A NEW INTERNET SITE: THE EAST LA MUSIC EXPERIENCE GOLDEN ERA

 I am pleased to announce that I am part of a new site dedicated to the East Los Music Experience of the :"golden age" 1960-1969.

Here you will find a lot of history, information, photos, memoribilia and music.

Please click here to visit: https://elame.org/

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!! INTENDED SOLELY FOR HISOTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

CHICO MANQUEROS - SUAVE GROOVES SHOW, THE LIVE FROM EAST LOS SHOW AND THE HEAVENLY SOUL SHOW

CATCH THESE FINE SHOWS HOSTED BY CHICO MANQUEROS

LIVE FROM EAST LOS SHOW SATURDAY 9 TO 11 PM PST:

           SUAVE GROOVES SHOW THURSDAYS 6 TO 8 PM PST:

         HEAVENLY SOUL SHOW SUNDAYS FROM 8 TO 10 AM PST:
                   WITH HOST LITTLE WILLIE G

Tune in to check out some fine rolas from: Thee E.L.A. Philharmonic, Joe Jama, Latin Soul Project, Los Cochinos, La Mission Band, Hispanic All-Stars, Jorge Santana, Mestizo, Louie & Lorenzo, Louie Mendez, Lorenzo Martinez, Tropic 2 band, Thee Midniters, Little Willie G., Joe Bataan, Tierra, Easy Company Band, Willie Bobo, Joey Cota, Mirah Miriah Avila, Durand Jones, Sunny Ozuna, Jay Wiggins, Ray Jay & The Eastsiders, Brenda and the Tabulations, Smokey Robinson, Billy Stewart, Broken Hearts, Mayer Hawthorne, Marvin Gaye, The Cause, Los Lobos y mucho mas.

Also many in-studio guests!!

Land Of 1000 Dances - The Rampart Records Complete Singles Collection, by Various Artists

"Something musically vital was happening in East Los Angeles when all-around entertainment guru Eddie Davis' Rampart Records documented the fusion that became the West Coast Eastside Sound. Founded in 1961, Rampart Records is now celebrating its 58th anniversary with this box set collection. Rampart produced music unlike any other -- rock & roll and rhythm and blues, but with a Mexican twist. The singles on this collection are from Rampart's first 17 years, as the sounds changed from doo wop to R&B to garage to funk to disco. Hear East LA's greatest hits from the West Coast's longest running independent record company. Discover the amazing history and super-fine music from the classic Rampart Records catalogue, still going strong after 58 years! Among the gems heard on Land Of 1000 Dances is 'Hector Parts 1 & 2,' a double-barreled, organ-driven instrumental by The Village Callers, which was heard on the soundtrack to Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino's hit summer film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. Other top-flight Rampart acts surveyed include the storming, horn-driven garage soul unit The Blendells, whose cover of Stevie Wonder's single 'La La La La La' is a crate digger classic; R&B foursome The Atlantics, whose lineup included future '70s love man Barry White; soul balladeer Ron Holden; The Soul-jers, the military-garbed duo of former Mixtures vocalists Philip Tucker and Delbert Franklin; Motown-styled vocal quartet The Four Tempos; Latin songstresses Didi Scorzo and Graciela Palafox; and funk/disco pioneers Eastside Connection. Hector Gonzalez, bassist of Eastside Connection, has overseen Rampart's assets since Eddie Davis' death in 1994 and co-produced Land Of 1000 Dances with Michael Minky."

The rip-roaring sound of East Los Angeles’ Chicano rock ’n’ rollers of the ’60s and ’70s receives definitive treatment on Land of 1000 Dances: The Rampart Records Complete Singles Collection, due on November 29, 2019 for independent music retail’s annual Black Friday Record Store Day.

Produced by the independent Los Angeles label Minky Records, the four-CD set, which is being released in a limited edition of 1,000 copies, provides a complete overview of defining Mexican-American rock released in a 30-year period between 1961 and 1991 by Rampart, the small but influential company run by entrepreneur, manager, and producer Eddie Davis.

Minky has previously released single-CD collections devoted to two acts that appeared on Davis’ Linda and Gordo imprints: Stompin’ at the Rainbow by the multi-racial R&B unit The Mixtures and Music Is the Answer by God’s Children, the early ’70s soul/funk unit fronted by East Side vocal legends Little Willie G. (of Thee Midniters) and Lil’ Ray.

But Land of 1000 Dances — the product of nearly a decade of research and production — is the most in-depth overview ever assembled of what is familiarly known as the “West Coast East Side Sound.” The eruptive music that launched a thousand low riders down Whittier Boulevard is chronicled through the story of the music’s most prominent and prolific label.

Eddie Davis, who was previously an aspiring singer and Los Angeles restaurateur (“I cooked a lot of hamburgers to make those records,” he said in 1960), found initial music biz success in 1963 with “Farmer John,” a rowdy live-in-the-studio remake of Don & Dewey’s 1959 R&B hit by the Mexican-American group The Premiers. That local smash was issued under his Faro banner, but Rampart would soon become the principal outlet for his musical discoveries.

In his introductory essay, Luis J. Rodriguez — former poet laureate of Los Angeles and author of the bestselling memoir Always Running — says Rampart was Davis’ “dream … of a Motown for Chicano performers.”

Featured among the collection’s 79 tracks (all pristinely mastered by Mark Wheaton) are the original hits of East L.A.’s breakout band Cannibal & the Headhunters, whose pounding 1965 cover of Chris Kenner’s “Land of 1000 Dances” rose to No. 30 on the American singles chart. The quartet went on to appear as the opening act on The Beatles’ ’65 tour, which included legendary stops at Shea Stadium in New York and the Hollywood Bowl.

Rampart’s dozens of 45s covered a bounty of other great music in a variety of styles, ranging through doo-wop, R&B, and soul into funky instrumentals and garage rock and through funk, disco, and Latin pop. Davis did not restrict himself to signing Chicano performers, and Rampart was also the home of many gifted African-American talents.

Among the gems heard on Land of 1000 Dances is “Hector Parts 1 & 2,” a double-barreled, organ-driven instrumental by the Village Callers, which was heard on the soundtrack to Once Upon a Time … In Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino’s hit summer film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt.

Other top-flight Rampart acts surveyed include the storming, horn-driven garage soul unit The Blendells, whose cover of Stevie Wonder’s single “La La La La La” is a crate digger classic; R&B foursome The Atlantics, whose lineup included future ’70s love man Barry White; soul balladeer Ron Holden; The Soul-jers, the military-garbed duo of former Mixtures vocalists Philip Tucker and Delbert Franklin; Motown-styled vocal quartet the Four Tempos; Latin songstresses Didi Scorzo and Graciela Palafox; and funk/disco pioneers Eastside Connection.

Hector Gonzalez, bassist of Eastside Connection, has overseen Rampart’s assets since Eddie Davis’ death in 1994 and co-produced Land of 1000 Dances with Michael Minky.

Deep background on Rampart’s acts and such behind-the-scenes players as key producer-manager Billy Cardenas is supplied in a thoroughly researched historical essay written by the late Los Angeles critic, journalist, and music historian Don Waller, author of The Motown Story.

The first discography of Rampart’s single releases brings together complete recording information on the label’s 45 rpm output. A special 38-page “Rampart on the Road” portfolio features rare photos and memorabilia of tour and East L.A. appearances by Cannibal & the Headhunters (who are seen in hitherto unpublished snapshots with The Beatles) and other performers.

Today, the legacy of Rampart Records can be heard in the work of such Grammy-winning East L.A.-bred artists as Los Lobos and La Santa Cecilia. Land of 1000 Dances affords the deepest look available at a sound that broke out of the barrio to rule the charts.

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!!

RECOMMENDED LISTENING - GOD'S CHILDREN - MUSIC IS THE ANSWER:THE COMPLETE COLLECTION

EDITORS NOTE: SPECIAL THANKS TO MIKE MINKY OF MINKY RECORDS FOR                                                 RELEASING THIS HISTORICAL COLLECTION OF MUSIC AND                                                   ALLOWING ME TO PREVIEW AND REVIEW IT HERE.

BAND MEMBERS: Little Willie G (Willie Garcia) - Vocals
                                  Lil' Ray (Ray Jimenez) - Vocals
                                  Lydia Amescua - Vocals
                                  Fawn Rymal - Vocals
                                  Stacy Rymal - Vocals

                                  Steve Gutierrez - Drums
                                  Alan D. Flores, Anthony "Beaver" Carroll - Bass
                                  Ray Montisanto - B-3 Organ

STUDIO MUSICIANS - The Wrecking Crew


In order to fully appreciate the message and historical significance of God's Children in relation to the Eastside Sound, a little ground work must be laid.

The late 1960's saw the assassination of some of our country's leaders, an escalated war in Viet Nam, unrest on educational campuses and a search by the youth of a generation to find answers to the questions of how to deal with life and it's daily battles,

The Beatles called out for "Revolution. The Temptaion's said it's a 'Ball Of Confusion" and Sly And The Family Stone asked us to take a "Stand"

The late 1960's also saw the formation of "super groups" like Crosby, Stills And Nash and Blind Faith. The Eastside Sound would form their own "super group" in the cast of God's Children.

In 1971, having previously been members of Thee Midniters, Willie Garcia and Ray Jimenez through a series of telephone conversations both agreed to work on a new project. Li' Ray brought a teenage girl with a big voice, Lydia Amesqua, raised up on the Latino vocal styles of the day, including those of Thee Midniters. It was Amesqua who named the band ("Because , well, we're all God's Children" as she said).

They would add two more female singers, Fawn and Stacy Rymal. Visually the group looked cool with long hair and dressing in the style of the day. So it was three girls and two guys for a total of five singers-a little like a Latino 5th Dimension.

God's Children began to blend doo wop, funk and choreography into a new brand of soulful sound.

Eastside music entrepreneur Eddie Davis booked studio time for God's Children and arranged for a 40-piece orchestra be present at the session. Soon the band was signed to the UNI label for more recording. This time Phil Spector's Wrecking Crew assisted at the sessions.

Two singles were released by Uni, but soon dealing with label hierarchy disillusioned the band members who went their separate ways. Little Willie G would join the progressive Latino rockers Malo. Amesqua continued performing live under the name Lydia Verdugo and ray still works regularly at his East LA studio.

Track 1 "Music Is The Answer"
              The title track composed by Little Willie G is a wah-wah/congas powered rocker. It stands
               as an anthem with the message that no matter what blows life throws at you that through
               music you can clear your mind, speak your mind and unite like minds for a good cause.

Track 2 "It Doesn't Make No Difference"
               This track is a bit of organ-powered garage pop teetering on psychedelia Written and sung
                Lil' Ray "the only thing that matters is what you're doing for yourself today"

Track 3 "If You Ever Go Away"
               Written by Lil' Ray and sung soulfully by Lydia Amescua could have been another single
               release. This version was recorded with the East LA band.

Track 4 "I Just Wish"
               Written and sung by Lil' Ray and calling for people to get together to make life better

Track 5 "Dream"
               A powerful spiritual ballad written and sung by Willie and Ray

Track 6 "Brown Baby"
               Written by Wilbert Wade and recorded by Willie G. It was released as a single in 1970 on                     the Gordo label. (Gordo 702). Backing vocals on this song were done by the Salas Brothers.

Track 7 "Hey Does Somebody Care"
               The A-side of the first Uni single recorded by God's Children. It became the theme song for
               the television series "Matt Lincoln" This track features the dueling voices of both Willie G
               and Lil' Ray and was produced by Eddie Davis and Mario Paniagua. Released in 1971.
               (Uni 55266).

The B-side of the Uni single is "Lonely Lullaby"

Track 8 "Lonely Lullaby"
               The B-side to the Willie G single "Brown Baby" written by Mario Paniagua and once again                 featuring the backing vocals of the Salas Brothers. (Gordo 702). Released in 1970.

                 
Track 9 "Music Is The Answer"
               Featuring Will G with The Wrecking Crew

Track 10 "Music Is The Answer"
                 Instrumental by The Wrecking Crew

Track 11 "Put Your Head On My Shoulder"
                 Written and recorded by Paul Anka who had a major hit with it in 1959. God's Children
                 recorded it and it was released as the A-side of their second single by Uni in 1971.
                 (Uni 55266). It was a soul group's attempt at a pop song and it failed and probably helped
                 lead the to Willie and the group parting ways.

Track 12 "That's The Way God Planned It"
                 Originally written and recorded by Billy Preston in 1969, Willie G  does an inspiring
                  job on vocals and Uni used it as the B-side to God's Children's second single (Uni 55295)
                 released in 1971.

Track 13 "If You Ever Go Away"
                 Again Lydia Amesqua on vocal but this time backed by the Wrecking Crew.

Track 14 "If You Ever Go Away"
                 Instrumental by The Wrecking Crew


Also available in limited edition brown vinyl  LP

EDITORS NOTE: I highly recommend you pick up this anthology of the first full-length release
                               of these long lost 1971 recording sessions Not only for the historical treasures
                               that they are but also for listening pleasure.


NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!!


SOLELY FOR HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.
       

RECOMMENDED LISTENING - THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS OF LITTLE JULIAN HERRERA

TRACK LIST:

01. Lonely Lonely Nights
02. In Exchange For Your Love
03. Symbol Of Heaven
04. Here In My Arms
05. I Remember Linda
06. True Fine Mama
07. Your Careless Love
08. You Will Cry
09. I Want To Be With You
10. Lonely Lonely Nights (with the Illusions)
11. Lonely Lonely Nights (version 2) (with the Illusions)
12. KRCW's "Little Julian's Secret


Five 45 RPM records comprise the complete works of Little Julian Herrera. Since he is my favorite Eastside singer, I highly recommend this compact disc.

For more information on Little Julian and his music please see my post under EASTSIDE LEGENDS.

Besides the music this from this incredibly talented vocalist, the highlight of this disc is "Little Julian's Secret", a KCRW radio documentary exploring the mysterious life and legend of Little Julian. The documentary is truly fascinating and well worth the price of admission. You may listen to "Unfictional - Little Julian's Secret"
by doing a Google search which KCRW has archived.

Little Julian Herrera was born Ronald Wayne Gregory in Massachusetts to Hungarian Jewish parents and ran away from home ending up in Boyle heights, California. There a Mexican-American family took him in and he used the family's name, Herrera. The name Little Julian came from Don Julian of the meadowlarks who had a hit with "Heaven & Paradise" at the time.

Little Julian met Johnny Otis who asked him to perform in his shows at El Monte Legion Stadium where he became a star attraction. In the summer of 1956 Little Julian would record for Otis' newlt formed Dig label. The session would produce "Lonely, Lonely Nights" and "In Exchange For Your Love" The group backing Little Julian is probably The Premiers who were also on the Dig label. The record would be a big hit locally but would do little elsewhere. In 1957 a follow-up record "Symbol Of Heaven" and "Here In My Arms" was released.

In late 1957 Julian signed with record producer Art Laboe who introduced him to The Tigers, a vocal group from Pomona. They recorded for the Starla label "I Remember Linda" and "True Fine Mama"

The A side was a minor hit in L.A. because Art Laboe plugged it on his radio show. The group appeared as Little Julian herrera & The Tigers in a San Diego theater show but at the end of the show the police came and arrested Julian accusing him of statutory rape. two others were also accused but for some reason the charges against them were dropped leaving only Julian charged. This killed record sales and after a stint in jail he would disappear later to be found at a car wash on National City Blvd and picking string beans on the Otay Mesa.

He once again disappeared and was rediscovered by "Huggy Boy", Dick Hugg in 1963 playing in a nightclub in Tijuana. Huggy Boy got  him back into the studio and released one single on his Essar label with an update version of "Lonely Lonely Nights" and "I Want To Be With You" Of major interest to record collectors, there are two markedly different takes of 'Lonely Lonely Nights"issued on the essar label with identical release numbers for which there is no know explanation. In these recordings Julian was backed by the band from Bellflower-Long Beach area, The Illusions.

After another recording for Emmo Records "Your Careless Love" and "You Will Cry", Julian disappeared into obscurity never to be seen again





NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!!! SOLELY FOR EDUCATIONAL AND HISTORICAL PURPOSES AND FRO LISTENING PLEASURE!!!

RECOMMENDED LISTENING - LIL RAY JIMENEZ "MR SHAKE! SHOUT! & SOUL

It is times like these that I am glad that I still cruise Whittier Boulevard & patronize the businesses in East Los Angeles because that is where I found this compact disc.

I have been hearing for years that a Little Ray Jimenez greatest hits compilation (authorized by Little Ray himself) was in the works but never materialized. I am sure that THIS CD is NOT legit & I don't know who put it out but I am glad I own a copy.

Little Ray is one of the biggest stars & greatest voices of the Eastside Sound. Please see my post EASTSIDE LEGENDS - LITTLE RAY JIMENEZ (entry May 5,2012).

"Mr Shake! Shout! & Soul" is a compilation of Little Ray's Dore, ATCO, Impact, Faro, Warner Brothers & Columbia singles; both A & B sides. Also included are two tracks form the East LA College Rock & Roll Show 1964; "Ooh Baby Baby" and "For Your Love"

For me the highlight is a track entitled "Someday" (Columbia Records). This song does not appear on any Little Ray discographies that I have seen.

I always advise COLLECTORS to seek out the original vinyl but some of these 45's are extremely hard to find such as "My Rainbow" (Dore Records) which is still on my want list. This CD is an Eastside MUST!!

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!!!

 SOLEY FOR EDUCATIONAL & HISTORICAL PURPOSES

RECOMMENDED LISTENING - KRLA EASTSIDE SPECIAL

If you want to hear historical recordings, if you want to learn about great music of all genres or if you  just want music for your listening and dancing pleasure then the East LA Revue is the place for you.
  Steven Chavez, his staff and his fine hosts are keeping the music alive, past and present.

If you hurry you will find listed in the East La Revue Radio section a program that you surely will not want to miss.

  There is a radio documentary which aired on Los Angeles radio station KRLA on July 1, 1983 entitled "Eastside Sound Special". There is great music and interviews with the artists, producers and disc jockeys who helped shaped what we call "The Eastside Sound" The two part special has been edited together for your listening pleasure.

I would like to thank Steven Chavez, the East LA Revue and Rampart Records for sharing this historical broadcast with us. Please sign their guestbook and leave a comment and help support their site. The music and information they share has truly enriched my life and I know it will yours too.

Please follow this link to the East LA Revue site:

http://eastlarevue.com/


NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!!!

Solely for historical, educational & listening pleasure.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING - THE BROWN UNDERGROUND

DJ Silent plays the best in classic R&B, rare & hard-to-find soul, Philly favorites, slow love jams, low rider oldies, Motown and the East & Westside Sounds.

  The tunes Silent plays help me get through my work day and mellow me out in the evening while I'm having my favoite adult beverage.

  Absolutely one of the finest put together stations playing 24/7. Please check it out at:

http://www.brownunderground.com/

RECOMMENDED LISTENING - EAST LA REVUE RADIO

Steven Chavez has put together quite a site dedicated to the preservation and awareness of "THE EASTSIDE SOUND" and its origins in Los Angeles, California.
  He has a fabulous line-up of disc jockeys which include Frankie Firme, the Beto-Man, Chico, Sapo, Ray & Josie Ramos and many more.

  A special added feature to the site is the section called Vinyl Classics where you can hear rare & out-of-print vinyl LP's.

  Please check it out at:

http://eastlarevue.com/