I MARRIED A DUG DUG
by MARGARET DE LA TORRE WILKEY
ARMANDO NAVA (VOCALS, GUITAR, KEYBOARDS, FLUTE) -- The power behind the Dug Dug's, and any other ventures he gets involved with as well. I remember he was somewhat quiet about things, unless it had to do with the decisions of the band. He walked fast, talked little, smiled a lot. and was one of the nicest guys I have known. He was patient to a fault -- it seemed at times like he was a babysitter instead of a musician! Wasn't too involved with his own kids though. He had enough to worry about with herding up the boys in the band.
He's very close to his mother and sister. I remember meeting his mother on several occasions, she was always very nice to me, always greeted me with a hug. She's also a powerhouse in the business department. Most of the boys in the band for some reason didn't seem to appreciate this relationship, but I saw it as only helpful. Armando drove the boys to Mexico City in an old car in 1966, got them in a hotel, and made appointments for them to see the right people in thr music business. He was very clean and easy to live with. Never gave anybody any trouble.
GENARO GARCIA (RHYTHM GUITAR) -- What a great guitar player. He could play anything, blues, rock, country, Mexican favorites, and he did it all by just listening to a record and then just taking off. He was a brilliant musician with a great sense of humor, always clowning around. I truly don't think he took anything too seriously -- unfortunately, not even the band! Genaro loved guitars and girls and was known for some great talents in both departments!
He was a carefree individual, who more or less kept to himself, or the woman of the day. Sometimes I would sit and listen to him play accoustically. I would mention a song and he would play it for me, or at least try. We actually dated for a while after the band and Jorge and I broke up. But music really was his only love. I miss his smile and carefree attitude.
GUSTAVO GARAIZAR (LEAD GUITAR) -- A total loner. He didn't have much to say to anybody. Just got up onstage and played his songs, smoked his cigarettes, drank some, and then took off. At home, he was very elusive. I know he had a girlfriend, but he was a very private person. He was from Tijuana. He was very good looking, somewhat like a Johnny Depp type! Nice guy, never caused any problems for anyone. I do remeber him getting into a fist fight one night, but I think he was just a bit drunk that night. Don't know what happened to him.
JORGE LUJAN (DRUMS) -- Jorge was also from Durango, and he and Armando are cousins. He was a very quiet person who had a sweet baby face (still does -- with gray hair!). Very nice person. Not one of your better drummers, but he loved what he did. Also played drums for the Tijuana Five for awhile. Believe it or not, he was also a Jehovah's Witness! This took up most of his time outside the band, and sometimes he would leave the band to go witnessing, and they'd have to find someone to take his place for awhile.
He was married to my best friend Diane for about six years. They have 2 beautiful daughters, Gina and Tami. He is also a grandfather to one little girl. When he was married to Diane, she wouldn't let him play his drums. I felt so sad for him. He became a car salemen in the United States. and then owned a small car lot near the border. He would come and visit me and the kids whenever possible. He really loved my son Jorgie and still asks about him. I loved Jorge L. like a brother, and he was sweet, kind and always good to me. He's now with his third wife and they have a 2 year old son. He lives in Tijuana and owns a shopping center. He still plays drums on occasion, and in fact he went back to Durango 2 years ago to jam with Jorge D. on some Beatles' Sgt. Pepper tunes! He seems to be finally happy.
JORGE DE LA TORRE (LEAD VOCALS) -- Good singer, loved his job, loved to perform in front of people. always had a good time. Had a very very deep speaking voice. His onstage singing voice was more like a Joe Cocker or Stevie Ray Vaughn type -- very raw, but good. Played the tambourine, and also played a little guitar. Was short, but full of energy, always on the go. He loved Armando like a brother, but also resented the fact that Armando made most of the decisions. Jorge was a clown, loved to tease. He had a great smile and he was very easy to fall in love with. He was from a very large family in Durango, 13 brothers and sisters, and he loved them all very much. He would make me recite thier names in order, and would throw his head back and laugh.
In the beginning things were very exciting. He made everything seem so special. He loved going to Mexico City and recording and making a film. He loved it all. He is now living back in Durango, and is singing in a blues band (El Vagon de Blues), perfect for his voice. I would love to hear some of his new songs, but I will probably never get to see him again. He married a girl named Linda after our relationship broke up, they didn't last very long. She was a very hard kind of person, very pretty, but very rough around the edges. They have a son named Raphael. He lives near me in San Diego, but I don't know where.
Jorge was also with a girl named Christine for awhile here in the states, and she actually lived down the street from me and I didn't know it for some time! Then he came down and visited the kids one day, brought them gifts, and that was the last time we saw him The childfren were about 9 and 10 at the time. Jorge is where he wants to be, with his family and back home where he feels most comfortable. I believe that deep down inside, he is probably not very happy, but I wish him only the best.
RAY "TIZOC" LOPEZ (DRUMS, replaced Jorge Lujan when he was witnessing)-- Very funny. Was very dark-skinned and always getting teased about that. The boys in the band loved to call him names, all in good faith though. He spoke English, and was also from Tijuana. I went to visit his mom once in the hills of Tijuana, in Colonia Pancho Villa. There she was in a hut, with a dirt floor, beans cooking on a Coleman stove, singing a song. I will never forget watching that women, thinking how happy she seemed. She even swept the dirt floors. What a beautiful person she was. They had no running water and no toilet facilities, juat one outhouse for about 30 families. They all lived on the side of this hill in these huts. It was clean, but very crude. Tizoc was married to a friend of mine for awhile. When they broke up she moved to Florida with their 2 baby boys. He was a great roommate. Never seemed to take things too seriously and was grateful for everything. He finally left Mexico City and went back to Tijuana.
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