“The Mexican”, a 1972 song that was written and produced by SAE Nashville Audio Technology Department Chair Alan Shacklock and recorded by his band Babe Ruth, was featured in the debut episode of HBO’s boxing documentary “24/7: Cotto vs. Canelo”.
The episode originally aired on November 7 and is currently available for viewing on YouTube and HBO.com.
“I composed ‘The Mexican’ while I was in my last year at the Royal Academy of Music in London where I was studying classical guitar and orchestration, and I put Babe Ruth together to try out my compositions,” says Shacklock. “Our sound was a combination of classical music, Motown, Western film scores, and progressive rock, and we eventually got signed to Harvest Records, which was also the label for Pink Floyd and Electric Light Orchestra. HBO did a great job using the song and their inclusion of it in ‘24/7’ was very flattering.”
Artists that have utilized “The Mexican” in their productions include Jellybean Benitez, Pete Rock, N.E.R.D., Sugar Ray, R. Kelly, The Prodigy, Helloween, Deekline, and Ghostface Killah. The song is regarded by international music critics and historians as being the defining anthem of hip hop culture. It was an essential component of the late 70s and early 80s breakdance scene in the Bronx, New York as a result of its ubiquitous usage by legendary DJs Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, and Kool Herc. In March ’15, a new cover version of “The Mexican” was released on Babygrande Records by Tom Morello (formerly of Rage Against the Machine) and GZA (formerly of The Wu-Tang Clan). The duo performed their version of the song on NBC’s “The Tonight Show”.
“Alan creates a collaborative learning environment in his classrooms which is exciting for our audio technology students,” says SAE Nashville Campus Director Lynn Dorton. “He also shares the details of his many career highlights with our students, including his continued success with ‘The Mexican’, which gives them a unique and well-rounded glimpse into the life of a rock star and successful music business professional. His expertise and experience are excellent enhancements to our curriculum, and truly valuable for our students’ experiences at SAE.”
About SAE
SAE Institute provides aspiring creative media professionals with a foundation of practical theory and valuable hands-on training in their chosen areas of concentration. Under the guidance of our faculty, which is comprised of working industry professionals, students gain the essential experience they need for entry-level jobs in the entertainment business. Our students are supported in their job searches by SAE’s international network of alumni, many of whom are leaders in the music, film, game arts, and live performance arenas. We offer programs in audio technology across our seven US campuses, along with a music business program at select locations, all fully accredited and focused on preparing students for employment when they graduate. Bachelor’s Degree programs in Animation, Audio, Film, Game Art & Graphic Design are available at the two locations of Ex’pression College, which is owned and operated by SAE Institute Group, Inc. SAE Institute Group, Inc. is a part of Navitas LTD. Learn more at USA.sae.edu.
About Navitas
Navitas is an Australian global education leader, providing pre-university and university programs, English language courses, migrant education and settlement services, creative media education, student recruitment, professional development, and corporate training services to more than 80,000 students across a network of over 100 colleges and campuses in 31 countries. Learn more at Navitas.com.
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