María Elena Gaitán, (violoncello, narration) cellist and performance artist (under the rubric of "Chola con Cello,") has created a body of cross-cultural multi-disciplinary solo and collaborative works performed nationwide and in Europe. A student of Cesare Pascarella, Joseph Schuster Gabor Rejto, and Rachel Rosenthal, her works have been featured by Meet The Composer and Arts International as models for artistic collaboration. Gaitán has appeared with members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, under the baton of Esa Pekka Salonen, directed by Peter Sellars. She is one of the first performing artists to explore the African Diaspora in jarocho music for which she has won numerous awards and grants including Ford and Rockefeller Foundation funded projects.

Ixya Herrera (vocals) made her stage debut at age 12 at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference singing duos with her idol, Linda Ronstadt. She has perfomed on both sides of the U.S. / Mexico border. Her first CD, Primavera, was released to critical acclaim.

Will Herrón III (composer, guitar, vocals, visuals) is known as a prolific visual artist as well as lead singer for Los Illegals. A founding member of the art group known as ASCO, he has painted murals and created installations since 1972. His works have been featured in museums and collections throughout the world. After signing to a major label, Los Illegals first song entitled "El Lay" from their "Internal Exile" LP became an anthem & rallying cry of the plight the city's marginalized communities.

Otoño Lujan (accordion, vocals) has played button accordion since 1997, performing internationally with music and multi-disciplinary performance groups. He also teaches button accordion at the Eagle Rock Music Studio and at Plaza de la Raza in East L.A. Although he originally trained in Conjunto music, he has performed Conjunto and a variety of styles and genres and has been an important influence in raising the popularity of his instrument in Los Angeles.

Sid Medina (lead guitar, vocals) has been a fixture in the LA music scene since the 1980's as a founding member of The Brat, headlining, touring and in support of major international groups throughout the U.S. He currently arranges and co-produces material for various rock & theatre performances throughout Southern California.

Xiuy (Jess) Velo (bass guitar, vocals) has been bass guitarist with Los Illegals since 1979. Los Illegals have been documented and filmed by such luminaries as DA Pennebaker and Agnes Varda for broadcasts in the U.S. and abroad. Los Illegals partnered with progressive elements of the Catholic church to co-found the "Vex", alternative, music & art space in East L.A. kickstarting the "80's Eastside Renaissance", bringing Westside artists/poets & elements of agitprop to the Eastside in a show of unity that forced the industry to take notice.

Photo by Robert Runyon, Carranza's Troops in Matamoros (Las tropas de Carranza en Matamoros), ca. 1913-1916. Getty Research Institute (89.R.46)