Known as "El Comanche," Francisco Gonzales is one of the most influential living figures having preserved the Hispano Comanche music and dance traditions of New Mexico. A former New Mexico State Senator, having Hispano Comanche roots himself, Gonzales leads Comanche music and dance groups in the Taos, NM area performing and keeping the culture alive. They perform at such traditional ceremonial events as the New Year's Day Patronal Feast of Manuel (Emmanuel), among a number of other community events. The Gonzales clan, also known as Los Comanches de La Serna, lives in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico. Francisco learned the Comanche traditions from his father, Nelson Gonzales, and his grandmother Cleotilde Gonzales. As a child, Nelson learned the traditions from his uncle and other community elders. Through his efforts to preserve the Hispano Comanche cultural traditions, Francisco's children now carry on his knowledge for future generations, each having learned the specific elements of the music and dance. Francisco has compiled this diverse collection of his own recordings and those from his father. Some of the recordings of Nelson Gonzales were taken on wire recordings dating from the early 1950's, while Francisco's were DAT recordings dating in the 1990's. Source: Lamadrid, Enrique. 2003. Hermanitos Comanchitos: Indo-Hispano Rituals of Captivity and Redemption. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.
From the description of Francisco Gonzales collection of Native American music of New Mexico, circa 1950s-1990s. (University of New Mexico-Main Campus). WorldCat record id: 745123454
