This page contains Zoom interviews with Mark interviewing East L.A. and East L.A.-related artists and contributors to the music and history. The shows are on YouTube which can be accessed from the thumbnail links below.
Episode 1- Anthony Baray of The Emeralds
Mark Guerrero interviews musician Anthony Baray, leader/singer/guitarist/keyboardist of the 60s East L.A. band, The Emeralds. Date of interview: January 23, 2022
Episode 2- Bobby Rodriguez
Mark Guerrero interviews Bobby Rodriguez, trumpet player extraordinaire, who was in many East L.A. bands in the 60s including The Counts, The Etalons, The Enchantments, and The Impalas. He later went on to play with Quincy Jones, The Brothers Johnson, and Ray Charles and earn a doctorate in music. Date of interview: February 23, 2022
Episode 3- Little Willie G
Mark Guerrero interviews Little Willie G (Guillermo Garcia), the original voice of Thee Midniters. Willie went on to record and perform for God's Children, Malo, and as a solo artist. They talk about the East L.A. music scene of the 60s and early 70s, Ry Cooder's 2005 "Chavez Ravine" album, the 2008 Trini Lopez PBS "Latin Legends" show, Willie's work with Los Lobos, the 2022 panel discussion/performance at the Grammy Museum, and more. Date of interview: April 18, 2022
Episode 4- Geree
Mark Guerrero interviews Geree (Geraldine Gonzalez), the great R&B, Latin, and pop vocalist who has sung with some of the best bands to emerge from East L.A., including the Village Callers, Chico, and El Chicano. She has recorded and released several albums including one on MCA Records in the 80s. Date of interview: Date of interview: May 31, 2022
Episode 5- George Ochoa of Slauson Brothers / Yaqui
Mark Guerrero interviews singer/songwriter George Ochoa whose resume includes being a member of the Slauson Brothers, The Men from SOUND, Cannibal & the Headhunters, Olde Tyme Religion, Yaqui, and Pat Vegas & Redbone. Date of interview: June 5, 2022
Episode 6- Lawrence Perez of The Premiers
Mark Guerrero interviews lead guitarist and leader of Premiers, who were the first East L.A. band to have a national hit record. "Farmer John" reached #19 on the Billboard charts in July of 1964. They toured with the major British Invasion, R&B, and pop artists of the era. Date of interview: June 19, 2022
Episode 7- Sal Murillo of The Blendells
Mark Guerrero interviews the lead singer of the 1960s East L.A. band, The Blendells, who had a national hit record in 1964, "La La La La La." Date of interview: June 25, 2022
Episode 8- Chan Romero
Mark Guerrero interviews the man who in 1959 wrote and recorded "The Hippy Hippy Shake," which was recorded by The Beatles, The Swingin' Blue Jeans, and The Georgia Satellites." He was also the heir apparent to Ritchie Valens with Ritchie's record label after Valens' passing. Date of interview: June 27, 2022
Episode 9- Bobby Avila (musician / author)
Mark Guerrero interviews musician Bobby Avila, who had a troubled and difficult youth, which included juvenile hall and being a homeless teenager, to having a musical career and helping his two sons become multiple Grammy winners as producers and songwriters who worked with Usher, Janet Jackson, Chaka Khan, Marcy Grey, Mary J. Blige, and legendary songwriters/producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Date of interview: June, 30, 2022
Episode 10- Little Ray Jimenez
Mark Guerrero interviews singer/songwriter/performer Little Ray Jimenez, one of the best singers and performers who emerged from the Golden Age of the East L.A. music scene, the 1960s. Ray has recorded for Columbia Records, Bob Keane's Donna Records, Eddie Davis' Faro Records, and others. Date of interview: July 30, 2022
Episode 11- Art Brambila (manager / producer)
Mark Guerrero interviews manager/producer of the '70s, Art Brambila, who went from being a gang member in his East L.A. neighborhood to working for major entertainment companies. Art helped secure major record deals for Mark Guerrero, Tierra, Yaqui, Carmen Moreno, and Johnny Martinez. Brambila other accomplishments are his Latino dance television show "The Mean Salsa Machine," the "First Chicano Rock Concert," and the "Si Se Puede" album in support of Cesar Chavez and the farmworker movement. Date of Interview: July 31, 2022.
Episode 12- Hank Barrio of Evergreen Blues / Elijah
Mark Guerrero interviews guitarist Hank Barrio about his career, which includes being a member of East L.A. bands who recorded for major labels, The Evergreen Blues in the late 60s and Elijah in the early 70s. He later went on to play with Delaney and Bonnie, blues legend Albert King, and singer/songwriter Hoyt Axton. Date of interview: August 11, 2022.
Episode 13- Tom Bray of Evergreen Blues / Elijah
Mark Guerrero interviews trumpet player Tom Bray about his career, which includes being a member of East L.A. bands who recorded for major labels, The Evergreen Blues in the late 60s and Elijah in the early 70s. He later went on to play with The Electric Flag with Buddy Miles and Michael Bloomfield, Neil Young & the Blue Notes, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Date of Interview: August 15, 2022.
Episode 14- Bobby & Joey Delgado of The Delgado Brothers
Mark Guerrero interviews Bobby & Joey Delgado of The Delgado Brothers Band, a blues-based band who have five albums to their credit. Some of the stories covered: Two of their songs were recorded by legendary English blues man John Mayall, the Chambers Brothers sang on one of their recordings, Joey jammed with Dave Mason, and The Delgado Brothers won an international Blues band competition in Memphis that led to tours in Europe and Brazil. Date of Interview: September 2, 2022.
Episode 15- Eddie Delgado of The Ambertones
Mark Guerrero interviews Eddie Delgado, bassist of the popular East L.A. band of the 1960s, The Ambertones, who recorded eight 45 rpm singles which have helped their legacy endure to this day. Eddie talks about his musical career and how it was interrupted by the draft and Viet Nam. Date of Interview: September 12, 2022.
Episode 16- Max Uballez of The Romancers / Macondo
Mark Guerrero interviews Singer/songwriter Max Uballez, founder, leader, singer, guitarist, and chief songwriter of the pioneering East L.A. band of the 60s, The Romancers. This band influenced many of the East L.A. bands to follow, such as The Premiers, The Blendells, Cannibal & the Headhunters, my band, Mark & the Escorts, and many others. Max also became the musical right hand man for manager Billy Cardenas and record company owner Eddie Davis. He assisted on sessions for many artist's recordings, including the hits of The Premiers and Cannibal & the Headhunters. In the early 70s, he founded and led the rock/Latin rock band Macondo who recorded an album for Atlantic Records. Date of Interview: December 17, 2022. Date of interview: December 17, 2022.
Episode 17- Orlando Zamora of the Sportsmen
Singer/songwriter Mark Guerrero interviews Orlando Zamora, founder, member of the East L.A. band of the early 60s, The Sportsmen. He also played in a band with Edward James Olmos who was the lead singer, and the popular and influential band, The Village Callers. Date of interview: January 18, 2023.
Episode 18- Mike Aversa of Mickey & the Invadeers / Dyna-Might
Singer/songwriter Mark Guerrero interviews Mike Aversa leader/guitarist of two popular bands of the 60s. Mickey & the Invaders and Dyna-Might. Mickey & the Invaders played the East L.A. circuit playing R&B, doowop, and British Invasion music, and major surf venues playing surf music, including the legendary Rendezvous Ballroom. Dyna-Might recorded for MCA records and in concert backed major artists such as the Righteous Brothers, Sonny & Cher, and the Blossoms. Date of interview: January 30, 2023.
Episode 19- Jack D'Amore of The Emeralds
Singer/songwriter Mark Guerrero interviews Jack D'Amore, who was a drummer/vocalist in three popular East L.A. bands of the 60s, The Runabouts, The Royal Checkmates, and The Emeralds. He went on to be in Rock Rose, who had an album out on Columbia Records and a solo album on RCA Records, produced by legendary songwriter/producer, Dennis Lambert on which Jack was a front man lead singer. Date of interview: February 11, 2023.
Episode 20- Danny Diaz of The Showmen / Chico
Singer/songwriter Mark Guerrero interviews guitarist Danny Diaz, who starting in the early 60s played with the East L.A. bands Sal Chico, The Showmen, The Carpetbaggers (with Edward James Olmos), Ruben Guevara's Con Safos, Chico, and Andy Tesso & the Rockers. He's known as one of the best guitarists to come out of East L.A. and was teacher to some of the best guitarist later to emerge on the scene. Date of interview: February 15, 2023.
Episode 21- Ernie Hernandez of Mark & the Escorts / Tango
Singer/songwriter Mark Guerrero interviewsdrummer/singer Ernie Hernandez, who played in all of Mark Guerrero's bands from 1963 through 1974, Mark & the Escorts (GNP Crescendo Records), The Men from S.O.U.N.D., 1984 (Kapp/MCA Records), and Tango (A&M Records). Mark & Ernie share memories of the bands, recordings, live gigs, and experiences from the era. Date of interview: February 17, 2023
Episode 22- John Valenzuela of Tango
Singer/songwriter Mark Guerrero interviewsguitarist/singer John Valenzuela, who was in Leon & the Leisures and The Cassinos in the 60s and played with Mark Guerrero from 1971 through '74 in The Mudd Brothers and Tango (A&M Records). In the mid 70s, he played with Frankie "Cannibal" Garcia of Cannibal & the Headhunters. Date of interview: February 25, 2023.
Episode 23- Fred Rivera of The Saints / The Pacific Ocean / Genesis
Singer/songwriter Mark Guerrero interviewsmusician/author Fred Rivera who played bass with East L.A. bands The Saints, Eddie James (aka Edward James Olmos) & the Pacific Ocean, and Genesis (not the English band) in the early to mid-60s. After being drafted, he went to Viet Nam where he spent a significant time in the jungle in combat and some time playing in a rock band touring danger zones the the USO didn't venture into. When he returned to the U.S. he played with major artist such as Delaney Bramlett and Oliver. Fred wrote a phenomenal book, which was nominated for a Pulitzer prize, about his experiences in Viet Nam and beyond, "Raw Man," first published in 2014. Date of interview: July 28, 2023.
Episode 24- Joe Espinosa of The Village Callers / Chico
Singer/songwriter Mark Guerrero interviews bassist Joe Espinosa, who was a member of Marcy & the Imperials and The Village Callers in the '60s and Chico from the late 60s until the present time as leader. The Village Callers album "Village Callers Live" was very popular in the 60s and later was released in Japan and Spain on Barrio Gold Records and Vampisol Records respectively The single, "Hector," has been sampled by Cypress Hill and the Beastie Boys and was on the soundtrack album of Quentin Tarantino's mega-hit movie "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." Chico is in their sixth decade of recording and performing. Date of interview: August 28, 2023
Episode 25- Art Sanchez of Yaqui
Mark Guerrero interviews bassist Art Sanchez, who in the early 70s played with Olde Tyme Religion, who recorded for Warner Brothers Records, and Yaqui, who released an album on Playboy Records. He also played with the Cannibal & the Headhunter's Band and East L.A. icons Little Ray Jimenez, Little Willie G. and Frankie "Cannibal" Garcia. Date of interview: September 14, 2023.
Episode 26- George Delgado of The Premiers
Mark Guerrero interviews George Delgado, founding member of The Premiers, the first East L.A. band to have a national hit record. "Farmer John" reached #19 in 1964. They subsequently went on a Dick Clark tour with artists such as The Supremes and England's Dave Clark 5 and another with East L.A.'s Cannibal & the Headhunters where they opened for The Rolling Stones, Kinks, and Zombies. Date of interview: November 27, 2023.
Episode 27- Ruben Guadarrama of The Blazers
Mark Guerrero interviews Ruben Guaderrama of The Blazers, an East L.A. band, who starting in the 1990s recorded four albums on Rounder Records, toured the U.S. and Europe mulitiple times, opened for Bob Dylan and shared the bill with artists such as Booker T., Alvin Lee, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Blasters, Los Lobos, and The Texas Tornadoes. Their first two albums were produced by Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos.Date of interview: December 8, 2023.
Episode 28- Nancy Sanchez of Las Chorizeras
Mark Guerrero interviewssinger/songwriter Nancy Sanchez, whose music is bilingual, English and Spanish. The genres of her recordings range from mariachi to jazz in English. She also describes some of her music as mariachi fusion and Latin alternative. Date of interview: December 8, 2023
Episode 29- Quetzal Flores of Quetzal
Mark Guerrero interviews of Quetzal Flores of the band Quetzal, who have eight albums to their credit. They call themselves an East L.A. Chican@ rock group, whose music is a mix of Mexican and Afto-Cuban rhythms, jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock music. They also incorporate fandango and son jarocho in thier music. Their also known for their social activism and strong feminist stance. They won a Grammy award for their 1993 album, "Imaginaries." Date of interview: December 28, 2023
Episode 30- Martha Gonzalez of Quetzal
Mark Guerrero interviews singer/songwriter/percussionist/educator Martha Gonzalez of the band Quetzal, who have eight albums to their credit. They call themselves an East L.A. Chican@ rock group, whose music is a mix of Mexican and Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock music. They also incorporate fandango and son jarocho in thier music. They're also known for their social activism and strong feminist stance. They won a Grammy award for their 1993 album, "Imaginaries." Date of interview: January 15, 2024. Date of Interview: January 12, 2024
Episode 31- Willie Loya of Califas
Mark Guerrero interviewspercussionist/visual artist Willie Loya, a founding member of the 1980s East L.A. band Califas, who were a popular band known for the musical diversity and social activism. Willie has also played with War, Mark Guerrero, and Lalo Guerrero with Mark Guerrero & the Second Generation Band, and Skip Heller's Reckless Night Ensemble. Date of interview: March 25, 2024
Episode 32- Benny Lopez of Thee Midniters
Mark Guerrero interviews Benny Lopez, bassist for the legendary East L.A. band, Thee Midniters, in the early to mid-60s. Before being in Thee Midniters he was in Johnny & the Crowns with East L.A. music pioneer Johnny Gamboa. Benny also played with another popular East L.A. band of the 60s, The Prophets. He also re-joined Thee Midniters for another stint in 1969. In the early 2000s, he formed a band called Midnite's Moon who released a CD. Date of interview: March 29, 2024
Episode 33- Irma "Cui Cui" Rangel of Califas
Mark Guerrero interviews singer/songwriter/performance artist/activist Irma "Cui Cui" Rangel, who was a founding member of the 1980s band Califas. In the 90s she sang with El Chicano, was a performer in the Luis Valdez stage production "Corridos" which became a PBS film which featured Linda Ronstadt, and was part of a choir that backed Paul McCartney at the Hollywood Bowl. Irma has also has performed as an actor and indigenous and Mexican folkloric dancer. She has two albums to her credit and is a graduate of DQU, a Native-American University, and Cal State Sacramento where she majored in Chicano Studies with a minor in art. Date of Interview: April 12, 2024
Episode 34- The Counts: Don Viray, Charlie Montijo, and Ronnie Wheat
Mark Guerrero interviews three members of The Counts- Charlie Montijo (lead vocalist), Don Viray (lead guitarist), and Ronnie Wheat (drummer). The Counts were one of the best and most popular bands from East L.A. in the 60s. They released two records, one as the Counts, the other backing a female R&B vocal group called The Voices. Date of interview: April 19, 2024
Episode 35- Bobby Navarrete of Tierra / Thee Midniters
Mark Guerrero interviewssaxophonist Bobby Navarrete. In the 60s, he played the Eastside circuit with the Fabulous Sounds, Tierra during their commercial peak in the 80s, and The Midniters starting in the 90s. He talks about his experiences touring with Tierra and playing venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Houston Astrodome. He also has a history of education and activism. Date of interview: April 24, 2024
Episode 36- Larry Rendon of Thee Midniters
Mark Guerrero interviewssaxophonist Larry Rendon, who has played with Thee Midniters from their inception in the early 60s until the present. He is also on their classic recordings and all four Midniter albums released in the mid-60s. Date of interview: April 26, 2024
Episode 37- Frank Mezquita of The Blue Satins
Mark Guerrero interviews Frank Mezquita, founding member of The Blue Satins, who were one of the best and most popular bands in East L.A. in the 60s. They made two 45 rpm records, one of which included their version of "You Don't Know Me," which has become an East L.A. classic recording. The Blue Satins reunited in 2000 and have continued perfoming ever since. Date of interview: May 4, 2024
Episode 38- Bobby Brambila of The Enchantments
Mark Guerrero interviews guitarist Bobby Brambila, founding member and leader of The Enchantments, who were one of the best and most popular bands in East Los Angeles in the 60s. They were winners of the Teenage Fair Battle of the Bands at the Hollywood Palladium and had a popular single out, "I'm in Love with Your Daughter" on Eddie Davis' Faro label. Date of interview: May 21, 2024
Episode 39- Steven Chavez of eastlarevue.com
Mark Guerrero interviews Steven Chavez, owner of eastlarevue.com which makes music programming available 24/7. The website's main emphasis is on the music of East L.A. artists of the 60s and 70s. Steven is also a record collector who has most of the records made by East L.A. artists of the period. His work is dedicated to preserving and celebrating East L.A. music history of the 1960s. Date of interview: June 28, 2024
Episode 40- Donnie Everhart of Sly, Slick and Wicked
Mark Guerrero interviews Donnie Everhart of the 70s East L.A. R&B and doo wop group Sly, Slick and Wicked. They had a successful record "Confessin' a Feeling" and performed on the bill with top Latin rock and R&B artists. Date of interview: July 14, 2024
Episode 41- Mark Guerrero of Mark & the Escorts / Tango
Pedro Arroyo, academic and radio host, interviews Mark Guerrero, singer/songwriter/musician and East L.A. & Chicano music historian. This interview was done for broadcast on KPFA radio in Berkeley, CA. Pedro asks Mark about his teenage band Mark & the Escorts, how his father, Lalo Guerrero, influenced him, his musical relationship with his dad, what the music scene was like in East L.A. in the 60s, his work as an East L.A. & Chicano music historian, and other musical experiences in the 60s and early 70s. This can be thought of as a part one because this interview only covers some things from that period. A more extensive interview about Mark's decades long musical journey will come later. Date of interview: May 3, 2024
Episode 42- Johnny Gamboa of Johnny & the Crowns
Mark Guerrero interviews vocalist/musician Johnny Gamboa, an early pioneer of the East L.A. Music scene. Before the mid-60s East L.A. music boom, sometimes known as the golden era of the Eastside Sound, Johnny had a popular band. He had a decades long musical career in which he recorded for Epic Records and accomplished other things, including becoming an airplane pilot. Many of the classic members of Thee Midniters started with Johnny & the Crowns. Date of interveiw: July 26, 2024
Episode 43- Steven Verdugo of Olde Tyme Religion
Mark Guerrero interviews singer/songwriter/musician Steven Verdugo, who was a member of Mark's band The Men from S.O.U.N.D. and Olde Tyme Religion, who recorded two singles on Warner Brothers Records. He was in the former band in 1968, the latter in 1970-71. Steven played electric piano on Mark Guerrero's Capitol single "Rock & Roll Queen" in 1972. He played with God's Children with Little Willie G. and Lydia Amescua in the early 70s and subsequently formed a duo with Lydia performing for 49 years together. Lydia is also interviewed in a segment. Date of interview: August 7, 2024
Episode 44- Benny & Joe Rodriguez of The Heartbreakers
Mark Guerrero interviews Benny & Joe Rodriguez of The Heartbreakers, a pioneering 1960s East L.A. vocal duo whose doo wop record, "Cradle Rock," is an "Eastside Sound" classic. Like many other great East L.A. bands and singers, they were managed by Billy Cardenas. In the "60s they were often backed by The Romancers led by Max Uballez. They've performed throughout the decades and still do. From humble beginnings they they both earned graduate degrees and have had succesful careers, Benny as a chemical engineer and Joe as an educator. In 2012, they recorded one of Mark's songs, a doo wop song called "Baby I Love You So," on their album "Greetings from East L.A. Date of interview: August 18, 2024
Episode 45- Mark & the Escorts
Mark Guerrero interviews members of his teenage band Mark & the Escorts- Ernie Hernandez, Robert Warren, and Trini Basulto. It was Mark's first band who were very popular in the early 60s in East L.A. They made two singles for GNP Crescendo Records in 1965, "Get Your Baby" and "Dance with Me," the former has been on many compilation albums and in 2017 appeared in the movie "Logan Lucky," starring Channing Tatum, Daniel Craig, Katie Holmes, and Adam Driver." Mark & the Escorts' version of "Get Your Baby" is also on the list of Apple Music's 50 Chicano Rock Essentials. Date of interview: August 22, 2024
Episode 46- Jerry Salas of El Chicano
Mark Guerrero interviews Jerry Salas, long time lead vocalist of the legendary East L.A. band El Chicano. He joined the band for their fourth album on MCA Records, "El Chicano," which had the top-40 hit "Tell Her She's Lovely." He appeared on their next three albums in the 70s including, "Cinco," "The Best of Everything," and 'Pyramid." Jerry rejoined the band in the early 2000s and has remained thier lead singer ever since. Date of interview: September 3, 2024
