Randy Rodarte
Ramboz and Rowan, 2024
Serigraph, Ed. of 64
22 x 15 in. 

Ramboz Drive and Rowan Avenue crossroads intersect in the East Los Angeles neighborhood of City Terrace. I grew up at 3623 Ramboz Drive, where the fictional party on this flyer takes place. Although these streets exist, they are symbolic, as we are inevitably the sum of our decisions, tasked with choosing our paths. The sounds in this work mirror this neighborhood as I remember it during my involvement in the Chicano Music Scene of the 1990s. 

Artist Usen Gandara created more than just a flyer; he takes the viewer on a dreamy, timeless journey back to the early days when the neighborhood was alive and the gig was legendary. The house on Keenan Ave. is Usen’s childhood home, where the after-party will take place (The after-party was mandatory as we could always count on the East L.A. Sherrif’s Department to end the show). The print Ramboz and Rowan has moments of varied musical genres to mark specific eras coinciding with my musical journey. The hardcore section, “Time To Straighten Up My Life,” represents the crossroads of adolescence and adulthood. I wrote the acoustic section on marimba specifically for this project. The fluctuations in the music mirror life, embodying joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, tears and laughter – a reflection of every individual’s journey and the crossroads entwined within their existence. 

This song’s inspiration is the beautiful face I love and laugh with daily: my wife, Lydia. My children Rosa Lee, Vida, Marco, and Pablo are producers of light and wisdom. I chose them as my true path. With unending thankfulness, the musicians collectively called Ollin, who contributed to this work, are lovingly as follows: Vaneza “Neza” Calderon - Guitarron, Angel Juarez - Electric Guitar and Mexican Harp, Laurel Diskin - Violin, Raul “Ralo” Calzada – Drums and Vocals, Billy Branch - Bass, Accordion, Vocals, and who masterfully PRODUCED each moment and each memory as if it were his own.