Zozobra will bellow his gloom Friday, Sept. 2 with a new voice. Courtesy/Kiwanis
ZOZOBRA News:
SANTA FE — Listen up! There’s a local, vocal volcano of sound waiting in the wings to create an exciting new listening experience when Zozobra starts bellowing his gloom Friday, Sept. 2!
“The July auditions for the new Voice of Zozobra were simply amazing but choosing a winner from that awesome pool of talent was amazingly difficult!”
Close to 60 individuals –– men, women and children –– shared their vocal chops in two rounds of auditions that proved just how much the local community wants to hear the most infamous villain growl his best!
Kiwanis offers deep gratitude to opera baritone Anthony Michaels-Moore, who generously stepped up to voice Zozobra during the 2020 and 2021 pandemic years, and we wish him all the best on his opera career.
The Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe is thrilled to share the good news that the Honorable William Parnall, a New Mexico native and Division I Judge of the New Mexico 2nd Judicial District Court, is about to take his vocal skills to new heights –– literally –– by using his most villainous voice to bring Santa Fe’s tallest and most iconic grumbler to life.
Introducing Zozobra’s New Voice!
Zozobra’s New Voice Bill Parnall. Courtesy/Kiwanis
Bill Parnall was born and raised in the South Valley in Albuquerque, where he participated in Las Posadas at Christmas under the mentorship of Rita Baca.
Parnall attended Atrisco Elementary school as a child. At 16, he began teaching guitar with Hector Garcia and played twelve string guitar and harmonica in coffee shops while earning his BA degree from UNM. He attended UNM School of Law and became a member of the New Mexico State Bar in 1979.
Parnall was a Public Defender until 1986 when he went into private practice. While in law school, along with dear friends, he started the locally famous country/western and rock and roll band called Lawyers, Guns, and Money. He performed his original songs as lead singer in the band, playing rhythm guitar and harmonica at the Line Camp in Pojoaque, the Golden Inn, the Sundance Saloon, and other local venues from the late seventies to the early nineties.
In the 1980’s, his band performed at the foot of Zozobra. He still plays harmonica with the Incredible Woodpeckers. Parnall was appointed District Court Judge in 2007. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and continues to write songs.
Parnall said that he cares deeply for New Mexico and as a New Mexican, he is humbled by the opportunity to perform as the voice of Zozobra.
Zozobra organizers always want to be prepared in case Zozobra causes havoc, so there are two vocal alternates in the mix who will train with Bill and be onsite at Zozobra 2022 to lend their voices to the monster! Courtesy/Kiwanis
Introducing The Zozobra Voice Alternates!
Zozobra Voice Alternate Elmer ‘Butterfly’ Garcia. Courtesy/Kiwanis
Elmer “Butterfly” Garcia from Ohkay Owingeh/Zuni said, “I have been blessed with a life in the Entertainment business since the age of 3. I’ve been on cups, magazines, billboards, commercials, and movies. I’m an Actor, Model, Drummer, Singer and DJ. I have performed in 38 states across the U.S. including Bill Clinton’s Inauguration, Brazil, Spain, India, Colombia, Mexico and Canada. I love helping our surrounding communities with anything that is a positive and that can better the communities in the long run.”
Zozobra Voice Alternate Evan Galpert. Courtesy/Kiwanis
A native Santa Fean, Evan Galpert is an actor, voice actor, comedian and a founding member of Wayward Comedy in Santa Fe.