East L.A. Rocks!

Photos from the Eddie Davis West Coast Eastside Sound Archives (CEMA 117)

These photos are part of the Eddie Davis West Coast Eastside Sound Archives (CEMA 117), Special Collections, UCSB Library. This collection was donated by Hector Gonzalez. He is a record producer, musician, award winning sound engineer and current owner of Rampart Records. Gonzalez has a first hand view of the vibrant music scene in East Los Angeles where multicultural bands contributed to the development of rock and roll. His archives help to document the development of the “West Coast East Side Sound.” Hector Gonzalez says, "This is an important part of early American rock and roll.”

The Mixtures were from Oxnard, CA. and recorded for Rampart Records sister label, Linda Records in 1962. Their original album, "Stomping at the Rainbow" was re-issued in 2010 on CD and vinyl by Minky Records. In 1962, Eddie Davis with the help of sponsors, White Front Department Stores and KRLA AM Radio in Los Angeles produced a local television show on KCOP Channel 13, "Parade of Hits". When Eddie Davis met with the station manager a few weeks before the show was to begin production and showed him a picture of the group, he refused to allow the band into the television studio. “I don't want any niggers and wetbacks in my studio. You'll just have to go somewhere else.” Eddie was so angry that he filed a complaint with the Labor Commission which eventually ruled in his favor. The show was a huge hit which lasted for 28 weeks and was hosted by African American announcer, Larry McCormick who would eventually end up as a Newscaster for Channel 5 KTLA News in Los Angeles.
CEMA