Izel Gaye Oral History

Izel Gaye Oral History

Popping (Dance)

Izel Gaye is a 58 year old man that has lived most of his life in Southwest Fresno and became friends with Fresno dance icon Boogaloo Sam Solomon in his early thirties. Izel struggled in his early years with a lack of opportunities in his neighborhood and found himself in a cycle of homelessness and poverty. Once Mr. Gaye became friends with Mr. Solomon, he began to turn his life around through the example of success and the support that Mr. Solomon showed to Izel. The two went on to develop a close friendship as Izel even lived with Mr. Solomon for a period of time. Mr. Gaye appreciates all that Mr. Solomon has done for him over the years and wants to see Boogaloo Sam receive some credit or notoriety in his home town of Fresno Ca.

T.J. Medina (interviewer)

Oral history interview, 1 digitized recording, Straight Outta Fresno, Fresno State University

Digital publisher: Claremont Graduate University

The Valley Public History Initiative: Preserving our Stories holds all rights, title, and interest, including literary rights and copyright, to the oral histories and documents collected as part of Straight Outta Fresno: From Popping to B-boys and B-girls project. Oral history narrators retain the non-exclusive right to copy, use, and publish their oral histories during their lifetimes.

MP3

English

Sound

sof_0026

Fresno (Calif.)

West Fresno (Calif.)