'Waila! Making the People Happy' Florence Village's musical Joaquin Brothers featured in new documentary on PBS
Tri Valley Central, April 22, 2009
When filmmaker Daniel Golding, a member of the Quechan Indian Tribe, set out to capture the essence of waila (pronounced "why-la") the social dance music of the Tohono O'odham (Desert People) of Arizona and Sonora, Mexico, he focused on the Joaquin Brothers and their descendants who live in Florence Village, Covered Wells and villages across the Tohono O'odham Nation.
Chicken scratch music inspires Quechan filmmaker
Yuma Daily Sun, April 10, 2009 - 1:51 PM
The story of how O'odam Indian villages took the music of European immigrants and created a tradition all their own will soon by told to the world, thanks to a Quechan filmmaker fascinated with "chicken scratch."
Documentary on Native American polka music debuts on PBS
Indian Country Today, Apr 1, 2009
Among the swaying giant arms of the saguaro cactus and clouds of dust that drift along isolated roads in southern Arizona is a soothing rhythm, a sound so distinct and stimulating that it arouses both the heart and soul.