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Mariachi Genero Moreno will perform at the St. Helen’s Fiesta on Saturday, Oct. 3.
John Hernandez | Miner
This year’s Fall Fiesta will kick off Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at noon with the traditional mass officiated by Rev. Msgr. Ambrose Nwohu and accompaniment by the local Knights of Columbus. The blessing of the grounds and the presentation and crowning of the Queen and her princess Court will follow immediately after.
After the kitchen officially opens at 2 p.m. for the sale of delicious green chili, rice, beans, salsa, tortillas; delectables such as menudo, posole, hot dogs, hamburgers and bratwurst for all to purchase and enjoy, the entertainment will begin.
This year’s fiesta committee has been working diligently at putting together a sequence of events that is sure to be enjoyed by everyone. The entertainment scheduled will bring a few local talented people back home plus a few more traveling a great distance to perform.
Daniel Rios, who is traveling with his family from the city of Maricopa, will be singing at noon at the traditional fiesta mass. Daniel is a father, husband, business owner and singer. He currently has an inflatable bouncers business called “River Jumpers” that services all types of events that children and families enjoy. Daniel was at one time the lead singer of a Mariachi band in Old Town Pasadena, California before he settled in Arizona. He sings at all types of events such as weddings, quinceañeras, parties and other venues. St. Helen Parish has had the pleasure of having him sing for mass and he was specifically asked to perform again.
Musician Jim Ham will provide sound and DJ music starting at 2:20 p.m. He grew up in San Manuel, Arizona attended St. Bartholomew Church throughout his childhood. In 1979, his family moved to Oracle and became parishioners of St. Helen’s. He moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1985. Jim started playing guitar at age 12, learning acoustic folk music from his Aunt Leona and teaching himself from there. At age 16, he started playing semi-professionally with his friends in the band “Sonidos Del Desierto”, whose music was heavily influenced by Little Joe, Ray Camacho, Santana, and other Latin based artists. This band played for about 60-70% of all events in the Tri-Community as well as traveling to play in Hayden, Winkelman, Globe, Tucson and New Mexico.
During the 1980s-90s, Jim played in various rock bands off and on in the Phoenix area until he found his niche as a sound technician in 1998. He found a steady gig at a Mesa night club and gradually started acquiring and upgrading equipment until he was able to provide a sound reinforcement for any venue just short of a major concert. Jim currently plays bass guitar in a classic rock band called “Rock Addix” that he joined in 2008. The
band plays songs from Journey, Boston, Van Halen, and Def Leppard. They have acquired a respectable amount of success in the Phoenix area. He also plays bass for the church he now attends. Jim has been providing the sound system and DJ music for the Oracle Fall Fiesta since 2008. Even though he moved away for job opportunities decades ago, his heart and loving memories of Oracle, St. Helen’s and his grandparents, Augustine and Gertrude Olivas still belong in Oracle.
Back by popular demand, Mariachi Alma Mexicana from Tucson, Arizona will be performing from 3-5 p.m. This fabulous, mood setting group under the direction of Rick Murillo has amazing instrumental skills and beautiful vocal talent. They arrive decked out in the traditional Mariachi flair and perform a venue of music ranging from the traditional to Patsy Cline. Singer and violinist Victoria Sanchez will charm you with her angelic voice and harmonious backup from the rest of the group. Mariachi Alma Mexicana has performed for several years now for this festival and are welcomed back with open ears!!
Professional Mariachi singer Genaro Moreno will be performing 5 to 6:30 p.m. He started singing at the age of six through the influence of his grandparents in Michoaćan, Mexico. He sang along with songs played on the radio by the famous Vicente Fernandez, his idol, whom later became the kick start for his career. Genaro moved to Mammoth, Arizona when he was 11 years old and continued his singing in performances at the Lion’s Club and the Mammoth Fiestas when they were held at the Mammoth Little League field. The first Mariachi band he sang with was Mariachi Valencia from Tucson of which he still performs with today. The highlight and beginning of Genaro’s career was performing for Vicente Fernandez. Things took off from there as he later opened for great Mexican artists such as Los Tigres Del Norte, Tierra Tejana, Little Joe and Antonio Aguilar. He also performed for the famous boxer Julio Cesar Chavez. Genaro has performed in California, Texas, Kansas, Washington D.C., Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Mexico. He just finished recording his 4th CD which will be available at the Oracle Fiesta. Genaro loves coming back to the Tri-Community and his hometown of Mammoth to sing for all the people that have helped him along the way.
Ballet Folklorico Tapatio from Tucson will be performing at 6:30-7:30 p.m. They are a 501 C (3) non-profit organization established in 1997 under the direction of master dance instructor Serfio Valle and the leadership of owner and founder Eduardo Baca, Sr. and with the help and support of Lupe Klein Aviles. Today the ballet is under the artistic direction of the young and talented Jose Luis Baca. Ballet Folklorico Tapatio is based in South Tucson and draws its membership from the local Tucson community. It has over 150 members participating in four different levels and has perfored throughout the United States and Mexico. They are recognized as one of the finest Folklorico programs in the nation. St. Helen’s welcomes them back again with their several different colorful costume changes and fantastic performances.
Also back by popular demand is the Gemini band from Douglas Arizona. They will be performing from 8 p.m. to midnight. The foot tapping, hand clapping get up and dance, “Lanzando un grito” band will be performing their instrumental and vocal songs including cumbias, corridos, romanticos, country, tejano and classic rock. During the time that this talented band is not driving from Douglas to Oracle, they are performing at events such as Douglas Days, the Cochise County Fair, weddings, parties and other events. Their performance is the highlight of the fiesta where the crowd dances and continues their good time well into the night.
Please stop by on Oct. 3, 2015 for the St. Helen Parish – Oracle Fall Fiesta and stay awhile to enjoy delicious food, great entertainment and community fellowship. Por favor pase por el 3 de Octubre de 2015 para la Parroquia St. Helen – Oracle Fall Fiesta y quedarse un rato para disfrutar de una deliciosa comida, un gran entretenimiento y companeriso communidad.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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