Venezuelan-Mexican crooner Enrique Guzmán. Photo: Google

By THÉRÈSE MARGOLIS

Venezuelan-Mexican crooner and film star Enrique Guzmán was the headliner of a five-hour rock fest at the Mexico City Arena Sunday, May 7, when he and seven other musical groups for the 1960s thrilled fans with a tribute to the country’s earliest “roqueros” and a nonstop overture of oldies-but-goldies in Spanish.

The 80-year-old Guzmán, who is also the father of Mexican singer Alejandra Guzmán by his former wife, film legend Silvia Pinal, was one of the country’s first rockers, having jettisoned to fame with his Spanish version of Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock” in the late 1950s.

And a plethora of gray-haired and cane-waving fans swaying and dancing in their seats at the Mexico City Arena, which was filled to its full capacity of 20,000, proved that he still had what it takes to thrill an audience.

The all-star lineup at the arena included some of Mexico’s rock-and-roll royalty, such as Roberto Jordán, Los Hermanos Carrión and Hooligans.

Also performing were Los Locos del Ritmo, Los Rebeldes de Rock, Baby Batíz, Los Rocking Devils, Chavos Ruckos and Vero Valdéz.

The concert was presented by Banco Azteca to coincide with Mexico’s Mother’s Day celebration on Wednesday, May 10.

And during Guzman’s performance, there was a surprise for one lucky Banco Azteca client, Steffany V. from Houston, Texas, who won the opportunity to join her mother, whom she had not seen for more than 18 months, with a surprise in-person reunion in front of the entire audience.