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Friday, March 30, 2012

EASTSIDE LEGENDS - PAT & LOLLY VEGAS



Candido Albelando Vasquez (Lolly Vegas) and Patrick Morales Vasquez (Pat Vegas) were born in Fresno, California. The brothers were of mixed Yaqui/Shoshone and Mexican descent. They would have a long & storied career and become part of the Eastside/Hollywood scene


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At an early age the singing/guitar playing brothers began their musical careers backing and touring with Jimmy Clanton of "Just A Dream" fame.

In 1961 the brothers relocated to Los Angeles. There they became part of a surf band known as Avantis and released a few records.

"Gypsy Surfer" b/w "Wax 'Em Down" on Chancellor in 1963.







"Surfin Granny" b/w "Do The Surfin Granny" on Regency in 1963






"Phantom Surfer" on Regency in 1964




The brothers would also play with the Routers on the smash hit "Let's Go" in 1962






The Vasquez brothers would also go on to record with the Sharks, the Markets and the Duece Coupes.



The brothers met manager/producer Bumps Blackwell who suggested they change their name to Pat & Lolly Vegas.

In 1963 they recorded "Boom Boom Boom" b/w ?Two Figures (On The Wedding Cake)""


  
You May Listen To Pat & Lolly Vegas "Boom, Boom, Boom" Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm4K3XA31so





 1964, they would record the Eastside classic (and one of my favorites) "Don't You Remember" and "Robot Walk" released on the Apogee label (Apogee 101)




You May Listen To Pat & Lolly Vegas "Don't You Remember" Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAjnv2YxHgg



You May Listen To Pat & Lolly Vegas "Robot Walk" (a great dance craze) Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeAXeSeIcho

Their last record for Apogee would be "Write Me Baby" b/w "Marci-Parsi Quetzal" in 1965






Pat & Lolly would record "Let's Get It On" and "Walk On" for the Mercury label in 1965 (Mercury 72509)







They would become part of the house band, The Shindogs, for the popular TV music show, Shindig.

"Walk On" would be used in the 1967 beach party film, "It's A Bikini World"






Pat & Lolly would perform "Twist & Shout" and "La Bamba" on Shindig in 1964.




Pat & Lolly would perform 'Write Me Baby" on Shindig in 1965.




Bumps Blackwell helped the brothers become the house band at Los Angeles' The Haunted House. In 1966, produced by Leon Russell and Snuff Garrett they would record an album for Mercury entitled "Pat & Lolly Vegas At the Haunted House" (Mercury 21059). The album was a mix of original songs and popular soul covers. I will spotlight this album in the VINYL CLASSICS section.









Pat Vegas would record as a solo artist "That Smile" b/w "The Best Girl In The World in 1961.







Lolly Vegas would record as a solo artist for Audio International "It's Love" b/w "I'm Gonna Say We're Through" in 1961. He is backed by the Starlets & the Downbeats.





Another record which may be Pat and Lolly Vegas  is The Spartans "One More Chance"/"Love Is Strange" Audio International Records, 1961



Written by Pat Vegas, the Spartans were backed by The Downbeats



The flip side "Love Is Strange" is a cover version of the Mickey & Sylvia classic. The song is also backed by The Downbeats and a female group, The Starlets

After being dropped by Mercury, the brothers would take some time off and return to the music scene with the group REDBONE in 1973 and score a major hit with "Come And Get Your Love. Their career with Redbone will be featured when we get into the 1970's Eastside sound

Pat & Lolly Vegas are credited with writing many hit records for other artists. They are true Eastside legends & helped shape the Eastside sound in the early 1960's. 


Lolly Vegas passed away on March 4,2010 in Reseda, California of lung cancer.


NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!!!!!

Solely for historical, educational purposes and for listening pleasure


4 comments:

  1. Legends, RIP Lolly.

    ReplyDelete
  2. These are true rock and roll icons. I love their music. Thank you for this site and honoring them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. this may sound crazy but redbone music makes life worth living the only problem is that once i discovered redbone it seems like all other pop music bores me lolly vegas is the most beautiful human i have ever seen

    ReplyDelete