Icon Award : Luis Valdez - Luis Valdez known as the father of Chicano film and theater for his work in film and theater . He is best known for his play “ Zoot Suit ” and his unforgettable and world-renown film La Bamba . Valdez founded El Teatro Campesino ( The Farm Workers ' Theater ) in 1965 . He has written numerous plays , and authored numerous articles and books . His latest anthology Mummified Deer and Other Plays was recently published by Arte Publico Press . He is a founding faculty member of California State University Monterey Bay . He holds honoray doctorates from the University of Rhode Island , the University of South Florida , Cal Arts , the University of Santa Clara and his alma mater , San Jose State University . He was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Theatre at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D . C . A founding member of the California Arts Council , his awards include the Peabody Award ( 1987 ), the Governor ' s Award ( 1990 ), and Mexico ' s prestigious Aguila Azteca Award ( 1994 ), and the Presidential Medal of the Arts ( 2015 ). For more information : elteatrocampesino . com

Icon Award : Los tigres Del Norte - As part of Mexico Day , the festival will award the legendary Mexican American band Los Tigres del Norte with its Icon Award during a special celebration . The band ' s career spans more than 40 years , and they are regarded as " the most influential regional Mexican group " ( Billboard ) and " the genres greatest statesmen " ( New York Times ). Named " Little Tigers " by an immigration official as they traveled across the border in 1968 as young boys , they got their North American break in San Jose , California in the early 1970 ' s . The band is one of the most popular in Norteño Music on both sides of the border . Los Tigres Del Norte are one of Latin Music ’ s leading creative and socially outspoken voices and have won multiple GRAMMY AWARDS and LATIN GRAMMY AWARDS . “ La Puerta Negra ,” “ Golpes en el Corazón ,” and “ De Paisano a Paisano ” are just a few of their hit songs that have resonated with audiences across the United States and Mexico . To date they have sold over 30 million records . For more information : lostigresdelnorte . com / english

20

GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN SPRING 2021 gmhtoday . com