THE ZARA'S - EVERY DAY I CRY SOME

The Zara's again. This time performing "Every day I cry some", the 1963 Steve Alaimo's hit. Please, note the good exercise of music they did here. Enjoy!

THE ZARA'S - EVERY DAY I CRY SOME

THE ZARA'S - HAPPY ORGAN

The Zara's again!. By the way, Marino Zaratiegui, a member of the band, kindly sent me an email with The Zara's story, that made me pulish up the story I told in the first post devoted to them. Here goes an abstract of that email:

My father taught music theory, guitar, accordion and piano at first himself and then with teachers from Tafalla, Zaragoza and San Sebastian when we were very young. He wantedthat we studied  in the Paris Conservatoire and in 1952 took us there. After few years led us to Milan where he was told they had the best schools of accordion, harmony and composition. Later, our own musical inclination led us to leave the classics and started playing rock and roll, we were three brothers and two sisters, changed the electric guitars for a classic, the accordion for an organ, a sister learned to electric bass, a brother drums and saxophone and I by 1960 most of our repertoire was rock and roll and country western U.S. At that time we were already a professional group and where we were offered better contracts in Germany performing in the clubs of American military bases. This environment helped us a lot in our musical journey. We continue to develop our career combining musical talent and the presentation of our activities for 1968 were a very visual productions, with instruments and equipment "top of the line". In 1969 was offered a contract in the United States, was for three months but continued offers and travel all over the East Coast until 1970 came in a five years in Las Vegas. there down roots, till a brother and sister  in 1977 broke the original band in 1977. Just Toto was the best singer and lead guitarist, forming their groups continued to act according to their musical progress. In 1990 began his presentation at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas and continued there for over ten years. Meanwhile, he open a recording studio and developing new talent as ingeniro sound and record producer. He keeps in Las Vegas recording and performing as a soloist. It seems as if time had stopped, singing better than ever and I play keyboards and guitar that I die of envy.

ENJOY!!

THE ZARA'S - HAPPY ORGAN

THE ZARA'S - NIGHT TRAIN

"Night Train" is a twelve bar blues instrumental standard first recorded by Jimmy Forrest in 1951."Night Train" has a long and complicated history. The piece's opening riff was first recorded in 1940 by a small group led by Duke Ellington sideman Johnny Hodges under the title "That's the Blues, Old Man". Ellington used the same riff as the opening and closing theme of a longer-form composition, "Happy-Go-Lucky Local", that was itself one of four parts of his Deep South Suite. Forrest was part of Ellington's band when it performed this composition, which has a long tenor saxophone break in the middle. After leaving Ellington, Forrest recorded "Night Train" on United Records and had a major rhythm & blues hit. While "Night Train" employs the same riff as the earlier recordings, it is used in a much earthier R&B setting. Forrest inserted his own solo over a stop-time rhythm not used in the Ellington composition. He put his own stamp on the tune, but its relation to the earlier composition is obvious. Like Illinois Jacquet's solo on "Flying Home", Forrest's original saxophone solo on "Night Train" became a veritable part of the composition, and is usually recreated in cover versions by other performers. Buddy Morrow's trombone transcription of Forrest's solo from his big-band recording of the tune is similarly incorporated into many performances. 
"Night Train" has been recorded by numerous performers over the years. Jimmy Forrest's original version of "Night Train" was a #1 R&B hit in 1952. Forrest later recorded a Spanish Tinge version entitled "Night Train Mambo". 
James Brown released a version of "Night Train" in 1962 that reached #5 on the R&B charts and #35 on the pop charts. His performance replaced the original lyrics of the song with a shouted rough list of the stations on the Seaboard Air Line Railroad's Silver Meteor service and many repetitions of the song's name. A live version of the tune was the closing number on his breakthrough 1963 album Live at the Apollo. The Zara's performed this instrumental in 1965, showing their ability  once again. Enjoy! By the way, I upload the incredible show James Brown did in the TAMI show, along with The Famous Flames in 1964. I also upload a cover The Toasters did in the LP "New York Fever", in 1992.

 THE ZARA'S - NIGHT TRAIN

The Toasters - Night Train

THE ZARA'S - GRAVY (very rare)

L-R: Anita, Jesús, Marina, Kim, Toto and Kitty

This is one of these times that oneself have made a big effort in offering you an obscure, and unknown story of a band. That took me few weeks, and I have not yet finished. Nevertheless, today is a rainny day in Madrid, and I have enough time to write. Well. The Zara's is the name taken from the same surname of the members. They are are surnamed Zaratiegui, because they are brothers, origin of the apostrophe in "Zara's". Anita (bass, accordion, keyboards, guitar); Jesus (drums, guitar, keyboards); Kim (lead vocals); Kitty (keyboards); Marino (guitar, keyboards, sax); and Toto (Vicente, b. 1946) (lead vocals). They were from Tafalla (Navarra-Spain). 

Gregorio Zaratiegui and María Aguirre. Taken from Tafalla a pie

La casa de Gregorico.Main door.

Scott Blackerby, in his website. give some data about them, but he requests more information. Their father was Vicente Zaratiegui, and the mum María Luísa Oficialdegui. For any reason, Vicente Zaratiegui had to go to Germany in early 60s. But this family has a long history that I have to tell you for a better understanding of the band. Their grandpa was named Gregorio Zaratiegui ("Gregorico" is the currently way to call someone in Navarra, and used foll all things. Then, "Chistorra", becomes "Chistorrica", and more), and the grandma María Aguirre (married in 1879). Gregorio gave name of the rest of the family till today: "Los Gregoricos". They have a blog, a book, even they had yearly meetings!: Gregoric@s en red. For any reason I do not know, Vicente had to go in 1952 to Germany with his childs, and, soon to the USA (today, Toto and Marino are both in Las Vegas). The name of "The Zara's" could came from several ways. 1) In Spanish, Los Zaras could be the short name of the family surname Zaratiegui.2) As a band that wants to hightlight that they are sons of a Zaratiegui.  I prefer the 1st option, since "El camino de los Zaras" (The Zaras' way) is a real name for a rural way, a beautiful walk to go to "La casa de Gregorico", as is currently named. This is the house from where Vicente, María Luísa, and sons go to Germany. By the way, Vicente became a famous singer of "jotas", the regional chant and dance in Navara.

Escolapios de Tafalla

He is named as a soldier and jota singer during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), along with others famous singers, such as Raimundo Lanas, Vicente Zaratiegui, Florencio Aoiz («El templau»), Víctor Iradiel, Perico («El Paje»), Zabalza, and Luziano Izura.. He recorded at late 70, before he leaved, a tape with 14 "auroras", a viariety of jota. Today, you can listen one of his "jota navarrica". Anyway, the Zara's bross studied in "Los Escolapios", aka "Escuelas Pías Emáus". "The Zara's" were acting in Germany, covering popnd soul hits. Success touring American military bases throughout Europe seems to have attracted the attention of the German Kerston label which signed them to a recording contract, the band debuting with a 1965 single: "'Ride Your Pony" (A-side), and  "'Maria" (Kerston catalog number 60 003).

That was followed by an EP on the Spanish Fonogram label - "Night Train" (Fonogram catalog number T 20 006 Z. A1 Night Train; A2: Gravy (uploaded song); B1: Telestar, and B2: Johnny B. Goode. Marino was then the oldest (24 years old), Eddy, 24; Jesús, 19; Chris, 18; Anita, 16; and Toto, 18, as you can read in the back of the EP. In the same year, they recorded their 1st LP for Kerston Recordsa (Small German label, owned by Fred Kersten. Mainly releasing Beat, Garage Rock and Schlager in the 60ies. In the 70ies the focus was Kraut- & experimental Prog-Rock). The name of the LP was "The Zara's Way" (! - Do you remeber?). Scott Blackerby, in his website says: I'm guessing the target audience were American servicemen and the twelve tracks were probably a good indication of what their live repertoire sounded like - a heavy mix of early and mid-1960s pop, rock, and soul covers. Musically they weren't band, turning in decent, if rather rote covers of the source material. Lead singers Toto and Kim were a different story. Neither had much of a voice and the fact they were singing in a non-native language occasionally gave the performances an unintentionally funny edge. A couple of their musical choices were also puzzling - hard to image G.I.'s going wild when they heard the organ-propelled 'Maria'. Well, maybe they really liked 'West Side Story.

"The Zara's Way" track listing: Side 1: 1.) Ride Your Pony (Noami Neville) - 2.) Happy Organ (instrumental) (Cortez) - 3.) What Now My Love (Becaud - Delano - Sigman) - 4.) Twine Time (instrumental) (Alvin Cash) - 5.) Maria (Bernstein - Sondheim) - 6.) Land of 1000 Dances (Chris Kenner); Side 2: 1.) Crying Time (Buck Owens); 2.) La Bamba (Ritchie Valens - Lopez - Reynolds - Shane - Stewart) - 3.) I Heard About Him (Chris Andrews) - 4.) Wipe Out (instrumental) (The Surfaris) - 5.) Donna (Ritchie Valens) - 6.) Down In the Boondocks (Joe South).

In 1966, Kerston launched "The Zara's Hits", already presented as an International Show-Band. Trackslist: A1 I Still Want Your Love 3:12; A2 Happy Organ 2:40, A3 Your Kind Of Loving 2:38, A4 Night Train 3:22, A5 Walk Alone 3:37, A6 My Heart Is Just For You 2:32, B1 Everyday I Have To Cry Some 2:30, B2 Telstar 3:09, B3 La Bamba 3:00, B4 Wipe Out 2:08, B5 Danny Boy 4:50, B6 Anything For Baby 2:28. After this LP they moved to Las Vegas, in an unknown year between 1966 and 1970. In 1971 they launched "The Sahara Presents Zaras S.R.O. In Las Vegas" (ATA catalog number PM1080) (S.R:O.: Standing Room Only). I suppose that before that, they acted in Bridgeport (Conneticut), as Lori T. says in this post: Anonymous April 5, 2012 9:37 AM: Wow! I rememnber going to see the Zaras, both in Germany and here in the States, especially Bridgeport, CT many years ago! In this picture, they are, left to right, Toto, Anita, Jesus,Julie front and center, Kitty and Marino. Boy, does this bring back a lot of memories. We had all their albums, and really enjoyed their performances.--Lori T. 

In these years, "Los Zaras" did not were alone, since Vicente, the father, was with them in the USA, according with Javier Torralba, in his blog.: I was very lucky for met Vicente Zaratiegui. When their children were established in North America, he back to Tafalla and his remaining years of "active" in the "Brotherhood of the Twelve". I was just in and share many celebrations, funerals and Ujué travel. At that time we did that Pentecost was also the day of families. In the shelter of the Carravieja had Mass and then a "costillada" (a BBQ). Vicente played his guitar and the desktop, with Maria Luisa Oficialdegui, his wife, enjoyed some unforgettable moments.And Arantxa Maxco Hernando, in the book "Los gregoricos" writes: Vincent came occasionally from Germany and stayed a week or two to chop wood and cement. Said that helped him materially and morally his cousin Pedro M ª (Zaratiegui.) In the spring of 1969...They last record was done in 1972: "The Fabulous Zaras" (Parnaso catalog number P-LPS-1108), when they were definitgely in Las Vegas. As I say above. Marina and Toto are living in Las Vegas today. Toto uses to perform in that city, playing in "The Mirage", or "Red Rock Casino" (search in Google: "Red rock Casino" "toto zara"), displaying an extensive musical activity. You can take a look to his website www.totozara.com, or several videos inYoutube (1, 2, 3). Jesús Zaratiegui, 58, of Las Vegas, died Monday February 24, 2003, in a local hospice. He was born Dec. 25, 1944. A resident for 33 years, he was a Sunrise Hospital manager for 28 years. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl; one son, Greg Zaratiegui, one daughter, Dawn Zaratiegui, two sisters, Francisca Zaratiegui and Anita Zaratiegui, and two brothers, Marino Zaratiegui and Toto Zaratiegui, all of Las Vegas. Visitation was scheduled 3-7 p.m. Thursday in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave. Services will be 2 p.m. Friday in St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church, 1111 Michael Way. Burial will follow in Palm Valley View Memorial Park. The family suggested donations to the American Cancer Society, 1325 E. Harmon Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89119. Anita Zaratiegui (b. July 2, 1948) leaves Dec. 2, 2007 by a car crash. She rested at Pal Mamorial Park (Green Valley, Las Vegas).

Well, I upload "Gravy", from the spanish EP, a cover of Dee Dee Sharp's hit (1962), that I upload too. ENJOY!!

THE ZARA'S - GRAVY

Dee Dee Sharp - Gravy