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Smaller and Better Things | Roger Clyne | TEDxTucsonSalon


[Music]

[Music] well a tucson como estan alright so I’m

well a tucson como estan alright so I’m

well a tucson como estan alright so I’m going to tell some stories and hopefully

going to tell some stories and hopefully

going to tell some stories and hopefully in the end they will intertwine to

in the end they will intertwine to

in the end they will intertwine to explain my understanding my appreciation

explain my understanding my appreciation

explain my understanding my appreciation my love for and hopefully my little

my love for and hopefully my little

my love for and hopefully my little contribution to this thing this magic

contribution to this thing this magic

contribution to this thing this magic thing the Tucson sound so I’ll begin

thing the Tucson sound so I’ll begin

thing the Tucson sound so I’ll begin with let’s speak of Tucson Tucson is an

with let’s speak of Tucson Tucson is an

with let’s speak of Tucson Tucson is an oasis in a very inhospitable desert yes

oasis in a very inhospitable desert yes

oasis in a very inhospitable desert yes it is it’s been a gathering place for

it is it’s been a gathering place for

it is it’s been a gathering place for peoples for millennia and we can’t even

peoples for millennia and we can’t even

peoples for millennia and we can’t even look back through the thousands of years

look back through the thousands of years

look back through the thousands of years and know their names but we can through

and know their names but we can through

and know their names but we can through the centuries and we find all of them

the centuries and we find all of them

the centuries and we find all of them and the penile and the Apache and then

and the penile and the Apache and then

and the penile and the Apache and then came the Spanish and then the Mexicans

came the Spanish and then the Mexicans

came the Spanish and then the Mexicans and then the Americans the Americans

and then the Americans the Americans

and then the Americans the Americans called it a union territory first and

called it a union territory first and

called it a union territory first and then it became a Confederate territory

then it became a Confederate territory

then it became a Confederate territory and then I went back to the Union

and then I went back to the Union

and then I went back to the Union Territory but finally on Valentine’s Day

Territory but finally on Valentine’s Day

Territory but finally on Valentine’s Day 1912

1912

1912 we got our statehood we became American

we got our statehood we became American

we got our statehood we became American and we being a part of the Union and we

and we being a part of the Union and we

and we being a part of the Union and we got the coolest flag of all the state 48

got the coolest flag of all the state 48

got the coolest flag of all the state 48 house the coolest flag it’s no

house the coolest flag it’s no

house the coolest flag it’s no coincidence no accident was gonna happen

coincidence no accident was gonna happen

coincidence no accident was gonna happen that way all the change in the different

that way all the change in the different

that way all the change in the different cultures that come and go to this place

cultures that come and go to this place

cultures that come and go to this place created to my mind a confluence of

created to my mind a confluence of

created to my mind a confluence of conflict and resolution that lasted for

conflict and resolution that lasted for

conflict and resolution that lasted for centuries or millennia but what was

centuries or millennia but what was

centuries or millennia but what was always constant was Tucson in this place

always constant was Tucson in this place

always constant was Tucson in this place people wanted to be here and so it does

people wanted to be here and so it does

people wanted to be here and so it does not have an identity crisis Tucson has

not have an identity crisis Tucson has

not have an identity crisis Tucson has deep roots where people come and they

deep roots where people come and they

deep roots where people come and they take care of people and they thrive and

take care of people and they thrive and

take care of people and they thrive and that conflict is in the past and now we

that conflict is in the past and now we

that conflict is in the past and now we have to saan and we have Tucson nests

have to saan and we have Tucson nests

have to saan and we have Tucson nests and its unique vibration and sonic

and its unique vibration and sonic

and its unique vibration and sonic celebration is like nothing I’ve

celebration is like nothing I’ve

celebration is like nothing I’ve encountered anywhere ever artists in

encountered anywhere ever artists in

encountered anywhere ever artists in general

is to try to escape things there are

is to try to escape things there are things they try to get away from

things they try to get away from

things they try to get away from especially little towns but in Tucson if

especially little towns but in Tucson if

especially little towns but in Tucson if you’ll note whatever the media is

you’ll note whatever the media is

you’ll note whatever the media is Toussaint artists sonic or otherwise

Toussaint artists sonic or otherwise

Toussaint artists sonic or otherwise always incorporate something about this

always incorporate something about this

always incorporate something about this place in their art proudly instead of

place in their art proudly instead of

place in their art proudly instead of saying I got to get away from

saying I got to get away from

saying I got to get away from Springfield or Minneapolis this is a

Springfield or Minneapolis this is a

Springfield or Minneapolis this is a place to be and not to flee which makes

place to be and not to flee which makes

place to be and not to flee which makes it incredibly unique now Who am I

it incredibly unique now Who am I

it incredibly unique now Who am I my name is Roger Klein I am a third

my name is Roger Klein I am a third

my name is Roger Klein I am a third generation Arizona I was born at st.

generation Arizona I was born at st.

generation Arizona I was born at st. Mary’s Hospital about two miles from

Mary’s Hospital about two miles from

Mary’s Hospital about two miles from here in 1968 No

my great-grandfather was a doctor here

my great-grandfather was a doctor here my grandfather was a businessman around

my grandfather was a businessman around

my grandfather was a businessman around water water businesses my father is

water water businesses my father is

water water businesses my father is still a working Rancher on the family

still a working Rancher on the family

still a working Rancher on the family ranch not far from here in the between

ranch not far from here in the between

ranch not far from here in the between the Santa Rita Mountains and the

the Santa Rita Mountains and the

the Santa Rita Mountains and the whetstone Mountains old Scirocco Apache

whetstone Mountains old Scirocco Apache

whetstone Mountains old Scirocco Apache homeland what place we call the client

homeland what place we call the client

homeland what place we call the client ranch well I was born here and my

ranch well I was born here and my

ranch well I was born here and my parents were wild cats you have a alum

parents were wild cats you have a alum

parents were wild cats you have a alum [Music]

[Music]

[Music] you’re gonna kill me later when I tell

you’re gonna kill me later when I tell

you’re gonna kill me later when I tell you where I got my degree yeah paws for

you where I got my degree yeah paws for

you where I got my degree yeah paws for booze Rosie e booze I was quickly

booze Rosie e booze I was quickly

booze Rosie e booze I was quickly transplanted I don’t remember much of my

transplanted I don’t remember much of my

transplanted I don’t remember much of my early youth here in Tucson I was

early youth here in Tucson I was

early youth here in Tucson I was transplanted to the metropolis to

transplanted to the metropolis to

transplanted to the metropolis to Phoenix Arizona actually Tempe so my

Phoenix Arizona actually Tempe so my

Phoenix Arizona actually Tempe so my father can work in the feedlot so my

father can work in the feedlot so my

father can work in the feedlot so my mother could be a teacher but we had

mother could be a teacher but we had

mother could be a teacher but we had family here and we had family at the

family here and we had family at the

family here and we had family at the ranch and so Tucson was always central

ranch and so Tucson was always central

ranch and so Tucson was always central to those travels we would come out of

to those travels we would come out of

to those travels we would come out of Tempe to Tucson and my little brother

Tempe to Tucson and my little brother

Tempe to Tucson and my little brother and I would need new boots so we go to

and I would need new boots so we go to

and I would need new boots so we go to cow town or we need fishing gear and we

cow town or we need fishing gear and we

cow town or we need fishing gear and we go to yellow front or we know those

go to yellow front or we know those

go to yellow front or we know those tough skin jeans we go to Sears here and

tough skin jeans we go to Sears here and

tough skin jeans we go to Sears here and then we go up the hill and we help

then we go up the hill and we help

then we go up the hill and we help Grandma and Grandpa work on the ranch

Grandma and Grandpa work on the ranch

Grandma and Grandpa work on the ranch for weeks or sometimes months at a time

for weeks or sometimes months at a time

for weeks or sometimes months at a time depending anyway those memories are

depending anyway those memories are

depending anyway those memories are where my roots are where my heart my

where my roots are where my heart my

where my roots are where my heart my Sonoran heart is now I’m gonna

Sonoran heart is now I’m gonna

Sonoran heart is now I’m gonna fast-forward to college years where I

fast-forward to college years where I

fast-forward to college years where I was living in Tempe Arizona and

was living in Tempe Arizona and

was living in Tempe Arizona and I got my degree from Arizona State hold

I got my degree from Arizona State hold

I got my degree from Arizona State hold your fire

your fire

your fire I know I’m the one who has to live with

I know I’m the one who has to live with

I know I’m the one who has to live with it I was born here and I got my degree

it I was born here and I got my degree

it I was born here and I got my degree there believe me every day I wake up

there believe me every day I wake up

there believe me every day I wake up every day it has a lot of guys do in

every day it has a lot of guys do in

every day it has a lot of guys do in college or earlier than that I had a

college or earlier than that I had a

college or earlier than that I had a band in college as I was exploring the

band in college as I was exploring the

band in college as I was exploring the the wet the breath of the liberal arts

the wet the breath of the liberal arts

the wet the breath of the liberal arts and one summer my as I was working on my

and one summer my as I was working on my

and one summer my as I was working on my degree my friends and I who were in a

degree my friends and I who were in a

degree my friends and I who were in a band decided that we would go to Taipei

band decided that we would go to Taipei

band decided that we would go to Taipei Taiwan and teach English and take our

Taiwan and teach English and take our

Taiwan and teach English and take our music over there our original music over

music over there our original music over

music over there our original music over there and dominate that Island in the

there and dominate that Island in the

there and dominate that Island in the club scene as we were getting ignored in

club scene as we were getting ignored in

club scene as we were getting ignored in Tempe so we did so and I got I got what

Tempe so we did so and I got I got what

Tempe so we did so and I got I got what was then a courier flight and I had $300

was then a courier flight and I had $300

was then a courier flight and I had $300 a no-return ticket and my guitar and my

a no-return ticket and my guitar and my

a no-return ticket and my guitar and my friends and we had battery powered amps

friends and we had battery powered amps

friends and we had battery powered amps and sure enough we took our original

and sure enough we took our original

and sure enough we took our original music and some other pseudo punk rock

music and some other pseudo punk rock

music and some other pseudo punk rock stuff from the Ramones and camper van

stuff from the Ramones and camper van

stuff from the Ramones and camper van Beethoven and They Might Be Giants and a

Beethoven and They Might Be Giants and a

Beethoven and They Might Be Giants and a newly emerging band called Nirvana and

newly emerging band called Nirvana and

newly emerging band called Nirvana and we went in the subways and we played

we went in the subways and we played

we went in the subways and we played this pure punk rock awesomeness and

this pure punk rock awesomeness and

this pure punk rock awesomeness and people scorned us and sneered and passed

people scorned us and sneered and passed

people scorned us and sneered and passed by shook their heads and of the part I

by shook their heads and of the part I

by shook their heads and of the part I forgot to tell you is when we arrived

forgot to tell you is when we arrived

forgot to tell you is when we arrived and we started soliciting for clubs or

and we started soliciting for clubs or

and we started soliciting for clubs or gigs of the clubs it was illegal like oh

gigs of the clubs it was illegal like oh

gigs of the clubs it was illegal like oh we can’t do that we American bands can’t

we can’t do that we American bands can’t

we can’t do that we American bands can’t work here or you guys don’t have the

work here or you guys don’t have the

work here or you guys don’t have the right pieces so we took it to the

right pieces so we took it to the

right pieces so we took it to the subways that failed really miserably and

subways that failed really miserably and

subways that failed really miserably and a Danish friends a friend of ours at the

a Danish friends a friend of ours at the

a Danish friends a friend of ours at the hostel said here’s what you got to do

hostel said here’s what you got to do

hostel said here’s what you got to do for 10 years sad songs have been

for 10 years sad songs have been

for 10 years sad songs have been outlawed here in Taiwan by the Republic

outlawed here in Taiwan by the Republic

outlawed here in Taiwan by the Republic of China government they considered

of China government they considered

of China government they considered themselves essentially at war with China

themselves essentially at war with China

themselves essentially at war with China and as a matter of fact air raid drills

and as a matter of fact air raid drills

and as a matter of fact air raid drills were going on while I was over there so

were going on while I was over there so

were going on while I was over there so they just lifted a band on sad songs sad

they just lifted a band on sad songs sad

they just lifted a band on sad songs sad songs could not be listened to in

songs could not be listened to in

songs could not be listened to in private or in public and so against with

private or in public and so against with

private or in public and so against with mic punk rock bile rising in my body I

mic punk rock bile rising in my body I

mic punk rock bile rising in my body I learned Beatles songs and then I learned

learned Beatles songs and then I learned

learned Beatles songs and then I learned John Denver songs and I learned Everly

John Denver songs and I learned Everly

John Denver songs and I learned Everly Brothers songs and Simon and Garfunkel

Brothers songs and Simon and Garfunkel

Brothers songs and Simon and Garfunkel and I took those songs and we went down

and I took those songs and we went down

and I took those songs and we went down into the subways and we shoved our way

into the subways and we shoved our way

into the subways and we shoved our way in between the cobra venom salesman and

in between the cobra venom salesman and

in between the cobra venom salesman and the fake Rolex person

the fake Rolex person

the fake Rolex person and we began to play and people stopped

and we began to play and people stopped

and we began to play and people stopped and they stood still and they sang these

and they stood still and they sang these

and they stood still and they sang these songs that weren’t in their native

songs that weren’t in their native

songs that weren’t in their native tongue verbatim and they cried and then

tongue verbatim and they cried and then

tongue verbatim and they cried and then they left and they brought us flowers

they left and they brought us flowers

they left and they brought us flowers and money and that was not lost on me

and money and that was not lost on me

and money and that was not lost on me the money the power of those masters

the money the power of those masters

the money the power of those masters those songs transcended everything and

those songs transcended everything and

those songs transcended everything and brought humans from different parts of

brought humans from different parts of

brought humans from different parts of the world together in a very real

the world together in a very real

the world together in a very real face-to-face way and I took that home to

face-to-face way and I took that home to

face-to-face way and I took that home to my band and my my college thing lasted a

my band and my my college thing lasted a

my band and my my college thing lasted a long time and the next thing so my band

long time and the next thing so my band

long time and the next thing so my band I started working on my songwriting in

I started working on my songwriting in

I started working on my songwriting in my bands working in the clubs and my

my bands working in the clubs and my

my bands working in the clubs and my songwriting hopefully was getting a

songwriting hopefully was getting a

songwriting hopefully was getting a little bit better and the next summer I

little bit better and the next summer I

little bit better and the next summer I applied for and got accepted to an

applied for and got accepted to an

applied for and got accepted to an ethnography program ethnography and

ethnography program ethnography and

ethnography program ethnography and Spanish immersion through the Department

Spanish immersion through the Department

Spanish immersion through the Department of Anthropology Arizona State University

of Anthropology Arizona State University

of Anthropology Arizona State University in Ensenada Mexico who’s not going to go

in Ensenada Mexico who’s not going to go

in Ensenada Mexico who’s not going to go to that so I knew nothing about

to that so I knew nothing about

to that so I knew nothing about ethnography but it turns out it’s a

ethnography but it turns out it’s a

ethnography but it turns out it’s a study of living cultures and as as I’m

study of living cultures and as as I’m

study of living cultures and as as I’m having to come up scrambled to come up

having to come up scrambled to come up

having to come up scrambled to come up with a topic my peers who were in the

with a topic my peers who were in the

with a topic my peers who were in the anthropology department had something

anthropology department had something

anthropology department had something respectable they had oh we’re going to

respectable they had oh we’re going to

respectable they had oh we’re going to explore the Mexican codification of the

explore the Mexican codification of the

explore the Mexican codification of the Dewey Decimal System in the library and

Dewey Decimal System in the library and

Dewey Decimal System in the library and then the next person was like oh I’m

then the next person was like oh I’m

then the next person was like oh I’m going to observe the a bakery family in

going to observe the a bakery family in

going to observe the a bakery family in Ensenada Mexico and then the further one

Ensenada Mexico and then the further one

Ensenada Mexico and then the further one was like oh I’m gonna codify pediatrics

was like oh I’m gonna codify pediatrics

was like oh I’m gonna codify pediatrics in Mexico and I was like it came to me

in Mexico and I was like it came to me

in Mexico and I was like it came to me and I was like studying mariachis I did

and I was like studying mariachis I did

and I was like studying mariachis I did it pissed my class classmates off so my

it pissed my class classmates off so my

it pissed my class classmates off so my workday would begin around 6:30 when I

workday would begin around 6:30 when I

workday would begin around 6:30 when I go to the malecon and I tried to glom on

go to the malecon and I tried to glom on

go to the malecon and I tried to glom on to mariachi groups who were working the

to mariachi groups who were working the

to mariachi groups who were working the tourist circuit and they were having

tourist circuit and they were having

tourist circuit and they were having nothing to do with me I was this white

nothing to do with me I was this white

nothing to do with me I was this white kid who spoke terrible Spanish with a

kid who spoke terrible Spanish with a

kid who spoke terrible Spanish with a with a clipboard and a tape recorder

with a clipboard and a tape recorder

with a clipboard and a tape recorder asking questions that they didn’t want

asking questions that they didn’t want

asking questions that they didn’t want to answer and they didn’t understand I

to answer and they didn’t understand I

to answer and they didn’t understand I broke the code with lots of cigarettes

broke the code with lots of cigarettes

broke the code with lots of cigarettes and beer and finally was adopted by one

and beer and finally was adopted by one

and beer and finally was adopted by one of these groups and I got to hang out

of these groups and I got to hang out

of these groups and I got to hang out with them and they opened up to me and

with them and they opened up to me and

with them and they opened up to me and they told me what

they told me what

they told me what la Cucaracha is about and they

la Cucaracha is about and they

la Cucaracha is about and they told me what cielito lindo means and

told me what cielito lindo means and

told me what cielito lindo means and where what la Jara is and who want on a

where what la Jara is and who want on a

where what la Jara is and who want on a matter you know all of these things and

matter you know all of these things and

matter you know all of these things and they were guarded because they were

they were guarded because they were

they were guarded because they were passionate and when they let me in I

passionate and when they let me in I

passionate and when they let me in I understand understood like this is a

understand understood like this is a

understand understood like this is a part of a whole nation a whole culture

part of a whole nation a whole culture

part of a whole nation a whole culture they’re so proud of this and I took that

they’re so proud of this and I took that

they’re so proud of this and I took that home and their imagery is amazing in the

home and their imagery is amazing in the

home and their imagery is amazing in the mariachi music by the way so last dekha

mariachi music by the way so last dekha

mariachi music by the way so last dekha what awesome their imagery and their

what awesome their imagery and their

what awesome their imagery and their passion and their unbridled use of any

passion and their unbridled use of any

passion and their unbridled use of any kind of expression like who else goes as

kind of expression like who else goes as

kind of expression like who else goes as a part of the song I can do a lot better

a part of the song I can do a lot better

a part of the song I can do a lot better than I do I should have oh I took that

than I do I should have oh I took that

than I do I should have oh I took that home and certain incorporated those

home and certain incorporated those

home and certain incorporated those spices and flavors and understanding in

spices and flavors and understanding in

spices and flavors and understanding in my music and then my band broke up and I

my music and then my band broke up and I

my music and then my band broke up and I formed another band and I took my

formed another band and I took my

formed another band and I took my experience from Taiwan and I took my

experience from Taiwan and I took my

experience from Taiwan and I took my experience from Mexico and I put them

experience from Mexico and I put them

experience from Mexico and I put them together like the resonance of the

together like the resonance of the

together like the resonance of the Masters and and the deep roots that the

Masters and and the deep roots that the

Masters and and the deep roots that the Mexican people had in their mariachi

Mexican people had in their mariachi

Mexican people had in their mariachi music and I tried to marry it and very

music and I tried to marry it and very

music and I tried to marry it and very clumsy way in a band called the

clumsy way in a band called the

clumsy way in a band called the refreshments and it thank you

refreshments and it thank you

refreshments and it thank you and I took that to the clubs while I was

and I took that to the clubs while I was

and I took that to the clubs while I was getting while I was sending out my

getting while I was sending out my

getting while I was sending out my application letters to to try to get

application letters to to try to get

application letters to to try to get into grad school in environmental

into grad school in environmental

into grad school in environmental psychology with an emphasis in

psychology with an emphasis in

psychology with an emphasis in experimental design which doesn’t seems

experimental design which doesn’t seems

experimental design which doesn’t seems like it doesn’t seem like my foot but is

like it doesn’t seem like my foot but is

like it doesn’t seem like my foot but is actually it did it did it this time but

actually it did it did it this time but

actually it did it did it this time but the band was picking up and as my

the band was picking up and as my

the band was picking up and as my applications letters went out I realized

applications letters went out I realized

applications letters went out I realized I don’t know if I want to get accepted

I don’t know if I want to get accepted

I don’t know if I want to get accepted and so one day they started coming back

and so one day they started coming back

and so one day they started coming back and I opened one from a California

and I opened one from a California

and I opened one from a California University and said congratulations you

University and said congratulations you

University and said congratulations you will have a seat in the fall with a

will have a seat in the fall with a

will have a seat in the fall with a stipend and a great tuition package and

stipend and a great tuition package and

stipend and a great tuition package and that gave me great pause as I’d fallen

that gave me great pause as I’d fallen

that gave me great pause as I’d fallen in love with music and exploring it and

in love with music and exploring it and

in love with music and exploring it and understanding where my roots were here

understanding where my roots were here

understanding where my roots were here and so that’s when I pivoted and I sent

and so that’s when I pivoted and I sent

and so that’s when I pivoted and I sent a no thank-you to that University and I

a no thank-you to that University and I

a no thank-you to that University and I took the step onto the path less travel

took the step onto the path less travel

took the step onto the path less travel than that has made all the difference so

than that has made all the difference so

than that has made all the difference so I’m a musician now an independent

I’m a musician now an independent

I’m a musician now an independent musician and lead a band called the

musician and lead a band called the

musician and lead a band called the peacemakers we’ll be playing here

peacemakers we’ll be playing here

peacemakers we’ll be playing here tonight after this if you would like to

tonight after this if you would like to

tonight after this if you would like to come out and they humbly submit that all

come out and they humbly submit that all

come out and they humbly submit that all these peregrinations and all these

these peregrinations and all these

these peregrinations and all these adventures start here in the Sonora

adventures start here in the Sonora

adventures start here in the Sonora desert in my heart and hopefully it

desert in my heart and hopefully it

desert in my heart and hopefully it becomes a part of this wonderful magic

becomes a part of this wonderful magic

becomes a part of this wonderful magic called a Tucson sound muchas gracias

called a Tucson sound muchas gracias

called a Tucson sound muchas gracias [Applause]

”

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