By Fernie Ruano Jr.
Los Angeles-based Latinalternative band La Santa Cecilia isn’t hard to find whenever the immigrationis on the menu.
The band, which will appear on Jorge Ramos-hosted ‘Al Punto’ on Sunday (Univision, 10 a.m.), took part in an immigrationrally earlier this month in Washingtonand ‘El Hielo’ (‘Ice’), a personally-inspired song of living the immigrantexperience off “Trenta Dias” (Thirty Days), their upcoming album, has served as a rallying cry since its release.
Lead singer Marisol Hernandez watched her parents arrive in Los Angeles from Mexicowithout any legal documentation and accordion player Jose Carlos is undocumented. ‘
‘La Santa’ decided to tell their stories through song several months ago while preparing material for “Trenta Dias”. The lead track of the album details the everyday reality of being an immigrant through the stories of Carlos, Rodriguez’s mother and a family friend. They cover everything from living with a ‘hopeless’ dream to driving the streets without a license.
Hernandez is making her voice heard in an effort to push immigration form through in Washington, and having anybody else having to “hide in the back of a cargo truck with her kid” to avoid getting caught, something she personally witnessed after being asked by a family friend to pick up his wife, Hernandez recently told the Miami Herald.
Carlos, who arrived in the United States from Oaxacaat 6 years old, was in part the inspiration behind ‘El Hielo’ and the band is prepared to continue to push the door open for undocumented students, workers and housewives all over the country. And they won’t stop, until La Santa Cecilia is heard.
Editor’s Note: The interview was originally scheduled to air last Sunday, but didn’t make the telecast due to the continued coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings, according to band representative.
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