Paricio Valazquez, musician for 49 years, El Paso, October 2007
Paricio Valasquez has played his guitar in the cantinas of downtown El Paso for more than 49 years. He is fully wired. On his left hip is a battery powered amp. He and his partner, an accordionist, wander from bar to bar playing “corridos, a little Salsa, mariachi, mucho musico norteno y musico romantico.”
Why do you do this work, I ask him.
“I like the extra money,” he replies, “…and I like what the music does to people. It makes them happy.”
