Today we’d like to introduce you to Eduardo Fernandez.
Eduardo, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Originally from Los Angeles, I grew up as a young kid with nothing in the ghettos so growing up I didn’t have much. All I saw was violence and abuse and then our dad left us when we were little, so we grew up without that role model and fell into the gang life and just a bad lifestyle since my mom was a single mom was working two jobs, we really didn’t have anyone to watch us. So that’s just the original beginning of my life and we became who we are.
How I got into the entertainment business:
I started DJing in my early 20s and started doing private parties and clubs in Vegas and Southern Utah. That’s originally how I started in the entertainment business. From there I started bringing Mexican Bandas and promoting my own shows, that’s when I realized I was good at brining people together. From there, we escalated to organizing events eventually into Salt Lake City with the Chicano Rapper niche and the Oldschool and Oldies market and growing from there.
In 2018 I was diagnosed with Stage III cancer and almost died from this, it was to the point I was in a wheelchair and bedridden for months going through chemo and radiation therapy. I nearly died from the surgery and had a near-death experience it was one of the hardest moments in my life everything seemed so dark I didn’t think I was going to make it. In the interim I was fighting a court case in AZ for trafficking so everything was against me at the moment. Shortly after barely surviving the hospital, the judge threw me into prison for 3 years, so I was in the AZ state prison system at the weakest and lowest point in my life I had a feeding tube when they put me in I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to survive in there. But slowly but surely, with the help of my homies, I got back on my feet pushup by pushup until I was healthier and able to walk and take care of myself. I got out last year of October, and ever since I got out, we’ve been putting all our heart and soul into pursuing my dreams of doing shows. We started back up the beginning of this year, bringing The Delfonics for my first show and ever since then, it’s been growing and growing. Now were back in action and everything is blessed, thanks to god. I’ll send you my social media info for reference on what we’ve been doing. I also feel good because we have a program right now called the 16 Bar Challenge we set up to give a child in middle or high school an opportunity to perform and get on a big show in front of a lot of people so it’s good to see we are doing something for the community and giving back. Especially because I know the struggle these inner city kids go through and I feel great to be able to give them a chance to shine and show what they have.
I hope that’s enough detail sorry im not good at writing things out.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Gangs, Lifestyle, Drugs, near death and prison it has not been easy but I always try to see the light at the end of the tunnel and somehow someway know there’s more for me out there I’ve always believed that.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Promoter of our brand, Shorty Events. I also have a lifestyle clothing line called Yerba Empire that we represent but everyone knows me as Shorty Events / Shorty Eventos because we do shows for our community and bring people together. I believe what sets us apart is that I take care of people and make everyone feel welcomed and part of a team and people know when we do shows they’re always packed and good vibes always.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Just being able to make it through all the obstacles we face and prove we are capable. To me, it’s about showing the world and my family that I can do more that what society thought we would, and I’m just proud to be able to show we have the capacity to do it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/ShortyTheOne
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/shortyevents
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/shortypromo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1AIURvnYMFeeAAUzLYkcNQ
Image Credits
#joeoliverphotography
#chriskensingtonphotography
#puredivinephotos
#pachu.lluki.fn
