Xocoyotzin Herrera, 43, a Chicano history professor, was nominated for a Grammy after he co-produced “Voz y Guitarra” with his father, Fermin Herrera. His sister, Ixya Herrera, is the vocalist on the album.

“It’s a culmination of Mexican folk songs, and I also played rhythm guitar on there throughout the entire album,” Herrera said. “It’s for the most part love songs, because a lot of Mexican songs are.”

Herrera is in his second year teaching full-time at EC. “Prior to starting last year, I was a part-timer, but I worked at different other schools,” he added.

Herrera has been playing music since he was eight years old. He began playing on stage professionally at the age of 13.

He explained that he was inspired by his dad to play music.

“He’s a musician and he taught all his kids how to play,” Herrera said. “Being that I’m his oldest son, I was the first of his children to learn how to play Mexican music. Mexican harp is my first instrument, but I’m a multi-instrumentalist.”

“I play music and I also compose music for film and television and I’ve had certain pieces that have been part of films that have been nominated for Oscars like “Little Miss Sunshine,” he added.

Herrera also plays in a professional musical group called Conjunto Hueyapan. “I also guest perform with major groups throughout California, and I write my own music for film and television,” Herrera added.

Herrera also talked about future solo projects. “I do things on my own. I compose music for film and television with a different label — I get a call once every couple of weeks, once a month — that’s going to keep on going,” he said.

As far as managing his musical and teaching careers go, Herrera said he would not stop teaching, regardless of whatever success his work receives.

“I love teaching, and I love what I teach: Chicano history, Chicano culture, Mexican music and so on, so I don’t think I’ll ever leave. I’m here at Elco for life,” Herrera said.

Herrera continued by saying; “If I get called, and I can catch a flight to New York on say, a Friday and be back by a Sunday, then I’ll do that and be back to work on a Monday. Throughout my life as a musician, I’ve always been doing that, so I know how to balance things and when I can’t do it then I’ll say no and when I can I will.”

Herrera, his father and sister were nominated for “Best Regional Mexican Music Album.”

Herrera’s experience at the Grammy’s was a “glamorous one. I mean it’s the Grammy’s, it’s the biggest honor in the world in terms of commercial music,” he said. “We got to walk the red carpet, we came across a lot of celebrities and executives and so on. Just being there, just the nomination itself is an honor.”

This was the first major event Herrera has ever been to in terms of the caliber of the Grammy’s.

“I have performed as a musician in major events and concert halls, you know, Lincoln Center, New York City, and Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and so forth, but in terms of an awards event, this is the biggest event,” Herrera said.