Our dear friend and compañero, Antonio Ramirez, who was a co-founder of El Encuentro del Canto Popular and a retired attorney, died suddenly on May 3, 2022. He was 68.
Antonio joined Juan Gonzales, Enrique Ramirez, Bill Martinez, Javier Pacheco and Luis Echevarria in producing the annual Encuentro festival that turns 41 years old in December.
Antonio was also a co-founder-member of the ever popular Chicano political protest quartet, Los Peludos. He was also a co-founding member of the Tex-Mex-Salsa band Los Compas.
The two groups often performed at Encuentro and for El Tecolote benefits.
Antonio’s love for music was evident in the time he spent perfecting his music and his passion for political song that was the heart and soul of Encentro del Popular.
Although he was oftentimes a man of few words, Antonio’s music and his dedication for social justice made him a true champion of our community.
Antonio was born on January 18, 1954 in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico.
At age 10, he moved to East Los Angeles. Antonio graduated from Garfield High School in 1972. He attended UC San Diego for one year and then transferred to UCLA majoring in history. He graduated from UCLA in 1976 with Cum Laude honors.
In 1976, Antonio was accepted into UC Hasting School of Law in San Francisco and he graduated in 1979. During his second year at UC Hastings, Antonio married Edna Jaramillo in 1977 and lived in San Francisco until his death.
While attending Hastings, in 1978, the U.S. Supreme Court declared affirmative action constitutional, but invalidated the use of racial quotas known as the Bakke Decision. This sparked protests that led to the storming of the Admissions Office at UC Hastings, led by Antonio and fellow law student Bill Martinez.
Protests and student walkouts inspired Antonio and his brother Enrique Ramirez, who eventually became an attorney, to start Los Peludos. They performed at numerous Bay Area universities singing their political protest songs.
After graduating from UC Hastings in 1979 with a degree of Juris Doctor, Antonio became an editor for the Commerce Clearing House Publishing Company until he passed the California State Bar in 1981. He joined the San Francisco Law Collective in 1981. Antonio practiced law with his friends Attorney Patrick Guillory, Attorney Paul Harris and Attorney Stan Zaks at the law collective. He left the collective in 1985.
After leaving the collective, Antonio and Patrick opened an office in the Mission District, to serve the Latino community.
In 1985, Antonio helped form another band with Miguel Govea, known as Los Compas, that featured cumbias, Tex Mex and salsa rhythms.
Antonio performed with Los Compas until 1998. Soon thereafter, he retired from practicing law.
Antonio continued to play his musical instruments at home enjoying an occasional performance. He passed his time playing golf with his best golf buddies, Jamon Balberan and Jorge Ramos until his passing.
Antonio is survived by his wife Edna, daughter Marisol Amelia, son Antonio Nahuel, brothers Reynaldo, Enrique, and sister Maria Concepcion. He is predeceased by his parents Agustin Ramirez and Olga Rios Tabares, and brothers Luis, Carlos, and Alberto.
There will be no funeral services, as per Antonio’s wishes, only a memorial service on Saturday, May 21, from 3:30-7 p.m., at Duggan’s Serra Mortuary, 500 Westlake Ave. in Daly City.
Antonio, you were a true cultural ambassador and public servant of our community. You will be sorely missed.
¡Antonio Ramirez, Presente!