Shepherding, Song, and the Basque Legacy in the Central Valley

Fresno County’s climate and the availability of native grasses has allowed the sheep industry to thrive since the mid-1800s. To skilled Basque sheepmen, herding sheep in this setting was very different than in their native land. In their new country, herders could no longer return home each night; they lived out on the plains with the sheep. It was a lonely business. Pop Laval Collection

Born to Basque immigrants in the Central Valley, Louis Michel Irigaray spent his childhood learning how to care for sheep. It was expected that he would follow in his father’s footsteps and become a shepherd, which he did. But Louis never lost sight of his own American dream: to be a singer. 

As a boy growing up in a sheep camp in the San Joaquin Valley, Louis would sing to the animals. He performed as an amateur in Lemoore, California, until he got his big break: in 1971, Louis was invited to be on the Gary Moore TV show in New York City, and his musical career was launched. 

A Central Valley Native and Basque shepherd, Louis Michel Irigaray would sing as he tended his sheep.  In 1971 he got a big break when he performed on the Gary Moore TV Show in New York City.  Louis recorded several albums, including the one pictured here.

Louis recorded several albums in the 1970s, including The Basque Balladeer, and A Shepherd Sings. He co-wrote a book titled “A Shepherd Watches, a Shepherd Sings: Growing Up a Basque Shepherd in California’s San Joaquin Valley.”

He performed in both English and Basque, and he described for his audiences what it was like to be a shepherd in the valleys and mountains of California. It was an experience shared by many Basque immigrants in our community, and still today, the Basque people and shepherding are intrinsically linked. 

The Basque originated in the Pyrenees Mountains, between France and Spain. They were drawn to California during the Gold Rush, and by the early 1850s, they had established themselves as expert shepherds. The Central Valley’s climate and the availability of native grasses allowed the sheep industry to thrive, and vast ranches were established.  

Fresno County’s climate and the availability of native grasses has allowed the sheep industry to thrive since the mid-1800s. To skilled Basque sheepmen, herding sheep in this setting was very different than in their native land. In their new country, herders could no longer return home each night; they lived out on the plains with the sheep. It was a lonely business. Pop Laval Collection

It was a flourishing industry, but a lonely existence for shepherds, who lived on the plains with their flocks and would be alone for weeks or months at a time. This is why boarding houses, like the Basque Hotel, in Fresno’s Chinatown, became the social center for immigrant sheepherders. They provided a place for Basque people to socialize with other immigrants, speak their native language, and enjoy Basque food and drink. 

The Basque people shaped the Central Valley by sharing their agricultural knowledge and becoming skilled shepherds, raising sheep for both meat and wool and enriching California’s economy. 

Sante Fe Basque Restaurant and Bar Since 1927, Santa Fe Basque has been more than just a restaurant, it served as a lifeline for newly arrived Basque immigrants. Located right across from the Fresno train station, it originally operated as an employment agency and boarding house for newly arrived Basque sheepherders. The owners helped these immigrants find work, medical care, and even provided lodging for children and assisted expectant mothers give birth. Meals were served family-style in the bar area, with hearty dishes like fried chicken and meat stews, recipes still enjoyed today and still served family-style. In 1991, the Santa Fe Hotel was officially entered to the National Register of Historic Places, cementing its status as a significant piece of Fresno’s history.

Learn more about the history of the Basque community in the Central Valley by visiting the Fresno City and County Historical Society website.

This story is part of the Central Valley Community Foundation’s “Sixty Stories That Shaped Us” initiative to help mark 60 years since our founding. We invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone as well as this special place we call home. To learn more, visit us at centralvalleycf.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @centralvalleycf.