Rudy Salas, founding guitarist of the Chicano R&B band Tierra and audacious pioneer of Los Angeles’ soulful Eastside sound, died in his sleep Tuesday morning at age 71. His stepdaughter, Cresi, says that Salas and his wife, Joanna Alvarado Salas, had just celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary in Las Vegas. Salas was born Jan. 5, 1949, in Lincoln Heights to Mexican American parents Rudy Sr. and Margaret Salas. As the Salas Brothers, Rudy and his brother, singer and percussionist Steve Salas, got practice performing mariachi songs at local parties. It marked a critical turning point for the Chicano band, as well as a shining moment of solidarity between Mexican and Caribbean diasporas in the United States.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 01, 2021 00:33 UTC