Liner Notes from New Crosno CD tribute
Liner Notes from CD
Steve Crosno Day At The El PasoCounty Coliseum - July 9, 1967
Steve Crosno Day At The El PasoCounty Coliseum - July 9, 1967
CD available for sale Saturday September 3, 2005 - $14.99 minimum donation
The CD reissue includes a 6-panel folded insert with the original double LP artwork. Meticulously included are 37 black & white photos of the original event. The following liner notes by George Reynoso give the consumer an in-depth look at the background behind the event, the new recording and the honoree.
Congratulations! Up to now, Steve Crosno Day At The El PasoCounty Coliseum - July 9, 1967, had been one of the rarest ever local recordings to obtain.
I was fortunate enough to acquire an un-played copy of the double LP many years ago. Since then, I have been asked and even hounded many times for copies. A fanatical LP collector once offered me $200 for my copy, but fortunately I held out and now many others can enjoy that historic day in El Paso, a day when 7 of the hottest rhythm and blues bands in the area got together under one roof.
The project was coordinated and produced by the late Bernard Tanchester, a local media personality and entrepreneur at that time, who recognized early-on the talent and impact of the now legendary Steve Crosno. He had the foresight to contract the area’s audio specialist, the Howell Company, to record the event. Unfortunately, the rush job and technology limitations of the time resulted in a raw and a less-than-perfect recording. Fortunately, my good friend, Shannon Lynn from Little Rock, Arkansas, a nationally-recognized audio restoration technician agreed to tackle the job of re-mastering the original LP with the latest technological software available. As I expected, the end-result is that the quality of this CD is far superior to the original LP recording.
The Honoree
Nineteen-year-old Steve Crosno migrated to El Paso, Texas, from his home town of Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1959. By the early 60’s his distinctive character and unique brand of irreverent and self-deprecating humor would endear him to a community that would make him a lifelong local hero and icon. The use of “tracks” (pre-recorded dialog) from TV shows and other audio sources was Crosno’s trademark. His comedic genius and impeccable timing would allow him to create seamless conversation with characters on a piece of tape. The skits were hysterical and his audiences loved it! His antics and persona would transcend the conventional hit-music format. He routinely discovered hit songs from obscure artists, many of which continue to be requested today.
But Crosno had a larger contribution to the social and cultural evolution of his adopted bi-cultural city on the border. He broke new ground and challenged the status-quo by occasionally airing Spanish language songs or Hispanic artists, unlike any other TOP-40 or rock & roll radio station at that time. As Crosno likes to say … “All I did was find out what the listeners wanted to hear, and I played it!” Crosno bypassed opportunities to take his talent elsewhere and stayed in the El Paso/ Juarez / Las Cruces area for the remainder of his career. Through the 70’s & 80’s Crosno would choose to remain close at hand to his loyal fans working at a number of broadcast operations including X-ROK 80, 93-Z, B-94 FM, KBNA, La Cliente, and 101 Gold Las Cruces.
To Crosno it has always been about his fans and followers. It is impossible to list the countless benefits & personal appearances at which Crosno returned their loyalty and always generously gave his time. No one living in El Paso at the time can say they weren’t touched in some way by Crosno on radio, TV, or at a public event. It’s especially fitting that nearly 40 years later, the fans can in some small way give back to a man who so unselfishly has given so much of himself. All net proceeds from the sale of this CD project will go to Steve Crosno himself. Thank you Steve for the music, the laughs, and the memories!
George Reynoso
All That Music – July 2005
The CD reissue includes a 6-panel folded insert with the original double LP artwork. Meticulously included are 37 black & white photos of the original event. The following liner notes by George Reynoso give the consumer an in-depth look at the background behind the event, the new recording and the honoree.
Congratulations! Up to now, Steve Crosno Day At The El PasoCounty Coliseum - July 9, 1967, had been one of the rarest ever local recordings to obtain.
I was fortunate enough to acquire an un-played copy of the double LP many years ago. Since then, I have been asked and even hounded many times for copies. A fanatical LP collector once offered me $200 for my copy, but fortunately I held out and now many others can enjoy that historic day in El Paso, a day when 7 of the hottest rhythm and blues bands in the area got together under one roof.
The project was coordinated and produced by the late Bernard Tanchester, a local media personality and entrepreneur at that time, who recognized early-on the talent and impact of the now legendary Steve Crosno. He had the foresight to contract the area’s audio specialist, the Howell Company, to record the event. Unfortunately, the rush job and technology limitations of the time resulted in a raw and a less-than-perfect recording. Fortunately, my good friend, Shannon Lynn from Little Rock, Arkansas, a nationally-recognized audio restoration technician agreed to tackle the job of re-mastering the original LP with the latest technological software available. As I expected, the end-result is that the quality of this CD is far superior to the original LP recording.
The Honoree
Nineteen-year-old Steve Crosno migrated to El Paso, Texas, from his home town of Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1959. By the early 60’s his distinctive character and unique brand of irreverent and self-deprecating humor would endear him to a community that would make him a lifelong local hero and icon. The use of “tracks” (pre-recorded dialog) from TV shows and other audio sources was Crosno’s trademark. His comedic genius and impeccable timing would allow him to create seamless conversation with characters on a piece of tape. The skits were hysterical and his audiences loved it! His antics and persona would transcend the conventional hit-music format. He routinely discovered hit songs from obscure artists, many of which continue to be requested today.
But Crosno had a larger contribution to the social and cultural evolution of his adopted bi-cultural city on the border. He broke new ground and challenged the status-quo by occasionally airing Spanish language songs or Hispanic artists, unlike any other TOP-40 or rock & roll radio station at that time. As Crosno likes to say … “All I did was find out what the listeners wanted to hear, and I played it!” Crosno bypassed opportunities to take his talent elsewhere and stayed in the El Paso/ Juarez / Las Cruces area for the remainder of his career. Through the 70’s & 80’s Crosno would choose to remain close at hand to his loyal fans working at a number of broadcast operations including X-ROK 80, 93-Z, B-94 FM, KBNA, La Cliente, and 101 Gold Las Cruces.
To Crosno it has always been about his fans and followers. It is impossible to list the countless benefits & personal appearances at which Crosno returned their loyalty and always generously gave his time. No one living in El Paso at the time can say they weren’t touched in some way by Crosno on radio, TV, or at a public event. It’s especially fitting that nearly 40 years later, the fans can in some small way give back to a man who so unselfishly has given so much of himself. All net proceeds from the sale of this CD project will go to Steve Crosno himself. Thank you Steve for the music, the laughs, and the memories!
George Reynoso
All That Music – July 2005
posted by George Reynoso at
8:09 PM
