Bennie L. Sanchez

SANCHEZ - Mrs. Bennie L. Sanchez, 92, a life long resident of Albuquerque, NM. went home to be with our Lord and Savior on Thursday, January 27, 2011. Her business sense dates back to when she was eight years old selling wood and beans in order to help her parents support the family. Bennie married Jose Margarito Sanchez at the mere age of 15. They were married for over 40 years until his passing in 1979. She still supported her immediate family by selling all kinds of items. Her first real physical business was Bennie’s Grocery store in northern New Mexico. In 1954, Bennie, along with her husband, Jose, played guitar. Bennie taught their firstborn, Albert Nelson Sanchez (Al Hurricane) to play the guitar. Bennie was a very busy mother, nurse, businesswoman, and music entertainer in her early years. Mrs. Bennie L. Sanchez makes her mark as one of the most successful Hispanic businesswomen in New Mexico and in the Southwest Region in the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s through the early 1980’s. She and her sons, Al Hurricane, Tiny Morrie, and Baby Gaby, put New Mexico on the map as a performing arts and music state. While president of Hurricane Enterprises, a music company, Mrs. Bennie L. Sanchez, promoted her sons’ music and, also brought well known music artists to Albuquerque which includes: Chubby Checker, Fats Domino, Ray Charles, Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Grand Funk, Jimmy Hendrix, and Janis Joplin. She also brought the International Mexico Rodeo featuring Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre throughout the 1970’s. Other shows include The Ice Capades, The Royal Lipizzan Horse Show from France, Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus and many more. Mrs. Bennie L. Sanchez is most proud of the acclaimed Elvis Presley Show in 1972. In a 2010 interview with Loanna Miller Parker, former secretary for RCA Records whom was assigned to Elvis 24/7 and was the second widow of the famous Colonel Tom Parker, Loanna states, “The Colonel had such admiration for Mrs. Bennie L. Sanchez because of her tenacity to get Elvis to Albuquerque.” The 1972 Elvis concert was a complete success for both Colonel Parker and Mrs. Bennie L. Sanchez. She was the only independent Hispanic woman promoter Colonel Parker dealt with between 1969 until Elvis’ death. A second concert was going to happen in Albuquerque the same year Elvis died. Her awards are numerous for her outstanding contributions to the state of New Mexico in the music industry. She received the Outstanding Minority Businessperson for 1975. In 1984 she was, also recognized as a Role Model for New Mexico for the Mexican-American Foundation. In 2000, 2002, and 2005 she received other awards for her successes in business. Recently, Mrs. Sanchez received the 2010 Governor’s Award for Outstanding Women for the State of New Mexico. She is proud of her accomplishments and the accomplishments of her renowned musical family. Mrs. Sanchez is preceded in death by her Husband, Jose M. Sanchez; Son, Cornelio Sanchez; granddaughters, Lynnea Sanchez and Anna Marie Flores; Son-in-law, J. Richard Flores; Siblings Rosa Armijo & Guadalupe Lopez. She is survived by her children, Albert “Al Hurricane” Sanchez and his ex-wife Nettie Fleming, Frances A. Flores, Morrie Sanchez and his wife Gloria Pohl Sanchez, Gabe Sanchez and his wife Eleanor; grandchildren, Albert “Al Hurricane, Jr.” Sanchez, Jr., Darlene Rosales and her husband Ruben, Sandra Tinlin and her husband Bill, Jerry “Jerry Dean” Sanchez and his wife Sharlene, Nelson Sanchez and his girlfriend Kelly, Erika Cavalier and her ex-husband Jesse, Danielle Sanchez, Maggie Jean Flores, Charles E. Flores and his wife Maria Raquel, Lorenzo Antonio Sanchez, Veronica Olson and her husband Eric, Rosemarie McKinley, Christine Sanchez, Carolyn Casaus and her husband Richard, Michael Sanchez, Denise Vera and her husband Alberto, Roberta Chavez and her husband Marco, Gabriel Sanchez, Jr. and his wife Itania, Natalie Sanchez, Melanie Gold and her husband Dennis, and Rocky Sanchez and his wife Jennifer; great grandchildren, Samantha Sanchez, Alexis Sanchez, Alyssa Sanchez, Monique Rosales, Roger Rosales, Jessica West, Jared Tinlin, Jason Tinlin, Jeremy Sanchez, Jaselyn Sanchez, Christian Sanchez, Shaylene Sanchez, Daija Cavalier, Kylie Cavalier, Richard P. Chavez-Flores, Fernanda R. Flores, Santiago Casaus, Joaquin Casaus, Cristian Olson, Julian Olson, Nicolas McKinley, Gabe Aristotle Vera, Acacia Chavez, Jaeda Chavez, Tuesday Chavez, Darian Sanchez, Carlos Sanchez, Gabriella Sanchez, Gavin Sanchez, Garrett Sanchez; great-great-grandchildren, Shelby Gibson, Charlize Gibson, Nathan Rosales, Nicia Rosales, Abigail Darling, Melody West; Siblings Mary Jaramillo, Mary Chavez, Lorraine Burleson, Richard Lopez, & Michael Lopez. A visitation will take place at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 5311 Phoenix Ave., NE. Monday, January 31, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary to follow at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. also at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Interment to follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery. Pallbearers are Jerry “Dean” Sanchez, Nelson Sanchez, Charles Flores, Lorenzo Antonio, Gabriel Sanchez, Jr., Rocky Sanchez. Honorary Pallbearer is Al “Hurricane” Sanchez, Jr.; Bennie's care has been entrusted to Garcia Mortuary 717 Stover S.W. Albuquerque, NM 87102 505-243-5222