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Musician And Chicano Rights Activist Ramon 'Chunky' Sanchez Dies At 64

Musician And Chicano Rights Activist Ramon 'Chunky' Sanchez Dies At 64
Musician And Chicano Rights Activist Ramon 'Chunky' Sanchez Dies At 64 GUEST:Paul Espinosa, filmmaker, "The Chunky Film Project, Singing My Way To Freedom"

Musician and Latino political activist Ramon "Chunky" Sanchez has died at age 64.

He died on Friday, said his daughter, Ixcatli Sanchez, in a Facebook post.

Born in Blythe in Riverside County to farmworker parents, Sanchez achieved legendary status in San Diego with his music and advocacy for Chicano rights for more than four decades.

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He attended San Diego State University and co-founded Chicano Park. Sanchez formed the band Los Alacranes and performed at United Farm Worker rallies at the invitation of Cesar Chavez.

In 2008, Sanchez spoke to StoryCorps about growing up in small farming community. At the time, teachers at his school would anglicize the names of Mexican kids.

Logan Heights’ King-Chavez Academy named an auditorium after Sanchez in 2013.

Chunky Sanchez Honored in San Diego & Nationally

Corrected: November 24, 2024 at 6:52 AM PST
CORRECTION: This story previously misstated Sanchez's age.