Aurora wrote:
I am looking for the music/words to a song called Pancho Claus. I first heard it around 1957. Can anyone help?
Aurora
I’ve read on Mark Guerrero’s site that his father, Lalo Guerrero, wrote Pancho Claus in the 1940’s as a parody of the poem “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Perhaps emailing Mark would be a good place to start looking into this song.
If anyone can help further, please comment below. (I’d also be curious to learn more about the character of Pancho Claus, or is he just a parody too?)
Thanks!
Lisa
This article was posted on Monday, November 12th, 2007 at 8:56 pm and is filed under Children's Songs, Christmas, Christmas Songs, Clement Clarke Moore, Countries & Cultures, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Languages, Mexico, Questions, Readers Questions, Spanish, The Night Before Christmas, USA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
30 Responses to “Does Anyone Know about a Song Called Pancho Claus?”
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November 26th, 2007 at 10:25 am
There’s a cd called Navidad y Pancho Claus by Jose Luis Orozco with the song Pancho Claus that you can buy used on Amazon.
November 29th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Pancho Claus is a song recorded by Lalo Guerrero in the early 60’s and the lyrics are:
Twas the Night before Christmas and all through the casa, mama she was busy preparing the masa to make the tamales for the tamaladas and all the ingredients for the enchiladas. Papa in the front room with all the muchachas was dancing the mambo and doing the cha cha. My brothers and sisters were out in the hall, listening to Elvis singing rock and roll. When all of a sudden there came such a racket, I jumped out of bed and I put on my jacket. I looked out the window and in front of the house, was my old uncle Pedro as drunk as a louse. He ran in the house and he grabbed a guitara and let out a yell “ay ay ay ay” and sang Guadalajara. I was beginning to wonder as I lay there alone, how old Santa Claus was to visit my home. With all of this noise, they would scare him away, when all of a sudden, I hear someone say, “Hah, vamalos, Chucito, arriba! Gordito, Jose! Get up there you bums, or you don’t get no hay!” Then to my wondering eyes did appear, eight cute little donkeys instead of reindeer. They pulled a carreta that was full of toys for all of us good little girls and boys. The fat little driver waved his big sombrero, and said “Merry Christmas, Feliz Ano Nuevo” That means Happy New Year. Then I heard him sing, “I am Santa’s cousin from south of the border. My name’s Pancho Claus and I bring you your order. I hear him exclaim as he drove past the porches, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all Buenos Noches!”
December 1st, 2007 at 12:45 pm
does anyone has the music for this song?
December 29th, 2007 at 8:05 am
In case you haven’t gotten a copy of the original “Pancho Claus” written and recorded by my dad in the mid-50s, the late Lalo Guerrero, I can send you an mp3 of it. Just give me an e mail address and I can do it. You can send your address to me at info@markguerrero.net. Happy holidays!
January 6th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
does anyone have a children’s song about Holi (the Hindu Festival of Colors)?
August 10th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
HI! MY NAME IS ABEL RODRIGUEZ AND I KNOW OF A MODERN VERSION OF A SONG CALLED “PANCHO CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN”.I USE TO BE PART OF A LATIN YOUTH THEATER IN HOUSTON’S EAST SIDE .WE WERE BASED OUT OF A COMMUNITY CENTER CALLED RIPLEY HOUSE.MY DIRECTOR AT THE TIME RICHARD REYES WROTE A POEM BASED OFF “THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.WE WENT IN AND RECORDED THIS IN 1988-89.IT WENT SOMETHING LIKE “TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE XMAS AND ALL THROUGH THE CASA NOT A CREATURE WAS STIRRING. “HEY VATO!QUE PASA?” THE STOCKINGS WERE HUNG BY THE CHIMNEY WITH CARE .WAITIGFOR PANCHO CLAUSE.”HEY LIITLE DUDE HE’LL BE HERE.LOS CHAVELITOS? THEY’RE SNOOZING ,A MA Y A PA YA ETAVEN EN LA CAMA. MOM IN HER NIGHT GOWN. “AAH,TU SABES DAD DONT WHERE PAJAMAS!” THATS THE FIRST PART BUT THERE IS MORE THE I CANT REMEBER AT THE MOMENT. I DID HAVE A RCORDING OF THIS AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER BUT I MISPLACED IT.HOPE YOU FIND WHAT YOUR LOOKING FOR.
December 4th, 2008 at 2:31 am
when I was a little girl I heard this song with a woman. I don’t know her name. Her whole album was of christmas songs. Does anyone know her name?
December 10th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Yeap!! Just what Abel Rodriguez said. Look up PanchoClaus.com with Richard Reyes. Richard is a legend amongs many communities here in the city of Houston. I too, was a part of all the wonderful programs (including ”Pancho Claus”) that Mr. Reyes brought to this city. Que Viva Pancho Claus and Richard Reyes. Lalo Guerrero…thanks for everything! R.I.P.
December 11th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I grew up in Houston Texas and I remember Pancho Clause used to go to the middle school I used to go to Edison Middle School en el barrio Magnolia where my mami still lives, well anyways I remember Pancho Clause used to show up in his Lowrider and Red Zoot Suit with this long cadena, oh yeah at the Ripley house too en el Segundo barrio and give out toys.
Man that dude was firme. I live in East Los Angeles now and I asked my mami if he is still around and she said that there is some clown in a Santa Clause suit.
I remember that song though, may he Rest in Peace.
December 14th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Does anyone have the old record that had the pancho clause song and mamacita donde esta santa clause I would like to have both on mp3
December 22nd, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Irma Garza has / had an album with it. My parents have the LP and I have looked for it for many years with no luck. As a matter of fact, I recorded it on cassette years ago and still listen to that.
December 22nd, 2008 at 6:27 pm
I don’t know how to convert an LP album to MP3. The album is by Irma Garza with Pancho Claus, Mamacity donde esta santa claus, etc. Irma Garza with children are singing various christmas songs. If I knew how to convert it I would.
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:39 am
I would like to set the record straight and clarify what is attributed to me above in the e mail dated Dec. 29, 2007. Here’s the story:
Because someone posted my e mail sent to one individual, many are under the impression that I’m giving out free “Pancho Claus” mp3s to anyone who might ask for one. I never approved that he post my e mail nor did I say I was giving out free mp3s of the song to anyone but that one person. I wouldn’t have enough time or energy to sit at my computer and be able to fulfill all the requests. I also don’t know of any musician who’s in the business of giving out free mp3s. Furthermore, I’m in business with my brother where our dad’s songs are concerned so its not solely up to me to do such a thing. What happened was last Christmas someone e mailed me and said he had been looking for the song and would like to know if I had it available for sale. I wrote him back that I had no way of selling songs individually on mp3 so in the spirit of Christmas, I sent him a free mp3 of the song. He apparently then went on line and posted my e mail giving the impression that I was giving the mp3 away. I began to get many requests for the “free” mp3s from people who saw the e mail. Even though I never said I was giving them out to anyone and everyone, I went ahead and sent out a good number of mp3s last year. This year the requests picked up again in greater numbers. Since I still am not set up to sell individual mp3s I had to figure out what to do. I decided to send them out one more time, which I did today. However, I cannot continue to do this. Hopefully, next year it will be available commercially. Happy holidays!
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:59 am
Hi Mark,
Thanks for writing and sorry for your hassles!
Isn’t there a way you can sell the mp3 through iTunes or Amazon? If you can set it up, feel free to link to it here.
Best wishes and Happy Holidays!
Lisa
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Incidentally, José-Luis Orozco has a version of this song available as mp3 on Amazon and AAC on itunes. it’s called Navidad Y Pancho Claus – vol. 7 http://j.mp/5zjBAq
December 15th, 2009 at 2:25 am
“Pancho Claus” is finally available for download! You can buy it individually or as part of an album called “Pancho Claus & Other Holiday Favorites.” The album has 3 of my dad’s versions of “Pancho Claus”: the original 1956 version, a 1969 version, and a 1981 rendition. You can purchase the 9-song album for only $6.99 at amazon.com, under amazon mp3. It’s also already availalbe at napster.com. We’re still waiting for it to appear on i tunes. That’ll happen any day now. For more info and to go directly to the links that will get you to the pages where it’s available, you can go to my “What’s New” page 1 on my website, http://www.markguerrero.net/new_1.php. Here are direct links to the Amazon and Napster pages where it’s available. Thanks for your interest and support and happy holidays!
December 24th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Hello, for all those still looking for the song, i have found a version of it on itunes for 99cents.The album is called Christmas in New Mexico, by various artists, so im not sure who sings it exactly, but its a really good, modernized version.
Merry christmas!!!
December 22nd, 2011 at 8:19 pm
I happen to have the album with Irma garza. She used sing on tv when we were small. I, and say,I was the one who introduced the album to our school district. They went and purchased over a forty alums, for the bilingual program, presently, I have the original copy. At our family Christmas party, my sister sings Pancho Clause and I play all parts. This album came out about 1969-70.
December 14th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
EVERYONE I HAVE THE MP3 FILES OF THIS MUSIC!!!! My family had the LP. They then converted to cassette tape as a Christmas gift one year. Years later they converted to CD as a Christmas gift to the family, so I quickly converted them to MP3 so they wouldn’t be lost forever.
I’m going to upload them this Christmas season (2012). ASAP. I made a youtube channel.
Go to youtube.com/PosWhy
You could also click my name above which should link you to youtube.
Thanks and happy holidays.
November 21st, 2013 at 7:35 pm
I am interested in a copy of this Album by Irma Garza. We grew up on this and I would love to have it again!
November 28th, 2013 at 9:42 am
the album by Irma Garza couldnt have come out in 1969-70 because we had that album when I was little and wore the heck out of it every Christmas listening to it over and over like everyone else, so it had to have been out early 60’s, maybe even ’59. we lost the album and cover but had a cassette made and eventually made CD copies and this year finally got it transferred to my iphone! so cant wait to go to thanksgiving dinner and start the Christmas season out right! the recording i have is great because i can still hear all the scratches from the needle on our record player and all the technology in the world isnt going to touch this to “fix” the noise!
December 10th, 2013 at 12:16 pm
I would gladly pay to have the album or even a copy by Irma Garza. if anybody has it please either email me bosquez408@yahoo.com or callme (408)784-0705.
thank you,
December 18th, 2013 at 1:41 am
Does anyone have the original album art from Irma garza a album?
I’ve burned the mp3’s provided by poswhy on YouTube to cd’s and would like the art for the cd sleeves
December 7th, 2014 at 1:08 pm
Hello,
Does anyone know what happened to the movement to get the Irma Garza Christmas album. My sisters and I grew up listening to the album, which our mom, unfortunately gave away when we grew older. We have been looking for it ever since. I would really really like 4 copies for me and my sisters.
It is heartwarming that so many of us are looking for this.
Thanks to anyone who can help.
December 14th, 2014 at 7:23 pm
I have a digital copy that I made from the record. It is very old with lots of pops and cracks from the old record. But it is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. I have made copies for my sons. I have not been able to find the record anywhere. Would love a new copy.
December 21st, 2014 at 4:54 pm
I am from Mcallen Texas where Irma Garza’s Mexican Christmas songs were recorded by Falcon Records (store was ARV). Sometime after 1980, I went to the company to ask about getting a new copy of the music since our album also had all the scratch marks. They charged me $80 to reproduce the music to two cassettes (cd’s were not around at the time). Later, we transferred this music to cd’s & mp3’s. Anyway, I went back to check about getting more information on this album. However, ARV closed their company & had sold everything to a company in Mexico. No further information was available to me. I do have a sheet with the Falcon logo & some of the songs provided to me when they reproduced the music from their master disk. Hope this information is helpful.
December 24th, 2014 at 11:33 pm
When I was a boy,there was a poem published in the express~news. Paul Guerra \ Paul Thompson. I really Dont remember. Hey! I was a kid. The family read it and we laughed. Then the grown ups started talking rhetoric of the oppression of the times.
December 3rd, 2015 at 11:12 pm
In 1988 I interviewed Miss Garza for my publication “Mexican American Musicians” (out of print now) I had purchased her Xmas Songs Album which has all the recording which by the way included Pancho Claus and many others. Miss Garza made history since she was the 1st Chicanita to appear on National Television. Read about her if you should find a copy of my publication in your library
December 10th, 2019 at 6:18 pm
I would pay for a copy of Irma Garza’s Christmas Album with Pancho Claus. Contact me at coachchavez@hotmail.com.
August 29th, 2021 at 12:58 pm
Irma Garza passed away last Monday at 76 years old. I knew her for many years , but never knew about the song Pancho Claus. Sounds fun. Leave a note if you are interested and I could put you in touch with her daughter.