Pocket Life

By Corky Mau
December 2021

Beautiful Discovery

Mariachi women get national spotlight

I was thrilled when my talented musician friend, Dinorah Klingler, was invited to perform on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” How did this happen? During Hispanic Heritage Month, Channel 3 reporter Leticia Ordaz interviewed Klingler. The segment caught the attention of Clarkson’s production team.

Soon, Klingler and her all-women musical group, Mariachi Bonitas, were flying to Los Angeles to tape the show. The episode aired in October on the daytime TV program.

“The journey from Sacramento to Universal Studios moved quickly,” Klingler says. “They requested videos of my solo performances and those of Mariachi Bonitas. Clarkson’s team arranged transportation, lodging and meals. A special treat was having my son in the studio audience. Since he drove our outfits and instruments down to Los Angeles, Kelly invited him to watch the taping.”

The group performed a special song Klingler wrote for Mariachi Bonitas. It’s their opening tune at every performance. The song is performed in Spanish, so Clarkson read an English translation to the audience. She was excited to see women break the glass ceiling in a traditional, male-dominated musical genre.

After Klingler explained the cultural importance of mariachi, Clarkson gave a huge compliment: “Dinorah, I could listen to your sultry voice all day long. I’ll see you at the Grammy Awards!”

“What an incredible experience. As a bonus, we met the amazing Rod Stewart and Jamie Lee Curtis,” Klingler says.
The experience left Klingler on a high. A year ago, she was performing free outdoor concerts for Pocket neighbors in the pandemic. Now she’s booked solid. She rolls into 2022 with two dinner-dance shows at the Masonic Temple in February.

Next comes her annual Mariachi Festival de Sacramento in March. Bookings at Naggiar Vineyards in Grass Valley and DOCO’s Polanco Cantina are underway. Mariachi Bonitas will audition for the reality TV show “America’s Got Talent” in March.

Klingler is celebrating 35 years in the music business, a journey that has taken her around the world. To learn more about Dinorah, visit dinorahmusic.com.

POCKET CANAL HOLIDAY LIGHTS

A literal bright spot in our community for the holidays is the Pocket Canal Parkway. Volunteers can help hang this year’s lights Saturday, Dec. 11, at 9 a.m.

“Many volunteers are needed, and I couldn’t do this without the help of Will Cannady,” District Seven Parks Commissioner Devin Lavelle says. If you want to volunteer, email Cannady at pocketlightsvolunteers@gmail.com.

The lighting ceremony takes place at Portuguese Park on Sunday, Dec. 12, from 4:30–5:30 p.m., weather permitting. Donations from the community and support from City Councilmember Rick Jennings bring more lights to the canal each year.

Donations are always appreciated. To help, visit lights.devinlavelle.com. Under “Please select,” choose District Seven Canal Holiday Lights. As Lavelle says, “Let’s light the entire length of the canal this year!”

HOLIDAY SOCCER SKILLS CLINIC

Greenhaven Soccer Club holds its annual Holiday Soccer Skills Clinic on Friday, Dec. 3. Proceeds benefit the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services and Kennedy High School Women’s Soccer Team.

The clinic runs from 6–7:30 p.m. at Kennedy Stadium. Kids 4 to 13 are welcome. For more information, visit greenhavensoccer.com/registration/holiday-clinic.

HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE

Greenhaven Soccer Club is busy this season. The group partners with Councilmember Jennings and the Pocket Greenhaven Community Association to host a Toy Drive Saturday, Dec. 4. The work benefits Outside the Walls, a nonprofit organization helping at-risk families.

The drive-through event will be held in the parking lot of the School of Engineering and Sciences from 2–4 p.m. Toys should be new and unwrapped. Last year, more than 1,155 toys were donated. This year’s goal is 1,500. For more information, email Beth Koster or Robin Ohara at theghsc@gmail.com.

PARTY TIME

Looking for a convenient place to ring in the New Year? Look no further than Elk’s Lodge No 6. The club hosts a prime rib dinner and dance Friday, Dec. 31. Contact the lodge at (916) 422-6666 for tickets.

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.