Blanc Image Production celebrates 40 years of business
EL CENTRO – Imperial Valley resident Oscar I. Garcia, owner of and DJ for Blanc Image Productions, celebrated his company’s 40th anniversary on Friday, February 24, at The Vibe Event Center in El Centro.
Blanc Image Productions provides DJ, sound, and lighting services for special events. Garcia says giving back to the community with music is what he’s all about, and that is why the company’s 40th celebration was held.
It’s a way to “give thanks to the community for all their trust in Blanc Image Productions … and for everyone I’ve been able to bless with my talents,” he said.
“I’m not your typical DJ,” Garcia said. “I started as a teenager listening to
‘80’s music and I wanted to transmit that to other people so they can listen to it and dance to it.”
Garcia’s career as a DJ all began with his passion for music. He worked at the formerly well known and well attended The Forum Discoteca club in Mexicali for seven years. He originally recorded with cassette tapes, vinyl, and eventually went digital.
Garcia recounted his time at Imperial Valley College (IVC) in 1987, where he said he got his big break. Ruth Montenegro, a former classmate and ASG President now U.S. district judge, helped get his music heard at IVC. After performing gigs there and in Mexicali, Garcia said Blanc Images took off from there.
“Not only are we celebrating our 40th anniversary, we’re gonna have music … and give back to the community.”
For Blanc Image’s 40th celebration, Garcia used his connections to bring or unite bands from the Imperial Valley and Mexico for the entertainment and contentment of those who attended the event.
A local band by the name of “No Audio” made an appearance at the event, playing ‘80’s music and “Roc en español” (Spanish Rock). Tony Gee, a long time friend of Garcia’s, also provided music and dance lovers with his deejaying skills.
“Anything Box”, a tribute band, also showcased their musical talents for the evening. They played songs from their second album called “Hope,” celebrating the band’s 30-year playing as a musical ensemble. The second largest band in the nation, they are an electronic/synth-pop musical group originally from Paterson, New Jersey, and are now based in Long Beach, California. The band is noted for its melodic, synth-driven dance beats from its early years, as well as its fusion of electronics and guitars which is its current musical focus.
Garcia said other notable bands Blanc Images has brought to the Imperial Valley have been “When in Rome,” “Book of Love,” “Gene Loves Jezebel,” “Red Flag,” and “Cause and Effect.”
A percentage of the proceeds for Blanc Image’s 40th anniversary event will go towards Amigos de Alejandro, Garcia said, which benefits children and teenagers who are struggling with cancer.
Garcia said Blanc Image is requested for weddings, parties, company events, and specific events that give back to the community.
“With my company, I did an event called ‘Bailando por un Sueno’ (Dancing for a Dream). We raised a lot of money for families with teenagers and kids with cancer.”
He said the event grew and the company got a lot of press attention from IVP, Yuma, and some of the local TV stations. Garcia said he did this because of his passion is giving back to the community.
When asked if the company experienced any obstacles during their 40 years, Garcia said “obstacles come from within the own person. We cause our own challenges.”
Garcia said he had to adapt to the world’s ever changing technology, especially going from analog to digital. Though that was challenging for him at first, Garcia said it eventually became something that he liked because he carried less equipment, and the sound quality was better.
He says all of his clients are wonderful, from families to companies.
“I’m always looking to be a better person, not just for myself, but for my clients and for everything that I do,” Garcia said.