Lucero, Juan S.

Juan Sebedeo Lucero y Otero, lives in Torreon, New Mexico. He published his autobiography in 2006. In the 1970s and 80s he was a popular singer and a composer. He also collected music and wrote short stories and poetry and did translation work. Lucero was born in El Torreon in 1939. In 1945 his family moved to nearby Mountainair. He went to school there until the seventh grade and did not attend high school but did receive his high school diploma's equivalent. Juan's parents had taught him to be devoted to his Catholic faith and he learned many things about religion and the Bible. Juan's older brother, Jose, taught the boy to play the guitar. Juan had a natural talent for playing and singing. At age 12, he joined a band headed by Antonio Chavez from Willard. They played music at fiestas and weddings in Mountainair and Central New Mexico. At age 15, Juan and his family left New Mexico to find farm work in California. But before he left New Mexico, he composed A Mis Queridos Amigos, as a farewell corrrido to the beloved friends and places he left behind. It was one of the first musical tales he composed about his family, faith and culture. Many of his later songs also deal with his faith, perceptions and emotions. For a few years he was not able to play as his family traveled around as migrant farm workers. At age 17, Juan enlisted in the army as a paratrooper and served for five and a half years in the U.S and Germany. After the army, Juan returned to Albuquerque, where he met Clorinda Aragon, from Grants, New Mexico. In 1962 they were married at Santa Ana Church, in Albuquerque. Juan joined his cousin's band, the Starlights. That band played popular rock 'n roll tunes around town for the next two decades. As Juan and Clorinda's family grew, they taught their children to sing and dance.

Juan Lucero believed strongly in promoting Hispanic culture and helping others learn Spanish. He composed songs to keep the old Spanish traditions of faith and family alive for the next generation. In the early 1970's Juan and Clorinda formed a musical group called Juanito Lucero y las Muñequitas (Juanito and the Little Dolls), composed of five of their children. With Lucero on the guitar and an uncle, Juan A. Lucero, on the accordion, four daughters and one son (Juanito) performed traditional New Mexican and Mexican songs and dances at local schools, universities, churches, state fairs, and other community events in New Mexico. Clorinda made wonderful outfits for the little dolls, Bonnie, Elisa, Maria and the youngest was Lora. By 1974, Juan recorded some of their songs and produced an album. Their album Soy Manito, titled after another of Juan's songs, played on all the New Mexico Spanish radio stations. Soy Manito and A Mis Queridos Amigos were used in bilingual public school programs across the state. Later the Luceros moved to a little ranch near El Torreon. Juan called it el Rancho de la Divina Providencia. As the children grew up, the group disbanded and Juan wrote and sang less often. In the 1970s Juan was active in the Penitentes and he and his family participated in many Holy Week activities. In 1987, after four years of religious preparation, Juan was ordained a deacon of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. He assisted with services in the Catholic churches in the Estancia Valley. He loved to sing with the church choir. Juan continues to be very devoted to his faith and Spanish traditions. By 1991 Juan was working as staff assistant to Representative Bill Richardson.

In the Spring of 1993, his daughter Lora was a student in foreign Languages at UNM and in need of a topic for her senior project. Juan and Lora decided to write a self-published book called - Canciones y Alabanzas de Juan Sebedeo Lucero y Otero (original of her book at ZIM CSWR M1629.7 N57 L8 1993, copy also in this collection). It provides additional valuable information about Lucero and the texts and background for the songs in this collection. It also contains family information and photographs. Together they wrote down the words, added their comments and recorded some of the music he had written and performed through the years. And they did it all in Spanish. In so doing, both Juan and Lora have helped preserve the Spanish language, music and history of New Mexico. An article about Juan S. Lucero, by Carmella M. Padilla, appeared in New Mexico Magazine, January 1996. In 2000, Juan translated into Spanish the book by Joseph J. Ruiz, entitled The Little Ghost Who Wouldn't Go Away, by Sunstone Press, which is at UNM Library. About 2006, Juan wrote and published his autobiography, which is included in this collection.

From the description of Juan S. Lucero and Lora L. Chavez collection of New Mexico Hispanic religious and traditional songs, 1950-2008. (University of New Mexico-Main Campus). WorldCat record id: 230322740

"Pops Jammin with Family" (Juan Lucero, Lora L. Chavez, and Clorinda Lucero). Photo courtesy of Lucero family

Juan Sebedeo Lucero y Otero, lives in Torreon, N.M.. He published his autobiography in 2006. In the 1970s and 80s he was a popular singer and a composer. He also collected music and wrote short stories and poetry and did translation work. Lucero was born in El Torreon in 1939. In 1945 his family moved to nearby Mountainair. He went to school there until the seventh grade and did not attend high school but did receive his high school diploma’s equivalent.

Juan’s parents had taught him to be devoted to his Catholic faith and he learned many things about religion and the Bible. Juan’s older brother, Jose, taught the boy to play the guitar. Juan had a natural talent for playing and singing. At age 12, he joined a band headed by Antonio Chavez from Willard. They played music at fiestas and weddings in Mountainair and Central New Mexico.

At age 15, Juan and his family left New Mexico to find farm work in California. But before he left New Mexico, he composed A Mis Queridos Amigos, as a farewell corrrido to the beloved friends and places he left behind. It was one of the first musical tales he composed about his family, faith and culture. Many of his later songs also deal with his faith, perceptions and emotions. For a few years he was not able to play as his family traveled around as migrant farm workers.

At age 17, Juan enlisted in the army as a paratrooper and served for five and a half years in the U.S and Germany. After the army, Juan returned to Albuquerque, where he met Clorinda Aragon, from Grants, New Mexico. In 1962 they were married at Santa Ana Church, in Albuquerque. Juan joined his cousin’s band, the Starlights. That band played popular rock ‘n roll tunes around town for the next two decades. As Juan and Clorinda’s family grew, they taught their children to sing and dance.

Juan Lucero believed strongly in promoting Hispanic culture and helping others learn Spanish. He composed songs to keep the old Spanish traditions of faith and family alive for the next generation. In the early 1970’s Juan and Clorinda formed a musical group called Juanito Lucero y las Muñequitas (Juanito and the Little Dolls), composed of five of their children. With Lucero on the guitar and an uncle, Juan A. Lucero, on the accordion, four daughters and one son (Juanito) performed traditional New Mexican and Mexican songs and dances at local schools, universities, churches, state fairs, and other community events in New Mexico. Clorinda made wonderful outfits for the little dolls, Bonnie, Elisa, Maria and the youngest was Lora.

By 1974, Juan recorded some of their songs and produced an album. Their album Soy Manito, titled after another of Juan’s songs, played on all the New Mexico Spanish radio stations. Soy Manito and A Mis Queridos Amigos were used in bilingual public school programs across the state. Later the Luceros moved to a little ranch near El Torreon. Juan called it el Rancho de la Divina Providencia. As the children grew up, the group disbanded and Juan wrote and sang less often.

In the 1970s, Juan was active in the Penitentes and he and his family participated in many Holy Week activities. In 1987, after four years of religious preparation, Juan was ordained a deacon of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. He assisted with services in the Catholic churches in the Estancia Valley. He loved to sing with the church choir. Juan continues to be very devoted to his faith and Spanish traditions. By 1991 Juan was working as staff assistant to Representative Bill Richardson.

In the Spring of 1993, his daughter Lora was a student in foreign Languages at UNM and in need of a topic for her senior project. Juan and Lora decided to write a self-published book called - Canciones y Alabanzas de Juan Sebedeo Lucero y Otero (original of her book at ZIM CSWR M1629.7 N57 L8 1993, copy in this collection). It provides additional valuable information about Lucero and the texts and background for the songs in this collection. It also contains family information and photographs. Together they wrote down the words, added their comments and recorded some of the music he had written and performed through the years. And they did it all in Spanish. In so doing, both Juan and Lora have helped preserve the Spanish language, music and history of New Mexico. An article about Juan S. Lucero, by Carmella M. Padilla, appeared in New Mexico Magazine, January 1996. In 2000, Juan translated into Spanish the book by Joseph J. Ruiz, entitled The Little Ghost Who Wouldn’t Go Away, by Sunstone Press, which is at UNM Library. About 2006, Juan wrote and published his autobiography, which is included in this collection.

Source: The material in this collection biography and scope and content about Lucero was translated and drawn from the original book in Spanish by Lora L. Chavez, Canciones and Alabanzas de Juan Sebedeo Lucero y Otero.

From the guide to the Juan S. Lucero and Lora L. Chavez Collection of New Mexico Hispanic Religious and Traditional Songs, 1950-2008, (University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research)