Back in the day, before there was television and when even radio was still considered new, youngsters Johnny Ruiz, Raul Castro and Rudy Acedo ran together around Barrio Hollywood.
On warm evenings families gathered outside to share stories and gossip. But the memorable nights were when the guitars came out and the adults sang the popular Mexican songs of the day.
Much of the lifestyle found in Tucson's barrios in the 1940s is almost gone. But not all — today the childhood amigos are singing compadres.
Acedo, Castro and Ruiz sing the songs of love as El Trio Hollywood.
"When you got music in your soul you can't leave it," said Castro, 71, who was born in Barrio El Hoyo south of Downtown and grew up on West Delaware Street in Barrio Hollywood.
The trio performs at social functions around town, mainly on the West and South sides at American Legion posts and the Tucson Detachment Marine Corps League in South Tucson. Many Tucsonenses still relish the boleros that were the rage from the 1940s into the 60s.
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"That's why we brought it back," said 71-year-old Ruiz, who lived at West Ontario Street and North Grande Avenue next to Barrio Hollywood's St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church.
Trio Los Panchos. Los Tres Ases. Los Tres Diamantes. These were some of the Mexican trios during the music's golden era filled with a treasure trove of timeless songs: "Sin Ti," "Usted," "Nunca Jamás," "La Gloria Eres Tu," "Perfidia," and many more.
In Tucson, Los Hermanos Perez — Frank, Fred and John — were one of the most popular local trios beginning in the 1950s. A decade earlier, Tucson-born Eduardo "Lalo" Guerrero had formed Trio Imperial in Los Angeles.
"We grew up listening to trios, rancheras and boleros," said Acedo, 69, whose mother sang and played the guitar while he grew up in barrios Anita and Blue Moon north of Downtown, and on West Niagara Street in Barrio Hollywood.
Ruiz and Castro met in the fourth grade at El Rio Elementary School, now Manzo. When they reached John Spring Junior High School, now the Dunbar Cultural Center, they met Acedo.
In their student days, the three played music, but Castro was more the musician.
Castro played trumpet in Tucson High School's Marching 100 and the Tucson High Cats, a popular music band. After high school he played with Lalo Robles' big Latin band. Many young Chicanos in post-World War II Tucson danced to popular Mexican and American music with bands led by Robles, Filiberto Quintero, Louis Leon and Joe Mendoza at ballrooms like El Casino, the Blue Moon, La Selva and Club Latino.
But the three went their separate ways, working various jobs, raising their families.
Ruiz worked as a prison chaplain, schoolteacher, social worker and mining heavy-equipment operator. Castro worked for the city's Environmental Services for more than 30 years. And Acedo worked in sheet metal shops for nearly 50 years.
As the years passed they stayed in touch and ran into each other at social functions. But about 10 years ago, longing for the old melodies and memories, they talked about forming the trio.
They started to play among their families and friends, who encouraged them to continue.
"When people like the music, you play better," said Castro.
Creating a romantico trio was not instant. The three are self-taught musicians. They had to practice a lot and relearn the music.
Ruiz learned to play the guitar not long before the trio formed. Castro, who had played trumpet and sax, came late to the requinto, a six-string guitar that is smaller and tuned higher than the typical guitar. And Acedo was rusty on the guitar, which he had not played for years.
But like not having ridden a bicycle in a long time, the three were soon comfortable and on their way.
Performing the old songs brings new memories to El Trio Hollywood.
The music glitters. It enchants. Dancers fall in love again.
"It gets in your bones," Ruiz said.
Which is why yesterday's love songs never leave.
Did You Know
Boleros, the romantic love songs, became widely popular in Latin America before World War II. The musical style was born in Cuba but became a staple in Mexican music.
Boleros were heard on Tucson's first Spanish-language radio program, "La Hora Mexicana," hosted by Jacinto Orozco. "Don Jacinto," as he was known, began his broadcast career on KVOA radio in 1938.
He began his three-hour program at 4 a.m. each day, entertaining and informing his working-class audience. In the afternoon, he spent another three hours on the radio, announcing births, deaths and birthdays among the Mexican families.
Orozco was born in Zacatecas, Mexico. His program's theme song was "La Marcha de Zacatecas."
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