Leo Lara

This is the time you have to be aware of things—your surroundings, your school, your neighborhoods. Be aware that you have a great responsibility on your shoulders. We are people of many colors of skin and different cultural backgrounds and if we learn about one another we become aware of the good around us. Don’t take education for granted because people in other places don’t have your opportunities. Come to school to do your work and to study. Keep your nose clean!

Leo Lara

My name is Leo Lara. I was born on December 5, 1962, in Cuajara, Ecuador, which is located in Valle del Chota in the middle of the Andes Mountains. I grew up in Ecuador surrounded by mountains and my family’s love. My family worked very hard on a sugar plantation but sometimes we did not have enough food to eat.

When I was young my mother had to leave me and go into the city of Quito to find work. She cleaned and cooked for a wealthy family there and finally made enough money to come back and take me to the city with her.

This was my first time out of the mountains and my first time seeing a train—I couldn’t believe my eyes! When we arrived in Quito I saw things I had never seen before: fancy lights, big buildings, cars and lots of people.

Growing up in Ecuador, I became aware of the situation in my country that not everyone was treated kindly and fairly and that there was a lot of discrimination against the poor people. Many businesses and wealthy families were taking advantage of the people, which created violence and fighting.

When I was 17 years old, I became aware that I could make a difference in society through music and I began playing a Charingo and singing what we called “music of social content.” These songs helped get the message out to the people about freedom and equal rights.

I met my wife Kathy in Ecuador when she was doing work with children who lived on the streets. We got married and moved to the United States and we have five wonderful children.

I have joined in with other people here in the US who want to use music to speak about the people in their home countries. We call this the Movement of Nuevo Cancion (New Song Movement) which helps to create bridges between the cultures of Latin America and North America. We have become the international voices of the people.