Basque ethnic communities of the world have benefited from the
many musicians who have dedicated their lives to learning and
teaching the art of playing Basque musical instruments, as well
as playing Basque music on classical instruments. In theories of
ethnic identity maintenance, we often find that music and dance
serve as ethnicity markers for latter generation ethnics
attempting to preserve aspects of their group distinctiveness.
Utilizing the example of one of these musicians in Idaho, Jim
"Jimmy" Jausoro, this article will demonstrate the significance
of his music to Basque culture in the American West. Jim Jausoro
was born in 1921 in Nampa, Idaho to Tomasa Mallea (Ereño,
Bizkaia) and Tomás Jausoro (Gipuzkoa). His neighborhood was
predominantly Basque with Basque families on both sides of the
street. The Jausoro family operated a boarding house, the
Spanish Hotel, and had as many as thirty sheepherders that his
mother Tomasa cared for and fed at any one time. The length of
time that each herder stayed a