Los Lobos’ First Howl

I really enjoyed Luis Torres’ reminiscences about Los Lobos (“How the Wolves Survived,” Aug. 29). He evoked childhood memories with his telling of Elenita Salinas coming into so many Chicano homes via la radio . I too grew up on Chocolate Ibarra and Nestle’s Quik.

Nonetheless, I am also writing regarding a couple of oversights. First, a reader may get the impression that the “yellow album” was the first recording venture by Los Lobos. I happen to own a 1976 LP titled “Si Se Puede,” on the Pan American Records label, which includes Los Lobos del Este de Los Angeles (with Frank Gonzalez) as guest artists. The record is a collection of United Farm Workers’ songs, including Los Lobos’ own arrangement of “Telingo Lingo.”

The other oversight was by the Los Angeles Times in general. The Times was one of the first major newspapers to use the word Chicano . Instrumental in this was former Times reporter Ruben Salazar, who was killed by law enforcement officers on Aug. 29, 1970, as he was sitting in the Silver Dollar Cafe in East L.A. after covering the Chicano Moratorium rally. The 23rd anniversary of his death was allowed to pass unrecognized by The Times!

JUAN CALDERON

Lakewood