Michelle Hopkins, Richmond News
Published: Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Their love story is as wonderful as the music they perform together.
Pancho and Sal Pace make up the duo, Pancho & Sal, and they take to
the stage during the Steveston Folk Guild concert this Thursday, May 5.
The two met in 1984 in a town square in Cuzco, Peru.
As if pulled out of the pages of a Harlequin romance novel, their
eyes met from across the square, and as they moved towards each other
both knew it was love at first sight. It was also the beginning of a
musical partnership that has spanned the world and has endeared the
couple to many an audience.
Pancho is the lead singer/songwriter/musician and Sal is a
singer/accordion player and instrumentalist, and she quips: "his muse."
"I inspire his songs," she says with a laugh.
Pancho writes in the centuries-old tradition of his Spanish roots and
blends it with folk, country, reggae, Peruvian and Mexican influences.
His words, however, are pure sentiments of love.
"It's a rush of love that inspires my lyrics," explains Pancho. "I
get an image of how I see love, I write them and then the lyrics build
up into a romantic song.
"Or sometimes the song comes in a flash. We will be driving and a
song just pops to my head."
Sal interjects: "It's not necessarily the romantic love that he
writes about but more about his philosophy of life, the positive
aspects, which he writes about with love."
Many, if not most, songs are sung in Spanish; however, Sal shares the
meaning of the songs with the audience. (Pancho speaks French, Italian,
Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish and English).
"Spanish is Pancho's signature, it's his style, and it's also his
mother tongue," says Sal. "Spanish sounds so romantic, it's a seductive
language.
"Even a sad song in Spanish sounds happy."
In fact, that translation motivated a new way to perform some of his
songs.
"I sing some of the translations in English while performing certain
songs and the audience loves it," says Sal.
Their second CD, Cuando Salga La Luna (When the Moon Comes Up) is a
beautiful compilation of 12 songs that make you want to move and sway.
Amongst the pieces is an instrumental song, Otro de Charango, played
with the Charango, the bombo, the cha chas and the shaker. The result is
powerful enough to transport you to Spanish clubs.
Born in Argentina to Italian parents, Pancho began writing poems as a
youngster. In his early 20s, he moved to Europe and began touring as a
troubadour-style musician. He even did a stint performing with gypsies
in the South of France, where he created a new facet of flamenco guitar
and rhythms.
Sal was born in England and raised in Vancouver. She started playing
accordion and clarinet at an early age.
Together for more than two decades now, they are so in tune with each
other they don't even write a song list prior to a concert.
"While we perform one song another expresses itself and we both know
which song the audience will want," says Sal.
They recently returned from a one-year stint in Rome, Italy where
their daughter, Ja Pace, was undergoing treatment for a rare blood
disorder called beta thalassemia. While there they performed at various
venues and restaurants around the city of romance.
It also encouraged new tunes -- some incredibly emotional, given what
they were going through with their daughter.
"In Italy, I did write some songs and I will be singing one or two of
them at the concert, Thursday night," says Pancho, adding they have four
children ranging from 24 to 17. They have produced two CD's and another
compilation of original songs to be released later this year.
"This CD was inspired by a red flamenco guitar," says Pancho. "This
CD will feature music similar to the Gypsy Kings genre."
During Thursday's concert, the duo will perform an eclectic blend of
Latin music from all over South America. Bombos, cha chas, the quena (a
South American flute), guitar and charango are just some of the
instruments you will hear. Join them for an entertaining evening of
tunes sung in Spanish, English and French (with translations).
"We will also revive some beautiful classic Spanish love songs such
as Spanish Eyes, Cielito Lindo and La Paloma," says Sal. "Expect a tour
around the world in around 90 minutes.
"Music feeds the heart, and for us, it's the most enjoyable thing to
bring our music to an audience."
Once again, the Steveston Folk Guild welcomes Pancho & Sal on
Thursday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Murukami Boathouse, Britannia
Heritage Shipyard, 5180 Westwater Dr. For more information, call
604-272-9294 or visit www.stevestonfolk.org. Come and let the music
seduce you.
© Richmond News 2008
Love of music brought them together
It was love at first
sight, 24 long years ago. And today, they are still making
beautiful music together.
Pancho and Sal be
bringing their show to Chilliwack this weekend, as performers at
the Home, Leisure and Outdoor Living Show.
In a telephone
interview, it’s obvious the musicians love each other.
Sal calls her
husband “a charmer with a beautiful voice.”
Pancho
compliments his wife on her ability to learn new instruments.
They pause to let
each other speak. And they have plenty of stories to tell. They
met in Peru, both as travelers. They fell in love immediately, and
continued their travels around the world. Now, they perform “music
you don’t hear everyday,” Pancho says.
They play mostly
in schools, and have played in several around the Chilliwack area.
But their music
crosses generations, proving the appeal of South American music
and folklore. And don’t expect to sit still through the show.
Pancho and Sal
say there is always plenty of dancing, whether that means just a
little shuffle of the feet, or something more. Most of the songs
they play are known to the general public, if not the words then
certainly the beat.
“And we always
give a little bit of translation in the beginning and middle or
end,” Pancho says. “Sometimes we’ll talk a lot, or tell a little
story here or a little story there. It’s not just musical, it’s
more like a whole cultural journey.”
You can catch
Pancho and Sal three times this weekend at Heritage Park. Friday
at 4:30 p.m., Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
