Ramón “Chunky” Sánchez—¡PRESENTE!

Abstract

On November 5, 2016, hundreds of people convened at the historical landmark of Chicano Park in Barrio Logan, San Diego, to celebrate the life of one of the community’s most revered elders, Ramón “Chunky” Moroyoqui Sánchez. Nuestro querido maestro falleció el día 28 de octubre de 2016. Sánchez, endearingly known as Chunky, was synonymous with Barrio Logan, Chicano Park, Chicano/a music, and San Diego in general. In this city, an auditorium is named in his honor. His image is incorporated in murals. The Chicano comedy troupe Culture Clash developed a vignette about Chunky, and upon his passing the San Diego Chargers’ website featured him in a blog post that included a photo of him with players and cheerleaders. Chunky was also well known beyond the Imperial Valley. The music of Los Alacranes Mojados (the group he started with his brother, Ricardo Sánchez) continues to be embraced in Mexicano/a and Chicano/a communities throughout California and the Southwest. The news of Sánchez’s passing reverberated throughout California like the violent ripples of a pond into which a boulder has been dropped. Ese vato will be missed.