EASTSIDE BANDS - RONNIE & THE POMONA CASUALS

                           
Band Members:

Ronnie Duran (lead guitar)
Charles Lett (vocals)
Jimmie Duran (tenor sax)
Robert Foley (baritone sax)
Phillip Duran (drums)
Robert Arroyo (organ) replaced by Les Kalil
Ryan O'Brien (bass)

Ronnie Duran grew up in Pomona, California. At age 13 and encouraged by his uncle Ronnie started playing guitar. The following year Ronnie formed his first band, playing weddings & local dances.

At Damien High School in San Dimas, California, Ronnie would form a group called The Casuals and later their name was changed to The Pomona Casuals.  Ronnie's father called manager/producer Billy Cardenas who after hearing the band got them gigs at the usual Eastside venues. The would play at the Salesian High School Rock & Roll Show in 1964.

Billy took Ronnie & The Pomona Casuals to see Bob Keene at Del-Fi Records. The members were between at ages of 14 and 17 at the time. They recorded at album "Everybody Jerk" for Keene's Donna label (Donna 2112) released in 1964.

This album will be reviewed in the VINYL CLASSICS section.


Once thought to be the group's fist because they are listed as Ronnie D.& The Casuals "I Need Your Lovin"/"When A Clown Settles Down" was released on the RON-EE record label but the date is unknown.  More than likely this is a privately pressed record. Because of the late 1960's sound of the B-Side "When A Clown Settles Down" it probably came after the Donna record releases which ended in 1965. It is exctremely rare and I am looking to upgrade my poor to very poor copy.

                                   

"One Degree South" and "Moe Joe"were released on the Emmy label (E-1019) by Ronnie & The Casuals before adding Pomona to the name in 1963 on Paul Buff's Emmy Label and recorded in Rancho Cucamonga.

Ronnie & The Pomona Casuals' first single on the Donna label was "Casual Blues" and "Swimming At The Rainbow" (Donna 1400) released in 1964.


                       

The groups' second single for the Donna label was "I Wanna Do The Jerk" and "Sloopy" released in 1964 (Donna 1402).

Ronnie & The Pomona Casuals recorded a third single for the Donna label although I have not found it on anyone's discography and is quite a rare piece. "Out Of The Blue" and "Slow Jerk were released probably in 1964 or early 1965 on the Donna label (Donna 1405).

In 1965 Ronnie & The Pomona Casuals would record "Please, Please, Please" and "We're Gonna Do The Freddie" for the Mustang label (Mustang 3005)

The group would become very popular on the Eastside circuit with their "jerk" songs as it was an extremely popular dance in the mid 1960's. They also backed The Sisters (see my EASTSIDE LEGENDS post) on their Del-Fi recordings and Ronnie married one of The Sisters, Rosella Arvisu.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RONNIE & THE POMONA CASUALS PLEASE READ MARK GUERRERO'S GREAT ARTICLE FOUND HERE:

http://www.markguerrero.com/26.php

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!!!!

Solely for historical & educational purposes and for listening pleasure.