M Y

C U L T U R A L
I D E N T I T Y

LUIS MENDEZ
 Origins

Born and raised in El Paso, Texas.

I lived in El Paso, Texas from

1984 to 1990. My parents
would shop for groceries and
see doctors in Juarez.
Extended family lived in both
Juarez and El Paso.
Chihuahuan Desert, feels like home

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Mendez y Penrod
Son of Manuel and Gloria Mendez
Youngest brother of Manny, Tony and Adrian
Uncle of Nicholas and Savannah
Husband of Jessica Penrod
Father of Maximiliano and Samuel

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 Familia Mendez
Durango, Mexico

My Tia Mina is the

18-month-old, front
and center. My Tio
Chencho is the little
boy on the right
next to her.

With my dad in
El Paso, 1985
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 Growing up in El Paso

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 Timeline of Major Events
¾ of my grandparents passed
away before I was born. My
abuela Mercedes Chavez is Maximiliano Marcelo
my family's matriarch until born 8/1/15. Samuel
Graduated High School and began to work
her passing in 1998. in the construction industry with my dad. Augustus born
12/26/2019.

1984 1990 2002 2008   2015/2019 

Moved from El Paso, Texas to Las

Vegas, Nevada. I attended Rex Bell Marry my wife
Elementary briefly until my parents Jessica Penrod,
bought a house in Henderson. honeymoon in
Maui, Hawaii .

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 Early Influences

Mexican
• Raised bilingual - Spanish predominate
language spoken at home
• Very large families with several aunts and
uncles on both sides
• Devoutly Catholic
• First generation immigrant
• Construction working Father with tireless
work ethic, infinitely patient house Mother
• Ever present Mariachi bands at family
gatherings
American
• Older brothers played together in a
heavy metal band
• Spoke almost exclusively in English
with brothers / friends
• Extended family members active in
Military deployed to Persian Gulf for
Operation Desert Storm
• Diverse group of friends growing up
in Las Vegas

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 Work History
•2002 – 2006 Worked with father at
Dayton Construction
• 2006 – 2015 Worked as a food server at
the Hard Rock Café Las Vegas
•2015-2020 Worked as a food server at
Yardbird Southern Table & Bar
•2021 – Currently employed at Gaia
Flowers
•2002 – 2021 – Professional recording /
touring / performing drummer

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 A Drummer’s Life

I started playing the drums when I was in 6th grade and 25

years later, I’ve never taken a break. Drumming has been my
main source of exercise and income and I feel extremely
grateful to have met and worked with so many amazing
musicians and producers. I have traveled across the country
with a variety of bands. It has been central to many of my life
experiences.

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Ethics
Principles and
values
 Philosophy and Worldview

Dudeism Drumming Entheogenesis

• Practicing Dudeist Priest, • Ultimate connection to Human • Spiritual / Mystical experiences
ordained in 2008 origin – mother’s pulsing heartbeat courtesy of psychoactive
• Rhythms / cycles essential to substances
• Agnostic theist.
Nature’s operation • Medicinal plants as evidence of
• Developing ideas concerning the
• Most primitive form of higher intelligence
contradictory nature of humans
communication • Potential for social awakening /
• Evolving theories about balance
• Physically demanding – religious consciousness expansion
and duality
form of exercise • Mysterious origins of human
• Zen / Tao / inspired
• Inspires movement – “Rhythm is spirituality
contemplations
the soul of life” Babtunde Olatunji
• “You can’t fight the flow”

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 Favorite Music

90’s Hip Hop Outlaw Country Funk and Soul Classic Rock and Metal
The Roots Willie Nelson Tower of Power
Black Sabbath
Talib Kweli Waylon Jennings D’angelo
Sturgill Simpson Led Zeppelin
Mos Def Erykah Badu
Deep Purple

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 Favorite Books

Fierce Invalids Home Chariots of the Food of the Gods How to be Idle
From Hot Climate Gods? Terrance McKenna Tom Hodgkinson
Tom Robbins Erich Von Daniken

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 Favorite Movies

Raiders of the Lost Close Encounters of The Big Lebowski Monty Python’s The
Ark the Third Kind Meaning of Life

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 The Future
Short term goals
• Earn my certification to become a
substitute teacher and begin my
career as a professional educator
• Continue practicing and working
as a drummer
• Brew homemade beer
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Lifelong aspirations
• Own a summer home
• Raise my sons to be honorable men
• Continue making music and enjoying
my passion
• Inspire others to make music
• Retire as a professional educator
• Open a brewery
15
 THANK
YOU

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