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The Boondocks is Gone But The Beat Goes On, The Tucson Sound | John Coinman | TEDxTucsonSalon


some loss conquistadors were here we

some loss conquistadors were here we found their ancient fire we felt the

found their ancient fire we felt the

found their ancient fire we felt the ashes they’re still worn still burning

ashes they’re still worn still burning

ashes they’re still worn still burning with desire we heard that Ghost hearts

with desire we heard that Ghost hearts

with desire we heard that Ghost hearts beat they still seek the goal for the

beat they still seek the goal for the

beat they still seek the goal for the Spanish crown you are my treasure this

Spanish crown you are my treasure this

Spanish crown you are my treasure this is my sacred ground leaving behind me

is my sacred ground leaving behind me

is my sacred ground leaving behind me all that I know for the river of fire

touching your body touching my soul in

touching your body touching my soul in the river of fire

the river of fire

the river of fire [Music]

[Music]

[Music] ah in El Rio de fuego well this is my

ah in El Rio de fuego well this is my

ah in El Rio de fuego well this is my sacred ground my grandparents came out

sacred ground my grandparents came out

sacred ground my grandparents came out here from elyria ohio in 1940 and they

here from elyria ohio in 1940 and they

here from elyria ohio in 1940 and they built three adobe houses right out of

built three adobe houses right out of

built three adobe houses right out of the earth in the Tucson Mountain

the earth in the Tucson Mountain

the earth in the Tucson Mountain foothills and we used to come out and

foothills and we used to come out and

foothills and we used to come out and visit them all the time my brother Mike

visit them all the time my brother Mike

visit them all the time my brother Mike and I and my sister penny and my family

and I and my sister penny and my family

and I and my sister penny and my family from Clayton New Mexico and we love

from Clayton New Mexico and we love

from Clayton New Mexico and we love Tucson got the love tucson in the desert

Tucson got the love tucson in the desert

Tucson got the love tucson in the desert and and every time we come out to visit

and and every time we come out to visit

and and every time we come out to visit my brother and i would we would roam the

my brother and i would we would roam the

my brother and i would we would roam the Arroyo Xin roam the desert the foothills

Arroyo Xin roam the desert the foothills

Arroyo Xin roam the desert the foothills and the under the under the saguaros and

and the under the under the saguaros and

and the under the under the saguaros and and look for anything we could find it

and look for anything we could find it

and look for anything we could find it was magical and mysterious and wild and

was magical and mysterious and wild and

was magical and mysterious and wild and dangerous gah rattlesnakes and

dangerous gah rattlesnakes and

dangerous gah rattlesnakes and arrowheads and conquistador trash from

arrowheads and conquistador trash from

arrowheads and conquistador trash from when the Spanish explorers came up to

when the Spanish explorers came up to

when the Spanish explorers came up to here to go into the Seven Cities of Gold

here to go into the Seven Cities of Gold

here to go into the Seven Cities of Gold and even fire rings from from ancient

and even fire rings from from ancient

and even fire rings from from ancient tribes that that came to here wandering

tribes that that came to here wandering

tribes that that came to here wandering and so so we became desert boys and and

and so so we became desert boys and and

and so so we became desert boys and and I fell in love with the Sonoran Desert

I fell in love with the Sonoran Desert

I fell in love with the Sonoran Desert then when I was a kid but I also fell in

then when I was a kid but I also fell in

then when I was a kid but I also fell in love with music when I was out here in

love with music when I was out here in

love with music when I was out here in Tucson when I heard Marty Robbins sing

Tucson when I heard Marty Robbins sing

Tucson when I heard Marty Robbins sing down in the West Texas town of El Paso I

down in the West Texas town of El Paso I

down in the West Texas town of El Paso I fell in love with a mexican girl and

fell in love with a mexican girl and

fell in love with a mexican girl and when i heard that song i went into a

when i heard that song i went into a

when i heard that song i went into a dream and I never came out and I thought

dream and I never came out and I thought

dream and I never came out and I thought I thought you know maybe one of these

I thought you know maybe one of these

I thought you know maybe one of these days I could I could write a song like

days I could I could write a song like

days I could I could write a song like El Paso and maybe I could sing like

El Paso and maybe I could sing like

El Paso and maybe I could sing like Marty Robbins and and so then from from

Marty Robbins and and so then from from

Marty Robbins and and so then from from that time on

that time on

that time on music became like more and more part of

music became like more and more part of

music became like more and more part of my life and I formed a little Everly

my life and I formed a little Everly

my life and I formed a little Everly Brothers duo with mike jenkins and in

Brothers duo with mike jenkins and in

Brothers duo with mike jenkins and in middle school and then I formed I had a

middle school and then I formed I had a

middle school and then I formed I had a little rock group called the blue triads

little rock group called the blue triads

little rock group called the blue triads with Bob Mallory and then I had a folk

with Bob Mallory and then I had a folk

with Bob Mallory and then I had a folk duo with with an MacGuffin and we played

duo with with an MacGuffin and we played

duo with with an MacGuffin and we played at Hal steakhouse in portales New Mexico

at Hal steakhouse in portales New Mexico

at Hal steakhouse in portales New Mexico and were really kind of cool and then a

and were really kind of cool and then a

and were really kind of cool and then a college I had I had a rock band called

college I had I had a rock band called

college I had I had a rock band called the grim reapers and then when I got out

the grim reapers and then when I got out

the grim reapers and then when I got out of college I went to I got married and I

of college I went to I got married and I

of college I went to I got married and I moved to Hanford California a little

moved to Hanford California a little

moved to Hanford California a little farming community and in the San Joaquin

farming community and in the San Joaquin

farming community and in the San Joaquin Valley and I began to teach English

Valley and I began to teach English

Valley and I began to teach English there and and that was the trajectory of

there and and that was the trajectory of

there and and that was the trajectory of my life at that point my brother on the

my life at that point my brother on the

my life at that point my brother on the other hand he he was an engineer in

other hand he he was an engineer in

other hand he he was an engineer in college and he was he was a lot smarter

college and he was he was a lot smarter

college and he was he was a lot smarter than me and and he was a he loved flying

than me and and he was a he loved flying

than me and and he was a he loved flying and he became a he became a pilot and he

and he became a he became a pilot and he

and he became a he became a pilot and he joined the Navy so that he could fly

joined the Navy so that he could fly

joined the Navy so that he could fly jets and but he didn’t count on the

jets and but he didn’t count on the

jets and but he didn’t count on the Vietnam War and he he told me that he

Vietnam War and he he told me that he

Vietnam War and he he told me that he didn’t think he could bomb anybody and

didn’t think he could bomb anybody and

didn’t think he could bomb anybody and he didn’t know what he was going to do

he didn’t know what he was going to do

he didn’t know what he was going to do about it and he was about to be deployed

about it and he was about to be deployed

about it and he was about to be deployed and so shortly after that he was killed

and so shortly after that he was killed

and so shortly after that he was killed in a and I when his jet crashed during

in a and I when his jet crashed during

in a and I when his jet crashed during the nighttime maneuvers of the carrier

the nighttime maneuvers of the carrier

the nighttime maneuvers of the carrier Ticonderoga and his body was never found

Ticonderoga and his body was never found

Ticonderoga and his body was never found and and I never found a weighted really

and and I never found a weighted really

and and I never found a weighted really to deal with that was I was deeply

to deal with that was I was deeply

to deal with that was I was deeply impacted by his death not only because

impacted by his death not only because

impacted by his death not only because he was my brother but but because just

he was my brother but but because just

he was my brother but but because just before he died I was drafted and I

before he died I was drafted and I

before he died I was drafted and I didn’t have to go into the end to the

didn’t have to go into the end to the

didn’t have to go into the end to the war because he died and he was I was the

war because he died and he was I was the

war because he died and he was I was the last remaining son and a family is

last remaining son and a family is

last remaining son and a family is other son was killed in the war and so

other son was killed in the war and so

other son was killed in the war and so in this kind of supreme irony I I was

in this kind of supreme irony I I was

in this kind of supreme irony I I was freed by his death and and so I quit

freed by his death and and so I quit

freed by his death and and so I quit teaching I was into my second year I

teaching I was into my second year I

teaching I was into my second year I quit teaching and never taught again i

quit teaching and never taught again i

quit teaching and never taught again i drugged my poor wife out to him

drugged my poor wife out to him

drugged my poor wife out to him Louisville Kentucky and joined a

Louisville Kentucky and joined a

Louisville Kentucky and joined a folklore group out there called the

folklore group out there called the

folklore group out there called the house of Atreus and we toured for

house of Atreus and we toured for

house of Atreus and we toured for several months and until she couldn’t

several months and until she couldn’t

several months and until she couldn’t take it anymore and she went back to

take it anymore and she went back to

take it anymore and she went back to California we got a divorce and and then

California we got a divorce and and then

California we got a divorce and and then I I played with him for a while longer

I I played with him for a while longer

I I played with him for a while longer and then just went out on my own and

and then just went out on my own and

and then just went out on my own and many years later Here I am in Tucson I’m

many years later Here I am in Tucson I’m

many years later Here I am in Tucson I’m living on the same land that my

living on the same land that my

living on the same land that my grandparents had out in the Tucson

grandparents had out in the Tucson

grandparents had out in the Tucson Mountains and I’m attending it and

Mountains and I’m attending it and

Mountains and I’m attending it and protecting it in the in the same way

protecting it in the in the same way

protecting it in the in the same way that they did and we moved here we moved

that they did and we moved here we moved

that they did and we moved here we moved here in nineteen on thanksgiving day in

here in nineteen on thanksgiving day in

here in nineteen on thanksgiving day in 1993 my wife Jo and my son will who was

1993 my wife Jo and my son will who was

1993 my wife Jo and my son will who was four years old at the time and had a

four years old at the time and had a

four years old at the time and had a truckload of stuff and and I had I had a

truckload of stuff and and I had I had a

truckload of stuff and and I had I had a lot of baggage that I brought with me or

lot of baggage that I brought with me or

lot of baggage that I brought with me or tucson a lot of emotional baggage from

tucson a lot of emotional baggage from

tucson a lot of emotional baggage from all of my years and out trying to make

all of my years and out trying to make

all of my years and out trying to make it in the music industry and and I also

it in the music industry and and I also

it in the music industry and and I also had a lot of songs that from those years

had a lot of songs that from those years

had a lot of songs that from those years that I didn’t really know what to do

that I didn’t really know what to do

that I didn’t really know what to do with sounds like like Tokyo convertible

with sounds like like Tokyo convertible

with sounds like like Tokyo convertible I wanna be your Tokyo convertible I

I wanna be your Tokyo convertible I

I wanna be your Tokyo convertible I wanna have fun with you I just love

wanna have fun with you I just love

wanna have fun with you I just love going through the motion I just love

going through the motion I just love

going through the motion I just love going through the motion and that you

going through the motion and that you

going through the motion and that you know there’s nothing wrong with that

know there’s nothing wrong with that

know there’s nothing wrong with that song it’s a fun song but um and I got it

song it’s a fun song but um and I got it

song it’s a fun song but um and I got it into a movie but when I was tired of

into a movie but when I was tired of

into a movie but when I was tired of writing songs like I wanted to do

writing songs like I wanted to do

writing songs like I wanted to do something different and I felt like you

something different and I felt like you

something different and I felt like you know but when when my brother was killed

know but when when my brother was killed

know but when when my brother was killed I I kind of found my voice and in the

I I kind of found my voice and in the

I I kind of found my voice and in the ensuing years I lost it and when I came

ensuing years I lost it and when I came

ensuing years I lost it and when I came back to Tucson I found it again not only

back to Tucson I found it again not only

back to Tucson I found it again not only because I came home I felt like I was

because I came home I felt like I was

because I came home I felt like I was coming home again but also i became I

coming home again but also i became I

coming home again but also i became I kind of walked into this incredible

kind of walked into this incredible

kind of walked into this incredible music community in Tucson diverse and

music community in Tucson diverse and

music community in Tucson diverse and and profound and all-embracing and and I

and profound and all-embracing and and I

and profound and all-embracing and and I thought I thought for the first time in

thought I thought for the first time in

thought I thought for the first time in my life like sort of became woven into

my life like sort of became woven into

my life like sort of became woven into the fabric of a music community here in

the fabric of a music community here in

the fabric of a music community here in Tucson and and I began to write

Tucson and and I began to write

Tucson and and I began to write differently I began to write and I felt

differently I began to write and I felt

differently I began to write and I felt like I started again writing from the

like I started again writing from the

like I started again writing from the heart because of being here in Tucson

heart because of being here in Tucson

heart because of being here in Tucson and shortly after I got here I wrote a

and shortly after I got here I wrote a

and shortly after I got here I wrote a song called 41 crosses and it’s one of

song called 41 crosses and it’s one of

song called 41 crosses and it’s one of the songs that my other songs that I’ve

the songs that my other songs that I’ve

the songs that my other songs that I’ve written out here it’s the one that means

written out here it’s the one that means

written out here it’s the one that means the most to me and it’s a song that I

the most to me and it’s a song that I

the most to me and it’s a song that I really enjoy playing a lot it’s about

really enjoy playing a lot it’s about

really enjoy playing a lot it’s about the Sonoran deserts about my wife my son

the Sonoran deserts about my wife my son

the Sonoran deserts about my wife my son it’s about Tucson and it’s also it’s

it’s about Tucson and it’s also it’s

it’s about Tucson and it’s also it’s about my it’s about my brother as it was

about my it’s about my brother as it was

about my it’s about my brother as it was the it was the first song I ever wrote

the it was the first song I ever wrote

the it was the first song I ever wrote about him and and being here in Tucson I

about him and and being here in Tucson I

about him and and being here in Tucson I think allowed me to do that so

so I was driving one day one afternoon

so I was driving one day one afternoon going down to going down to the Oregon

going down to going down to the Oregon

going down to going down to the Oregon State National Monument and my son was

State National Monument and my son was

State National Monument and my son was in a car it was raining in the middle of

in a car it was raining in the middle of

in a car it was raining in the middle of the afternoon it was really beautiful

the afternoon it was really beautiful

the afternoon it was really beautiful everybody here knows what it’s like to

everybody here knows what it’s like to

everybody here knows what it’s like to be out in the rain in Tucson and we were

be out in the rain in Tucson and we were

be out in the rain in Tucson and we were driving through cells and three points

driving through cells and three points

driving through cells and three points with with that magical mountain babak

with with that magical mountain babak

with with that magical mountain babak every in the distance and and going

every in the distance and and going

every in the distance and and going through three points in cells and there

through three points in cells and there

through three points in cells and there were there were all these crosses on the

were there were all these crosses on the

were there were all these crosses on the road as you as you know and and I

road as you as you know and and I

road as you as you know and and I started thinking about my brother and

started thinking about my brother and

started thinking about my brother and this song came up for me it’s called 41

this song came up for me it’s called 41

this song came up for me it’s called 41 crosses

crosses

crosses [Music]

windshield wipers cutting across my view

windshield wipers cutting across my view I had to turn the headlights on the

I had to turn the headlights on the

I had to turn the headlights on the middle of it afternoon

middle of it afternoon

middle of it afternoon there ain’t no other cars around driving

there ain’t no other cars around driving

there ain’t no other cars around driving through the desert with my windows down

through the desert with my windows down

through the desert with my windows down I saw funny one crosses on the road to

I saw funny one crosses on the road to

I saw funny one crosses on the road to cells

cells

cells rain jabs dripping off all church bells

it looks like this road my never in the

it looks like this road my never in the world or sometimes

and there were flowers growing I’ll on

and there were flowers growing I’ll on the road lots of beautiful horses with

the road lots of beautiful horses with

the road lots of beautiful horses with the heads down low and over on the

the heads down low and over on the

the heads down low and over on the mountain I saw a rainbow

mountain I saw a rainbow

mountain I saw a rainbow [Music]

[Music]

[Music] reminds me we just help best goes by and

reminds me we just help best goes by and

reminds me we just help best goes by and I saw funny one crosses on the road to

I saw funny one crosses on the road to

I saw funny one crosses on the road to sales

sales

sales rain drops to me

rain drops to me

rain drops to me church bells it looks like this road my

church bells it looks like this road my

church bells it looks like this road my never in 04 sometimes

[Music]

[Music] I thought about my lovely wife

I thought about my lovely wife

I thought about my lovely wife home where we live watching a son grow

home where we live watching a son grow

home where we live watching a son grow up from being just a little kid and I

up from being just a little kid and I

up from being just a little kid and I thought about my brother his flame burn

thought about my brother his flame burn

thought about my brother his flame burn now

never wrote a song

never wrote a song until now

until now

until now [Music]

[Music]

[Music] crosses on the road to self

crosses on the road to self

crosses on the road to self [Music]

[Music]

[Music] teardrops falling in tuition with it

teardrops falling in tuition with it

teardrops falling in tuition with it looks like this room I never give thank

looks like this room I never give thank

looks like this room I never give thank you so thank you very much thanks ted

you so thank you very much thanks ted

you so thank you very much thanks ted talk and Mary and Lynda and everybody

talk and Mary and Lynda and everybody

talk and Mary and Lynda and everybody who put this together thank you so much

who put this together thank you so much

who put this together thank you so much for giving us an opportunity to

for giving us an opportunity to

for giving us an opportunity to celebrate the Tucson sound for me the

celebrate the Tucson sound for me the

celebrate the Tucson sound for me the Tucson sound is the sound of the heart

Tucson sound is the sound of the heart

Tucson sound is the sound of the heart thank you

”

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