One of the nice things about having a blog, at least if you have a job like mine, is that you can supplement what you write in the paper with material you had to leave out because of space constraints.
One of the many pleasures I had attending the 21st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nev., was getting a chance to talk -- through an interpreter -- with members of of Grupo Cimarron, the Colombian ensemble that specializes in musica llanera. One thing that stays in my memory is something Carlos Rojas Hernandez, the founder and leader of the group, told me. Seems he and male vocalist Luis Moreno were born in adjacent districts in the plains area of eastern Colombia (known as los llanos). But the whole region has been torn by violance, which is why many residents have left the area for Bogota. At any rate, Hernandez explained that the adjacent districts he and Moreno grew up in are controlled by different armed groups. So if he tried to visit Moreno in Moreno's home district he would risk being kidnapped or even killed, he said. Small wonder they prefer making music here.
The members I met -- vocalist Ana Veydo, maracas player Oscar Fandino, and Hernandez -- seemed like really nice people.
I hope they win a Grammy.
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