Mariachi 101 at the Library

The Buena Park Library will be hosting an author talk on Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 6:00 pm. Gil Sperry, author of Mariachi for Gringos: Unlocking the Secrets of Mexico's Macho Music will be presenting his most entertaining talk called "Mariachi 101."

Have you ever wondered what the top 50 mariachi songs are? Or have you asked yourself last time you were at a Mexican restaurant -- do we stop eating and drinking when the mariachi arrive at our table? Sperry will entertain you with answers to these questions plus much more. He'll talk about the history of mariachi music, women and mariachi, the musicians and their instruments, and famous mariachi songs and their composers.

Gil Sperry is a modern-day renaissance man who delights in entertaining and informing audiences through both the spoken and the written word. His first book, Mariachi for Gringos, was originally released in 2006. His second book Soccer's Story & A Futbol Fable was released in 2009 and is currently being adapted into a screenplay by two veteran Hollywood screenwriters. His third book, The Hispanic Heritage of the Food We Eat, is now under construction.

Sperry lives with his wife in Baja where he enjoys the Mexican lifestyle, food, and music. He makes time to teach elementary school in Chula Vista, California and is an avid sports enthusiast, fisherman, and jazz aficionado. He is a graduate of Ohio's Kenyon College and also holds an M.A. in History from Stanford University.

This program is appropriate for the whole family and should be a very entertaining evening of all things mariachi. Refreshments will be provided and autographed copies of his book will be available for purchase.