We should all be contacting our elected officials and bringing to their attention what WE feel is a waste of our tax money, because for some reason, they seem to be losing touch with us average, hard working people taking care of our families and business….aka the VOTERS!

…I would rather have police, firefighters, clean maintained streets, adequate trash service, and fully staffed schools with adequate supplies than for some politician to have a tax-supported plush luxury office, FREE luxury car w/FREE unlimited gas, and a six figure salary with perks and too many high paid "assistants" and staff (usually family and friends) that are expecting a 12% raise this June….hmmm..let's see where THIS one goes….We go back to the voting booths this November…so REMEMBER!

Some GOOD news: After 7 years of fighting, mission accomplished, the U.S. MARINES are leaving Iraq and coming home! As a former Marine and proud card carrying member of the SFV Marine Corps League, I say:

"WELCOME HOME, BROTHERS & SISTERS! JOB WELL DONE!"

The SFV Marine Corps League Detachment 1277 is actively recruiting new members all the time, and all interested honorably discharged, reserve, retired, or active duty U.S. Marines or U.S. navy FMF Corpsmen are encouraged to join. For more info:
USMCsgt7@aol.com Fred.Flores29@gmail.com Castrellon5@yahoo.com
or check out: www.sfvd1277.org

Good times were had big time last week at the ODYSSEY Restaurant & Grand Ballroom in Granada Hills, as Gilbert Esquivel's EAST SIDE COMEDY & OLD SCHOOL Dance Show was a sold out success. As always, Gilbert & the Odyssey staff apologize to the many people who were turned away or unable to get advance tickets on time, and missed this great show & dance.

But the good news is that Gilbert & Co. are bringing their popular show to the City of Angels, as they will be performing & partying at the World famous WHITTIER RADISSON Hotel & Grand ballroom on Friday, March 5th. Advance tickets are now on sale by contacting: gnrentertainment@aol.com or by calling 310- 518- 2229.
Don't miss this one, Mi Gente! Check out the details on www.jegrp.com.

Also showing the love of a classy community, the fundraiser benefit for the Cory Silva family at the PALOMA ROOM in Montebelllo last Sunday was also a great success. "Words cannot express my gratitude to the artists and attendees who made this occasion most helpful & memorable" Cory told LatinoLA." My family was very touched, and the performances were great!". Partial video of the show featuring Frankie Firme, Gilbert Esquivel, Brenton Wood, and Louie Parra & The Mad Latins are available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG4bMO0-SEM

Check out what you missed !
The music is still happening at the Lost Memories Internet Radio Show at website: (www.djchentemrog.com) where DJ's Mr. O.G. "The Heartbreaker & Dedication taker" and Frankie Firme "The Al Capone of the microphone & Hitman of West Coast Chicano Soul" are making it real and keeping it alive, and a new calendar page keeps you abreast of the latest live music and Lowrider Car Shows. This week, a very special show sponsored by the Muñoz Tax Service of the San Fernando Valley brings you a salute to the talent of California's San Fernando Valley featuring music by the late Issac Avila, the Bag of Tricks Band, the SIDETRACS Band featuring Sara Morgan, and the Company Band. For info on discount professional tax service and a FREE copy of these great shows, call Munoz Tax Service : 818- 899- 1058. Getting your taxes done early gets the money in your pocket quicker!

Valentine's Day is coming up, and lovers will be looking for a place to party, have some fun, and not break the bank.

One of L.A.'s best bets will be Midnight Production's Valentine's Day Dinner & Dance held at the PALOMA ROOM on Whittier Blvd in Montebello on Sunday , February 14th starting at 5:00pm ~ FREE secure parking, a gourmet steak & shrimp dinner with all the fixings, and live entertainment provided by the TOUCH Band, with special guest stars CORY SILVA and HANK CASTRO, with DJ BIG DADDY RUBEN spinning between the cuts for your listening, loving, and dancing pleasure ~a truly romantic and fun party. My Lady & I will see you there!

For tickets & info: 562-271-7891 or 626-409-1919.

The day before that, down in Orange County, BRENTON WOOD, Miss BRENDA HOLLOWAY, and 2nd CHANCE will be performing live to a dinner dance at the Santa Ana Elk's Lodge. All ages welcome. For tickets & info: 714-547-7794.

Breaking up the monotony on a Friday night in Woodland Hills, the SIDETRACS Band, featuring the dynamic & beautiful Sara Morgan has been packing 'em in at MONTY's STEAKHOUSE these last couple of Fridays. Great food, a great crowd, dancing, and NO cover charge every Friday starting at 10pm. For more info: www.sidetracs.com.

Former MIDNITER George Salazar and his band, The 2nd TIME AROUND, have been making the rounds lately, putting in plenty of work and sparking some attention. This Thursday they fire it up at GIOVANNI's Italian Restaurant in Woodland Hills. Rumors have it a special guest singer is expected. For more info: 323-312-7949.

And speaking of THEE MIDNITERS, disappointment in recent performances and an active rumor mill throughout L.A. have it that some of the ORIGINAL members of the group who played on the classic all time favorite "Whittier Blvd" album are getting together for a brief concert tour that will put to rest answer to the question : "What happened to the REAL Midniters?"…this should be interesting! Keep logged here for the exclusive.

Super Bowl Sunday was a gas, with one of the biggest TV audiences in sports history catching the Kansas City Chief's victory over the Colts. Down in Santa Ana, The SUSIE HANSEN Band and OPA OPA brought out the celebratory salsa afterwards at the Galaxy Concert Theater for a dinner and dance show that rocked !

Another great party, or shall we say PARTIES, are planned and expected to raise the roof with fun, laughter, music, and dancing at the WHITTIER RADISSON HOTEL, every Friday & Saturday night. For more info: www.jegrp.com

And speaking of the Galaxy Theater, if you're down there in Santa Ana on Valentine's Day, TIERRA will be live in concert for a dinner & dance show where the first 100 ladies will receive a long stemmed rose. For tickets & info: 714-957-0600.

THIS JUST IN:
~ To hook up the great folks in the SFV & north L.A. that missed the wonderful GILBERT ESQUIVEL Comedy & Old School Dance Show ~ on Thursday, February 18th, drummer/singer SAL RODRIGUEZ of the popular group WAR joins up with his SFV home~boy GILBERT ESQUIVEL to bring you an OLD SCHOOL COMEDY JAM, with live entertainment and some surprise celebrity music guests to blow your mind, making their SFV debut, starting at 8pm at CARUSO's Italian Kitchen, Bar & Grill in Sylmar.
Music, laughter, and dinner on a Thursday night ! Who says you can't have it all ??
For tickets & info: 818-367- 7766 or 818-361- 7500.

~ TIERRA will be coming to the San Gabriel Valley on Friday, March 5th, at the TASTE OF TEXAS in Covina . Opening up the night will be the powerful & popular SOUL PURSUIT Band. The SOUL PURSUIT Band also returns to MAGGIE's PUB in Santa Fe Springs on March 26th. For more info: www.soulpursuitband.com

~ New spring schedule up for the Chicano Music Gladiator Arena, aka the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet, where for only $1.50 admission on weekends, some of L.A.'s best music talent shows you what they got that makes them hot! Fresh hot food, cool drinks, great live music, and great deals EVERY weekend!
For more info: www.santafespringswapmeet.net

Orale! That's it for now, Mi Gente!

Always look up... respect & protect our women & children, love your friends & family, teach our children the ways of the world, give thanks to our brave Veterans and men & women currently serving in uniform around the World, and enjoy the music of your life while living to the fullest!

Ay te watcho, from the Land of 1000 Dances!
~ Frankie Firme  ~