00:01Uno, dos, un, dos, tres.
00:07They were kids from the barrio.
00:09Some musicians.
00:12Others had never picked up an instrument.
00:14He said, Tiger, you're sharp.
00:16And I said, thank you, Father.
00:19I didn't know the difference between sharp or flat.
00:23Give him the quote.
00:24You can be cute for 30 seconds.
00:26But after that, you better be a damn good musician.
00:29It began in the basement of a church in Tucson, Arizona.
00:33Kids as young as nine studying under the musical direction
00:37of a popular Catholic priest.
00:39We would practice every Sunday, two, three, four hours.
00:42Then five, then six, then seven.
00:45A prodigy.
00:46Father Rourke came from a show background,
00:48and it was quite apparent.
00:50But he was also a very accomplished musician.
00:52And perfectionist.
00:53Play your violin parts.
00:55I've been kidded many times about the unusual paradox
00:58of an Irish priest from New York
01:00teaching Mexicans their own music.
01:04Linda, what are your earliest memories of the changos?
01:08I think it was a party that my dad had at his house.
01:10I remember.
01:11You were good.
01:13I was expecting Dorito music, but it wasn't.
01:16Dorito music.
01:17That's what I call imitation music.
01:19People standing around in big hats singing their own music.
01:25They would become international sensations.
01:29From Tucson, Arizona, CBS News presents Look Up and Live.
01:34Today, the mission and the mariachi with Los Changitos Feos
01:39and their director, Father Charles Rourke.
01:41He groomed them to take the stage.
01:43Father Rourke was a perfectionist.
01:46To carry themselves as charros.
01:47He always emphasized presence.
01:50Stand up.
01:51Stand up straight.
01:51Use the mic.
01:52Go close to it.
01:53Go away from it.
01:54Be noticed on stage.
01:56Some gritos, guys.
01:57How about a little whistling?
02:03They emerged an international tour de force
02:06that touched generations.
02:15The group is still here 55 years later.
02:18But under the direction of their musical and spiritual leader.
02:21Their success came at a cost.
02:23Gilbert, may the peace of Christ be with you always.
02:26And with your spirit.
02:27A Catholic priest who robbed them of their innocence and trust.
02:32He had pulled over by the Oleanders, by the railroad tracks by my mom's house.
02:36He got to the rectory there at the church.
02:39And I was in the car when he reached over.
02:41I was able to push him off of me.
02:43And then when I felt a tug, I jumped out of the car and I ran home.
02:46He never touched me.
02:49But he was close enough that I will never ever in my life forget the smell of cigarettes, vodka, and
02:57Old Spice.
02:57I had no idea that he was doing this to others.
03:01I had no idea.
03:02But if it was a trip and there was alcohol, something bad was going to happen.
03:08Or we'd have to prevent something bad from happening.
03:13In spite of everything, Father Rourke built a foundation for Mexican culture and music.
03:19A story of brotherhood.
03:21Like I say, if it wasn't for him, the Changos wouldn't exist, COVID wouldn't exist, and probably the Tucson Conference
03:27wouldn't have started.
03:29Survival.
03:30No Mexicans or blacks allowed.
03:33They refused to serve us.
03:3512, 13, 14-year-old kids, what are we going to do?
03:37And try them.
03:43As we have gone along and the kids have learned more and become better performers and gotten a greater knowledgeability
03:50about the music of the mariachi, the music of Mexico,
03:54they have developed with this a definite sense of pride and accomplishment in the music.
04:15And the iconic figure has a face only a mother could love.
04:19And I hope.
04:19I hope you're happy.
04:19We are.
04:20Haha-haha.
04:21Yeah.
04:22That's great.
04:22We are.
04:23I hope you are.
04:23I hope you are.
04:23We are going to be here.
04:24We go.
04:26All right.
Comments