InBoyleHeights,gatewaytoEastLosAngeles,sitsthe1889landmark“HotelMariachi,“wheremusicianshavelivedandgatheredontheadjacentplazaformorethanhalfacentury.Thisbookisaphotographicandethnographicstudyofthemariachis,MariachiPlazadeLosAngeles,andtheneighborhood.Thenewlyrestoredbrickhotelembodiesatriumphantstruggleofpreservationagainstallodds,anditsoriginsopenaportalintotheMexicanpueblo’scenturies-oldmultiethnicpast.MiguelGandert’scompellingblack-and-whiteimagesdocumentthehotelandthevibrantmariachicommunityofthe“GaribaldiPlazaofLosAngeles.“ThehistoryofHotelMariachiispersonaltoCatherineL籀pezKurland,adescendantoftheentrepreneurwhobuiltit,andwhosefamily’sCaliforniorootswillfascinateanyoneinterestedinearlyLosAngelesorMexicanAmericanhistory.EnriqueLamadridexploresmariachimusic,poetry,andfiestas,andthepartLosAngelesplayedintheirdevelopment,delvingintotheoriginsofthemusicandofferingadeepaccountofmariachipoetics.HotelMariachiisauniquelensthroughwhichtoviewthehistoryandcultureofMexicanoCalifornia,andprovidestouchinginsightsintothechallenginglivesofmariachimusicians.
