Bernie Torres was born and raised in Amalia, New Mexico. In 1963, after his family moved to Costilla, he started his own tradition of Dando Los Dias a tradition that dated back hundreds of years. Bernie is married to Gladys Torres. Bernie, Gladys and their kids, Brian and Jeff, also participate in this annual event. Bernie is a very active member of his community in Costilla and owns a successful trucking company.
Interview Date: April 11th, 2021
Interviewer: Chris Arellano
Interview Location: Bernie Torres’ home in Costilla, New Mexico
Topics covered: Bernie’s long history with Los Dias, music, community, local traditions, Costilla, Amalia
This interview is part of Northern New Mexico Music: Past and Present, a project of the nonprofit, Questa Creative Council, dedicated to strengthening community through arts, culture, history, and education. This project is supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts and Taos Community Foundation.