Austin Woman - Patricia Vonne

FREE
October 2006
Vol. V, No. 2
a tribute to
Ann Richards
Nellie Connally
Patricia
Vonne
and
REEL + BROADCAST WOMEN
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Raised in a close-knit family, the shy kid who yearned to perform
followed her heart in a trio of life-transforming decisions. Now finally
back in Texas, with a rising career and a happy marriage to her credit,
the beautiful sister of celebrated film producer Robert Rodriguez has
blossomed into a fearless singer-songwriter, attaining her goals through
persistence and hard-learned lessons.
Shy Kid
The Voice of Vonne
Story by Julie Tereshchuk
Photos by Mary Bruton and Courtesy of Patricia Vonne
RENT FUNNY GIRL AND YOU’LL UNDERSTAND. IN THE 1968 MOVIE,
Barbra Streisand’s character is determined to make it to the
top. At one audition she’s asked if she can roller skate. ‘Can
I roller skate!’ scoffs Streisand – capturing in four words
the bold attitude Patricia Vonne has used to establish her
multi-faceted career, working first in New York’s hard-nosed
modeling scene, then as a commercial actor, and now as an
Austin-based, rising singer/songwriter. And the really cool
thing? Her Streisand-like chutzpah is based on the knowledge that the altogether charming Vonne shines at pretty
much anything she puts her mind to.
She floats into a room – the picture of charm, long limbs
flowing as effortlessly as the soft fabric draping romantically
around her slender 5’10” frame. Her long tresses (a contrast
to the sleek, short style she favored in her New York modeling
days) are casually pulled back, revealing an equally unadorned
smooth-skinned face and hypnotic green eyes.
In reality, she’s all action – persistence personified according
to her sister, actress Angela Zagoren (aka Angela Lanza). “If it
truly matters to her, she won’t stop until she attains her goal.”
Vonne (full name Patricia Vonne Rodriguez) is the fourth
of 10 siblings, who span 18 years and hail from San Antonio’s solid-yet-staid Monte Vista neighborhood.
58 austinwoman • October 2006
The Rodriguez household is one of nurturing care. A first
generation Mexican-American, Cecilio Rodriguez married
his life’s love, Rebecca, a deeply devout El Paso woman. The
young couple struggled financially. However, by working
long days and enduring lengthy separations, they provided
for their children, even sending them to dance classes and
private schools. When he became a traveling salesman, she
went back to school for her nursing degree, choosing the
graveyard shift so she could be home when school let out.
“Their parents sacrificed everything,” explained Vonne’s sister-in-law Elizabeth Avellán.
Yet Vonne and her siblings received much more than financial support. Cecilio and Rebecca raised their children
with “a combination of self-esteem and God-esteem,” explained Avellán. “It was spiritual and emotional support.”
Music was an early passion, instilled by her parents, fanned
by her older brothers and embraced by the adolescent Vonne.
Johnny Reno’s was the first live show she saw in San Antonio. “I was too young to get into the show [alone] but my Dad
took my brother Robert and myself, and it changed my life.”
Until then, a self-proclaimed “shy little girl,” she was fascinated – and inspired – by the confidence of the celebrated
See SHY KID on page 60
Patricia Vonne lets herself go. Vonne is wearing a
1930s Lace Gown from the Boudoir Queen Vintage
Collection with a Boudoir Queen Marie Antoinette
Choker, both available at Boudoir Queen, 5453 Burnet
Road by appointment. All furniture and accessories
available at Back Home Furniture, 4477 S. Lamar in
the Westgate Shopping Center. 512.327.7753. Hair
and makeup by Danielle Rene. Photo by Mary Bruton.
October 2006 • austinwoman 59
Singing Her Praises
From Her Sister-In-Law
Luminary film producer Elizabeth Avellán’s
film credits include El Mariachi, Desperado,
From Dusk Till Dawn, Spy Kids, Shark Boy
and Lava Girl and Sin City. She’s the
mother of five, lives in Austin and is
married to Vonne’s brother Robert.
“Patricia was in high school
when I met her. She’s like a sister
to me. Patricia’s sweetness
is accompanied by so much
determination, backed up with
so much talent. Not only is she
beautiful on the outside, she’s
beautiful on the inside.
She called from Milan, Italy
one time... It was during the first
Gulf War, there was a recession
and people were freaked out about
what was going on. But she made it...
So many people don’t know how to
develop their talents but she’s fearless
when it comes to that.”
From Her Sister
Actress Angela Zagoren (screen name Angela
Lanza). Screen credits include Law and Order, Cosby,
The Perez Family, Desperado, Spy Kids and Spy Kids 2.
“My mom says I prayed Patricia into existence. I was
outnumbered two to one before she came along, and I
was tired of playing boy games. I always thought of her
as a very special gift.”
“Growing up I saw her [in] a modeling contest held at
a local mall. She was a natural... I knew if she wanted to
find modeling success she needed to be in New York.”
“As an actress, if I get rejected, it’s because they
didn’t like my style. For a model, the product being
rejected is absolutely you. So she had to have a much
tougher skin.”
“She still calls me every January 17th – that’s the day
she moved to New York. I save her calls on my phone.
It was a defining moment.”
From Her Muse/Musician
Saxophonist Johnny Reno (a
longtime member of Chris Isaak’s
band), provided crucial early
inspiration for Vonne. He guested
on her tribute track, Sax Maniac.
“I have seen her develop her
skills at performing and songwriting
in a masterful way…I enjoy working
with her and Bobby. Both are very
talented and they make a great
combination on and off stage... She
can rock out one minute and then
drop a very soulful Spanish ballad
with great style and emotional
content back-to-back…If I had a
big record company, I would sign
her in a second.”
60 austinwoman • October 2006
SHY KID from page58
saxophonist. Recently she paid tribute to Reno by
inviting him to play on her second CD, Guitars and
Castanets.
Life-changing moment number two
came at 19 as Vonne headed to New
York, joining Angela there. No hellion, Vonne intended her departure
as a way to relieve some of the
financial pressure on the large
family. And although it was a
tough decision, her ever-supportive parents ultimately
agreed.
As Patricia Rodriguez, she
was carrying a double-edged
sword. Agents at the Hispanic modeling jobs she applied
for expected a dusky, browneyed Latina to show up, not
the light-skinned, green-eyed
beauty Vonne had become (her
mother’s family comes from
Spain, hence her tall, Castilian appearance). Other agencies, seeking
a non-Hispanic look, passed by her
name on their lists. As with so many lessons to come, it was one she quickly learned
– at Angela’s suggestion, dropping Rodriguez to use
only her two first names. Thus Patricia Vonne was
born. “That name saved my life, as I was able to
work and survive,” she recalled.
She soon had her own place (and to this day retains an apartment on the Upper West Side) and is
proud of surviving the world that was such a contrast to the one that she’d known in San Antonio. “I
kept this mantra: ‘I know I can do this. I know I can
do something, whatever it’s going to be.’”
That “something” was ultimately to be a return to
music – one of her earliest passions.
As Vonne advanced, she fulfilled her childhood
dream to travel the world, working in Europe and
Japan. Above all, modeling became lucrative, giving
her the financial stability to experiment with a music
From right,
Vonne, with
her sisters
Elizabeth,
Rebecca,
Angela and
Christina. The
whole family
still gathers
for Christmas,
when the
sisters enjoy
singing carols
in harmony.
career. (Her highlight reel from the New York modeling days includes work with top-notch photographers like Annie Leibowitz and Lois Greenfield.)
Yet before we explore how she became a professional musician, let’s not forget modeling’s hard
knocks. There were tears, disappointments and
hardships: cancelled jobs; men trying to take advantage of young models; working two and three
jobs to survive.
Struggling for independence from the vagaries of
agencies, Vonne headed to Italy. Only able to afford
a one-way ticket, she figured she’d work her way
around Europe to earn her flight back. It took her
six months. “It was terrifying,” she reflected.
Increasingly street smart, Vonne slowly learned to
be her own agent. Outwardly glamorous, her life was a
daily grind of legwork and honest-to-goodness hustle.
Every morning she would head for auditions – sometimes eight a day – just to be sure she got one job.
Yet modeling wasn’t enough, and she began to
evolve her music career. “There’s something about
music, about creating your own and finding your
own voice,” enthused Vonne.
As she began writing songs, the vast city was the
perfect place to experiment. “That’s what I love New
York for – you can fall flat on your face and no one
will know and no one will care!” said Vonne.
The financial breathing room to focus full-time
on her music career came by earning a much-prized
Screen Actors’ Guild Card – the passport to unionset hourly rates, overtime payments and ongoing residual payments for acting jobs (she’s performed in
commercials and movies – her latest acting role was
as Dallas in brother Robert’s movie, Sin City.) “The
SAG card saved me,” explained Vonne.
And what propelled her to Austin and into this
nexus of the music business, to battle it out with the
myriad of wannabe musician moths drawn to the
largest live music lamp of the world? That would be
the third and most significant of Vonne’s life-changing moments: meeting guitarist Robert LaRoche at
New York’s China Club, one of her longtime haunts.
The two went from canoodling to collaboration. “We
never thought we would work together,” explained
Vonne. Married in November 2000, they now perform, write and record together. (The couple formed
independent label Bandolera Records to release
Vonne’s CDs.) “We started really going places when
Bobby joined the band. Because we had each other,
with the same mission, the same passion.”
Vonne is quick to acknowledge the impact of former Virgin recording artist LaRoche on every aspect
of her life. He suggested the move to Austin, returning Vonne to her musical roots and her family, and
providing a vibrant launch pad of live music venues
plus a vast network of contacts.
The pair blew into town in January of 2001. Yet
it wasn’t all smooth sailing, and by early September
they were back in New York. The events of 9/11 were
an epiphany for the couple. “He lost many friends,”
See PATRICIA VONNE on page 62
Left to right:
Married in 2000,
Vonne and Robert
LaRoche perform,
write and record
together. As
Dallas, in Sin City,
Vonne’s latest
motion picture
role. “I’ve acted
in my brother’s
movies since
we were kids.”
Vonne poses for
her austinwoman
photo shoot.
PATRICIA VONNE from page 60
said Vonne, explaining that LaRoche
had worked seven years at the top
of the World Trade Center’s second
tower. “We stopped looking back, and
realized we’d made the right decision
to move to Austin,” recalled Vonne.
“Hitting the ground running” is a
favorite lyric, borne of her work attitude. Buoyed by their fresh re-commitment to Austin, Vonne launched
62 austinwoman • October 2006
herself into the music business, not
only headlining her own band and
understanding the importance of recording her own CD as fast as possible, but also performing with other
established artists. “New York taught
me to be professional and assertive.
Nine o’clock in the morning, start
those phone calls until five o’clock in
the evening, trying to generate gigs
every single day.” Today, she proudly
reels off a lengthy list of major music
names with whom she’s performed,
including Joe Ely, Cyndi Lauper, Del
Castillo, Charlie Sexton and more.
In those early days, her career – and
her confidence – got a major boost
when she landed a gig touring Europe
with long-time standout band Tito
and Tarantula, headed by the incomparable Tito Larriva, a longtime favorite of the older Rodriguez siblings.
As her sister Angela commented,
Vonne “has a natural business sense,”
and she proved that by making full use
of her time on that first tour. She took
along her own press kits and demo
CDs, establishing a network of contacts.
“Always try to network and generate,
because it’s your livelihood,” advised
Vonne. “It’s business – show business!”
Crediting help she received from
the Texas Music Office (providing her a
The Inside Scoop on the
Rodriguez Siblings
Mom & Dad: Cecilio and Rebecca
Rebecca Rodriguez put Vonne first into
gymnastics – hence her supple back – then
switched her into ballet. Vonne earned her
SAG card thanks to an acting assignment to
promote the uber-flexible artists at Cirque
du Soleil. The 5’ 10” Vonne continues her
dance classes today, including flamenco.
The young Rodriguez family regularly
performed at school recitals. Singing
together was an opportunity for the
children to practice their Spanish. Pictured
at bottom from left, back row: Angela,
Cecil, Marcel, Mom, and Dad. From left,
front row: Robert, Patricia, and John.
The Rodriguez’s raised ten talented
kids – encouraging each to develop their
own talents. All are making their mark,
many in the entertainment industry.
list of overseas labels and promoters),
and contacts made during the annual
SXSW music industry conference here
in Austin, Vonne now tours overseas
three times a year, supported among
others, by labels in the UK and Holland
(where she hires a rhythm section,
minimizing the cost of transporting
artists across the Atlantic), and tour
bookers in Germany and Switzerland
who work with her stateside agent.
Between her summer and fall 2006
European tours, was it time for Vonne
to lie back and snooze away the heat
of Austin’s late summer? Nope, that’s
just not Vonne. Instead, she filled her
calendar with live performances in and
around Austin, and combined that with
working on her as yet untitled third CD,
scheduled for a spring 2007 release.
Vonne sometimes takes months to
perfect the lyrics of a song, and always
begins with the title. Opening her CD
liner notes is like peeking into a family photo album, as she derives much
of her inspiration from family and
friends, particularly other musicians.
She warmly lauds “the generous spirit
of Joe Ely,” the iconic Texas musician
who gave an early boost to her career
and inspired the song Joe’s Gone Ridin,’ on Guitars and Castanets.
And if she were to write a song about
herself? “It would probably be in Spanish, as I’d want it to be a musical reflection of my heritage,” mused Vonne.
Growing up, the family spoke English,
explained
third-generation
Vonne.
“That’s why I write in Spanish, because I
do not want to lose the language. I want
it to be an important part of my life.”
Angela: Actress
Encouraged Vonne to join her in NYC
at age 19, and also to form her own band
while Vonne was still modeling.
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Cecil: Pharmacist
Vonne penned the song El Cruzado as
a tribute to her “mentor and musical hero
Tito Larriva of the Cruzados,” who she
first heard courtesy of her older brothers’
album collections.
Robert: Director
Vonne’s older brother by 18 months and coowner of above album collection. “My Dad let
him borrow his video camera, and that was the
beginning of Robert’s career...He’s definitely
been an inspiration to me. I’m so proud of him.
He’s got such a visual lock on things.”
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Patricia: Artist
Wanted to be a ballerina like Anna Pavlova as
a child, and then a singer like Maria McKee.
John: Real Estate Agent
Marcel: Documentary film-maker
Cecil, Marcel and I recently took Dad back
home to Rio Grande City. We’re trying to find
the genealogy of our family and Marcel just
let the camera roll. He’s phenomenal. We’d
heard the stories before but because of the
setting they were so much more powerful.”
Elizabeth: Teacher
La Gitana de Trijana is dedicated to
Elizabeth, who lives in Seville, Spain and is
a passionate flamenco dancer.
David: Life Insurance Salesman
Rebecca: Writer
Christina: Recent College Graduate
(costume design)
See VONNE on page 64
October 2006 • austinwoman 63
VONNE from page 63
On the recommendation of Elizabeth
Avellán, Vonne and her husband settled on South Congress, that wide boulevard where South Austin funky meets
bi-coastal chic. With its microcosm of
Austin’s vibrantly hip lifestyle, and destination central for visiting A-listers,
SoCo is a networking dream for Vonne.
She loves strolling up to the Continental Club or across to Jo’s coffee shop
and Pink Salon (years ago, owner Debo-
rah Carter helped Vonne put her first
New York portfolio together). Storied
Mexican restaurant El Sol y la Luna gave
newcomer Vonne her first regular gig.
Vonne opted to live in one of the
new, sparkling, limestone-clad residences which now dot South Congress. With its cool marble interiors,
workout room and pool, it epitomizes
Vonne’s attitude to her career. “Dad
always taught me – you need quality
of life. Don’t settle for anything less.”
Although as independent artists,
there’s “little time to do more than
generate more business,” said Vonne,
she and LaRoche enjoy supporting
live music in Austin. Thirty-something
Vonne also still takes dance classes
as a way to keep her limber body in
shape. As those who have seen her
live performances know, she loves incorporating dance movements. “It’s
like conducting an orchestra,” she explained, describing the process of creating her shows and CDs.
During her NYCMuch of her family is in central
based modeling days,
Vonne assembled an
Texas, which she relishes. “Family has
impressive runway,
always been my number one priorprint and showroom
ity. It has to be.” As for children, for
portfolio. She appeared now “our CDs are our babies,” laughed
in commercials
Vonne, adding that the life of a tourfor national and
ing musician, which typically includes
international clients
nights with a mere three hours sleep,
including PepsiCo and
can be a challenge to raising a family.
Phillip Morris, and
“I want to be home for the children. I
worked as a stand-in
for Isabella Rossellini, don’t want to get a baby sitter for the
seven weeks of a tour.”
Heidi Klum and
Deciding to have children will be
many others.
another life-changing decision for
Vonne. To date she’s made those
sorts of decisions well. She has turned
tough lessons inward to strengthen
her sweet disposition, transitioning
from a shy girl to a poised woman
whose creative nature and innate talent meld into a unique dramatic onstage persona – part musician, part
dancer. Complete artist.
Patricia Vonne
www.patriciavonne.com
Upcoming Austin Concerts:
October 7th, 9 p.m.
Jovita’s
www.jovitas.com
512.447.7825
November 4th, 10 p.m.
The Continental Club
www.continentalclub.com
512.441.2444
Singer Supported
Like many generous Austin artists, Vonne regularly donates her time to charities and non-profit causes. Here are some of her favorites:
Texas Music Project
www.texasmusicproject.com
GENaustin
www.genaustin.org
Mission: To help strengthen and restore music education in Texas schools.
Mission: To foster healthy selfesteem in girls.
“My father put himself through college with
a music scholarship. He’s from the border,
poorest of the poor. Dirt floors. 11 children
in a one-room house. So it was a miracle that
he ever got out ...TMP also chose Severina,
the song I wrote [with my brother Robert]
about my grandmother – who inspired my
father to play music... It was just amazing
how that all worked out.”
Vonne donated Bandolera to the oriGENal
voice CD, which includes tracks from Sheryl
Crow, Reckless Kelly and Patrice Pike.
64 austinwoman • October 2006
The Susan G. Komen
Breast Cancer Foundation
www.komen.org
National Court Appointed Special
Advocate Association (CASA)
www.nationalcasa.org
Mission: To eradicate breast cancer as
a life-threatening disease by funding
research grants and supporting education, screening and treatment projects in communities around the world.
Mission: To support and promote courtappointed volunteer advocacy for abused
and neglected children so that they
can thrive in safe, permanent homes.
“My grandmother passed away with breast
cancer, and my mother’s a cancer survivor,
so whenever we’re asked to do something
for the Komen Foundation we jump at it.”