Maria Martinez.

July 16, El Cerrito.

Sunday at Norma Quintana's house in Napa. It sits up a steep hill near the country club, a beautiful multi-level home perfectly decorated with photographs and paintings. Among the other guests were another photographer, a Cuban exile who fled to Paris but had to leave France for the United States for fear of the reach of Fidel's long arm, and a singer from Venezuela called Maria Martinez, an under-appreciated talent. She reminded me of my friend Lily, from Peru, she has the same beautiful face and an exquisite soft manner, one of those people who shine like precious stones among the rest of us.
I hope she'll strike gold soon with her singing and touch many more with that rare glow.