Deportees with Joel Rafael, Kris Kristofferson, And Graham Nash

January 26, 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the plane wreck at Los Gatos Canyon chronicled so well in Woody Guthrie’s classic song best known as “Deportees.”
Woody heard a report of the crash on the radio in 1948 during which the reporter mentioned the names of the 4 flight crew members but only referred to the other 28 victims, mostly Braceros working on contract here in the U.S., as deportees. The 28 victims were quietly buried in a mass grave in Fresno, CA.
“Plane Wreck at Los Gatos (Deportees)” is one of Woody’s best known and most loved songs and has been covered by countless artists over the years including myself. I’ve been performing the song for my entire adult life.
This recording from a 2012 celebration of Woody’s Centennial at Club Nokia in Los Angeles was filmed and edited and sent to me by my friend Chris Kissinger.
In 2013, my friends, author Tim Z. Hernandez and songwriter Lance Canales had researched and found all the names of the victims and raised enough money to place a beautiful 4’X8’ granite headstone engraved with the names of all of the victims on the mass grave in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Fresno, CA which previously had only a small marker saying 28 Mexican Nationals buried here.
A few days before the 2012 Centennial Show Kris Kristofferson joined the cast and wanted to perform “Deportees” which had already been assigned to me. Even though he is a huge star, he was generous enough to suggest we share verses on my arrangement. The band that came together for this performance was truly amazing and only happens in dream come true. We had Van Dyke Parks on piano, the late great Don Heffington on Drums, dearly departed Rob Wasserman on bass, Greg Leisz on mandolin, and Graham Nash singing harmony on the choruses.

[@rstrell]

Very moving Joel. So beautiful....yet sad.

[@josephlemko3027]

This song is so outstanding it dosen't matter who sings it, as long as it comes from the heart. ❤

[@fetermcblues]

Brilliant !!

[@ispanico30]

Thank You Joel Rafael ♥

[@johnfern]

Love it!

[@privateart]

thank you