Street Show
Musician brings stage home during shutdown
By Corky Mau
July 2020
What can performers do during a lockdown when they can’t reach a live audience? Dinorah Klingler, who simply goes by Dinorah, set up a stage in front of her Pocket home.
For three months, the popular Latina musician and producer of regional mariachi festivals has entertained neighbors and friends. Once a week, her cul-de-sac comes alive with joyful singing and dancing in the street—all with social distancing. Count me as a fan.
When shelter-in-place orders began, Dinorah canceled band gigs at Mango’s Sacramento, plus commitments for weddings and graduation parties. Dates at Miner’s Leap Winery, Brookside Bar & Grill, Vegan Food Festival and Cinco de Mayo Festival were also canceled. For now, the festivals have been rescheduled.
“On a professional level, the past few months have been challenging,” Dinorah says. “In addition to canceling our gigs, I also had to reschedule two mariachi festivals that were supposed to take place in March. The new date for our Sacramento festival is July 12 at the Memorial Auditorium. But, this could change, depending on when larger audiences are allowed to gather in our city. In the meantime, I’m trying to bring a little bit of love to those around me.”
Dinorah is an award-winning singer, songwriter and musician. She has performed for audiences throughout the U.S. and Mexico for more than 30 years. Since 2012, she has won three local Sammies awards. Of these, two (2016 and 2017) were for World Music Artist of the Year.
Dinorah sings in five languages—English, French, Italian, Greek and Spanish. She sings flamenco, bolero, blues, jazz, mariachi, salsa, cumbia, merengue, funk and rock. She’s performed with Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, Mariachi Vargas, Mariachi Sol de Mexico, Celia Cruz and others. She’s been featured on Good Day Sacramento and Capital Public Radio’s Insight with Beth Ruyak.
Born and raised in Mexico City, Dinorah grew up in a musical household. “We listened to the Radio Universal station all day long. My parents weren’t classically trained, but they taught us to embrace music,” she says.
While her parents were at work, she and her sister would roam the streets and subways in Mexico City, singing to whoever would listen. “We were so happy when people gave us money to sing.”
In 1996, she moved to the United States with her young children and then-husband, a medical student. After stops in Michigan and Colorado, she landed in Los Angeles and formed Los Alondres, the city’s first all-female mariachi band.
After a long career in show business, Dinorah knows her industry is anything but stable. The coronavirus shutdown has made life even more challenging for entertainers.
“I think musicians will be the last consideration as businesses begin to reopen, unless there is outdoor space to accommodate entertainment,” she says. “I will continue to play as a solo artist—be it at my home or in other neighborhoods. I’ll also continue streaming live on my Facebook page.”
The luckiest person is her husband Mark Klingler. “I’m entertained all day long,” he says. “Dinorah wakes up singing. She sings when she cooks and works in the yard. It’s fun to watch everyone dance in the streets and sometimes sing along with her. We have great neighbors and I think these weekly gatherings has brought us all closer.”
To learn more about Dinorah or have her sing for your neighbors, visit dinorahmusic.com or her Facebook page, Dinorah Entertainment.
CURBSIDE LIBRARY SERVICE
Curbside service for library materials is now available at the Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library. Patrons must make an appointment, which are available Tuesdays through Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m. For information, visit saclibrary.org.
EVENT CANCELLATIONS
Due to coronavirus restrictions on large public gatherings, several July events are canceled: Fourth of July Pocket Parade, Matsuyama Fun Run and Trucks & Such at Garcia Bend Park (Friday nights).
Weekly Jazz in July concerts may take place online. For information, contact Henry Adkisson at (916) 808-7192 or hadkisson@cityofsacramento.org.
Corky Mau can be reached at corky.sue50@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
