José Montalvo

José Luis Montalvo (September 9, 1946 – August 15, 1994) was a Chicano writer, poet, and community activist.

Biography

Early life José Luis Montalvo was born on September 9, 1946, in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, México. He moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1959. He has been described as the People's Poet, performing anywhere from his favorite local bars to universities around the country. Best known for his satirical take on the Texas Sesquicentennial, "What the Sasquash-centennial Means To Me!" (1986). His editor at ViAztlan was Rafael C. Castillo, a prominent writer and mentor to many Chicano writers. Jose at first balked at the massive editorial changes to his poem, but later acquiesced to them after Castillo explained the scope and focus of the poetic changes. The poem led to loss of city grant funding for the Chicano Arts journal, "ViAztlan".

During the 1980s, he became known to the Chicano world as The Black Hat Poet, the bearded Resistol cowboy hat-wearing, beer-drinking poet who wore starched blue jeans and a lizard earring, not the mental picture of what comes to mind when one thinks of a Chicano. Audiences especially enjoyed the humor in his writing and performances.

Death He was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in July 1990 and battled his disease for three years. In addition to receiving traditional medical treatment, he pursued his own alternative treatment regimen consisting of vitamins, herbs, and a vegetarian diet. He died August 15, 1994, at the age of forty-seven.