Bakersfield College alumna Louie Cruz Beltran will be appearing at the Nile Bar and Grill at 8 p.m. Oct. 8. The Latin jazz musician, who graduated from BC in the 1970s, has performed for audiences all around the world.
Beltran, who was born and raised in Bakersfield, was inspired by his mother to pursue an education and career in music and art.
“My mother was my biggest influence. She was always singing around the house,” Beltran said. Some of his first memories are of his mother singing church hymns and gospel music as she tended to her chores.
When asked when he first knew he wanted to be a musician, Beltran responded jokingly, “In the fetus! Actually around 3 to 4 years old, I remember singing with my mother as she washed dishes and did laundry. That’s when I knew this is what I really want to do.”
While at BC, Beltran was involved with many extracurricular activities including the jazz ensemble, track team and was a very involved member of M.E.Ch.A., even participating in demonstrations led by Cesar Chavez.
After falling in love with the Afro-Cuban beat, Beltran decided to pursue mastering the art of percussion.
In 1978, Beltran joined the group Starrfire and began to tour all over the world.
While discussing the different audiences he encountered on tour, Beltran said, “It’s a wheel of life. Everywhere you go, people are trying to accomplish the same things and facing the same hardships. The only thing that changes is geography.”
Beltran believes that music is a common denominator; something that no matter where you are from or where you have been, you can simply enjoy it.
“My music is derived from my upbringing,” Beltran said. “I am inspired by everyday life, the farm workers and their families, those who struggle with the daily grind and my own relationships and experiences. Everything to me relates to music.”
Once established as a professional musician, Beltran pursued acting, obtaining roles in the television series “Scarecrow and Mrs. King” and in a theater production titled “Corridos.” Beltran recently starred in the 2005 “Mexican Werewolf in Texas.”
After a few years of performing on stage and screen, Beltran went back to his original love, music.
“Acting and performing music are the same. Both require discipline and a performance in front of a crowd.but at the end of the day, I receive more satisfaction playing percussions than anything else,” Beltran said.
“I am finally in a position to do what I want to do and to do what I love, which is make music.”
According to Beltran and his manager, talks are in the works for Beltran to host his own talk show. The show would bring together music, important guests and his personal opinion about important news topics and everyday life.
Beltran’s Oct. 3 show at the Nile on 19th Street in downtown Bakersfield costs $25 for general admission and includes a buffet. It costs $50 for VIP tickets, which includes your own personal server and bottle service. For tickets, call Vallitix at 661-322-5200 or 888-825-5484.