Ballad Without Borders

Ileana

September 15th through October 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month every year. (In case you're wondering why it starts mid-September, read here).  It's a time that's special for me, being Salvadoran-American, and it's also the time of year when Wells Fargo celebrates Latino heritage. Posters and brochures at our museums, as well as our website, illustrate how Wells Fargo has served and employed Latinos since its founding.

At the Los Angeles museum last month, we had an opportunity to continue this legacy of involvement with the Latino community. We opened our doors and shared a little bit of history with "Trancazo Musical,"  a local Spanish language television show. KRCA , which carries the show, conducted a TV shoot here for a segment on "Trancazo Musical."

They used the museum as the backdrop for an interview with renowned Norteño band , Los Cadetes de Linares. Los Cadetes  sure make an impression on people. The band (or conjunto) walked into the museum in the traditional outfit. (Also called conjunto!) Clothes, hats and boots all matched. People really took notice. A small group gathered outside our front glass walls to see these modern-day cowboys meet the Wells Fargo stagecoach and delve into some Western history.

During the shoot, the host spoke to Los Cadetes about their new album — no doubt featuring many new corridos . These ballads usually tell the stories of famed criminals and heroes in the rural areas of the US-Mexico border, and they are the type of songs that have made Los Cadetes famous. The host casually incorporated bits of Wells Fargo history into the different segments. She also interviewed our Curator, Juan Colato, and encouraged the audience to visit our "beautiful museum." It was a fun experience.

But there's a question I should've asked Los Cadetes: Who makes their ornate and decorative outfits? Kudos to their tailor!