THE MAESTRO: KING OF THE COWBOY ARTISTS Two Films by Les Blank

SWORN TO THE DRUM: A TRIBUTE TO FRANCISCO AGUABELLA, depicts the Afro-Cuban
drummer and composer, a fixture on the U.S. Latin music scene since the 1950s, honored with the
National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Award in 1992. Known for his vital cinematic
portrayals of roots music and musicians ( The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins, J’ai Ete au
Ba?, Blank captures the tremendous energy and devotion of a man who is literally sworn to the
drum. (35 min.) THE MAESTRO: KING OF THE COWBOY ARTISTS, about Bay Area folk artist
Gerald Gaxiola, aka The Maestro, is a challenging, funny and original.work about an artist who
defies categorization. A flashy character in cowboy suits and self-designed boots, the Maestro
passionately lives by his credo “art is a religion, not a business”. (1995, 54 min.)