota)

© Larry Long 2007 / BMI