Abel de Luna | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 July 1946 |
| Alma mater | Colegio Comercial Pérez (Cd. Juárez, Chihuahua) |
| Occupations | |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 5 |
| Mayor of Healdsburg, California | |
| In office 1978–1980 | |
| Healdsburg City Council Member | |
| In office 1976–1978 | |
Abel de Luna (born July 27,1946,in Colonia Modelo,Zacatecas,Mexico) is a Mexican-American entrepreneur,music executive,and former politician. He served as the first Latino mayor of Healdsburg,California. [1] He is also the founder of Luna Music and Moon Broadcasting,and continues to promote regional Mexican music across the United States. [2]
In 1976,de Luna was elected to the Healdsburg City Council,and then was appointed mayor in 1978,becoming the first Latino and youngest person to hold the position in the city's history. [3] During his tenure (1978–1980),he championed infrastructure projects including a new wastewater system,public swimming pool,police training programs,and increased access to Spanish-language television for the community. [2] [4]
In 2025,the City of Healdsburg officially renamed its Community Center the “Abel de Luna Community Center”in recognition of his civic contributions. [1] [5]
Abel de Luna is the co-founder and treasurer [6] of Promotores Unidos USA,an organization that promotes regional Mexican music. [4] In 2025, Billboard cited de Luna's long-time role in the U.S. regional Mexican concert market in a business report on how immigration crackdowns have affected Latin music. The piece recalls a 2007 interview where De Luna,then a California-based member of Promotores Unidos,estimated that tightened enforcement accounted for a "20%–25%" drop in his concert promotion business. [7] de Luna also founded the record label Luna Music,an independent label he established to promote regional Mexican artists;and Moon Broadcasting,a radio network broadcasting regional Mexican music,which currently includes the formats La Máquina Musical and La Musikera. [4]
Throughout his career,de Luna has worked with artists such as Arkangel R15, [4] among others. He owns two Spanish language radio stations,KRRS and KZNB. [2]
de Luna founded and operated La Luna Market,a chain of Latino-oriented supermarkets in Napa and Sonoma counties,which became a community hub for immigrant families in Northern California. [8]