The Language of Music.

I found Pedro Vargas playing accordion and singing a gig at the Winery. Though I do not speak or understand Spanish fluently I was drawn to his mild mannerisms, impeccable dress and uniquely passionate voice. Coming from a family of musicians myself, I could tell that we shared the language and love of music, if nothing else. Watching his performance, I tried to conceive a way to approach him. So, with my phone in hand and Google Translate open, I asked him if I could tell his story

During our conversation I learned that Pedro is 72 years of age and was born in Zacatecas Mexico. His father played Violin and it was by growing up listening to his father and uncles that he learned the language and love of music.

Pedro started off playing the guitar but when he wanted to join a band they told him he needed to learn the accordion. He said, “everyone played guitar, there were just too many players”. So learn the accordion he did. He’s been on accordion ever since, for about 52 years he thought. He started with the button accordions, which will only play in one key. After years of carrying around several of these expensive, heavy and large instruments he decided to take his skill further and learn how to play the keyed accordion. So again, learn he did, and he traded in his button accordions for pearl white keyed accordion he is still playing today.

Pedro has six kids and though none of them followed in his footsteps to become musicians, you can see their presence with him in the pristine stickers on his instrument that look as though they were just placed yesterday. He seemed sad to say that he knew they saw how much he suffered. How he tried to make a living and provide for them being a musician. He said he guessed they just did not want to follow that path. In trying to do what he loves for a living Pedro has done many jobs to make ends meet. He’s a car mechanic, a truck driver, construction worker and “the list goes on”.