'Orlando's Song': Father's ballad of joy, family airs on Oxnard radio station

Orlando Gonzalez Estrada, 52, worked hard to establish a relationship with the 5-year-old daughter he never met.

He went to parenting classes and drove from his home in Lompoc to Ventura to spend time with his daughter, America, for two years. His goal was to obtain custody of his daughter and unite his family.

Through a translator, Estrada said with each trip to Ventura, he would think, “It’s getting closer. I don’t know when, but it’s getting closer.”

Thanks to his determination and help from the Ventura County Children & Family Agency, the two now live together. And he wrote a song to celebrate.

“Orlando’s Song” aired Tuesday morning in Oxnard on Radio Lazer, which plays regional Mexican music. It also played on 20 stations throughout California and Nevada owned by Radio Lazer’s parent company, Lazer Media.

The lyrics, written by Estrada in 30 minutes in February 2021, detail the work he put into becoming a part of his daughter’s life and the joy he felt uniting his family. His words are accompanied by corrido-style music by musician Angel Soria.

“His story is an example of the journey many of our families take in our community,” said Arturo Vargas, an administrative specialist with the Children & Family Agency.

Estrada was contacted by the agency more than two years ago because America could no longer live with her mother. The agency declined to state why.

Estrada was willing to take custody of his daughter, but the two didn’t know each other. So the agency facilitated the start of their relationship.

It began with short, supervised visits and grew to weekend-long sleepovers.

On Thanksgiving Day, 2020, America moved in with her father in Lompoc. Now 9 years old, she also lives with her half-siblings Daisy, 14 and Orlando Jr., 6.

Estrada said it wasn’t easy to bring his family together, but it wasn’t impossible.

“Whoever wants to do it, don’t give up,” he said. “Don’t go backward. Go forward.”

To listen to the song, visit the agency's YouTube channel @StrengtheningVCFamilies9294.

Brian J. Varela covers Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Camarillo. He can be reached at brian.varela@vcstar.com or 805-477-8014. You can also find him on Twitter @BrianVarela805.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Oxnard's Radio Lazer airs "Orlando's Song," a father's ballad of family