The Cosmic Tones photo: Morris Ochoa, Vincent Hernandez, David Silva, Terry Williams and (kneeling) Alex Hernandez

The Cosmic Tones “Gonna Build Me a Woman” on Discovery

The Cosmic Tones photo: Morris Ochoa, Vincent Hernandez, David Silva, Terry Williams and (kneeling) Alex Hernandez
The Cosmic Tones, from left: Morris Ochoa, Vincent Hernandez, David Silva, Terry Williams and (kneeling) Alex Hernandez

The Cosmic Tones came out of Bell Gardens, CA, the same town as the Nite Walkers. They cut one single for the Discovery Records label, “Gonna Build Me a Woman” / “Hold It”. Discovery Records later released a cool single by the Missing Links. Like the Missing Links, publishing was through Jarhill Pub. Co, (an amalgam R. Jarrard and James Hilton, who are credited on the Missing Links single).

Members of the Cosmic Tones were:

David Silva – lead guitar
Morris Ochoa – rhythm guitar
Terry Williams – rhythm guitar
Alex Hernandez – bass guitar
Vincent Hernandez Jr. – drums

Bass player Alex Hernandez sent me a photo of the group and told me about the Cosmic Tones:

My name is Alex Hernandez and I played bass in the Cosmic Tones in Bell Gardens, CA. I had wanted to play the guitar since I was about 5 years old. My uncle Chris asked me what song I wanted him to teach me and I said “La Bamba” by Richie Valens. He taught me this song and it was the start of my playing.

When I was 13 I wanted to start a band so I started asking around and my friend Terry Williams was interested. He was 13 also and played rhythm guitar for us. My brother Vincent wanted to play drums, he was 14 years old.

We found David Silva who played lead guitar for us. He was a little older, he was 17 years old. We had a 5th addition in the band, Morris Ochoa and he was 14 then. He only stayed with us for about two months.

We all styled our hair back after ratting it up. We all used about a 1/2 can of Aqua Net hairspray before each play. After being together for about a month we had our first gig on Channel 34, a Mexican channel. We played an instrumental of “La Bamba” and it seemed to be a big hit.

We played songs such as “Whittier Blvd”, “My Girl”, “Land Of a Thousand Dances”. What a great time the ‘60s were. “Twist and Shout” was a favorite. We used to practice at any park that would let us, City of Commerce Park, Bell Gardens Park, Ford Park, and also at a park in Watts. We played at the junior high assemblies.

We also played in many battle of the bands and came in second at Ford Park out of around 12 groups. We played at the Cinnamon Cinder in Hollywood & at the Bob Hope telethon in Hollywood. We played at the Watts Festival and had a great time. We played at the White Front store in L.A. for two weeks after school to promote cerebal palsy research. We played at a teen club the Diamond Horseshoe in La Puenta, & for a CB club in Hidden Valley.

My dad Vincent Hernandez had us cut one 45 record, side A was sung by my brother, “I’m Gonna Build Me A Woman” and side B was an original instrumental.

Our rival band in Bell Gardens was the Nite Walkers. They were a real good group and we all went to school together. We always tried to be better than them and they wanted to be better than us.

The group broke up after about two years and I started playing the upright bass in high school. I joined the Army for 8 years in 1971, My brother joined the Army in 1969 and went to Viet Nam.

We lost sight of David Silva, and Terry Williams holds a jam session up towards San Diego weekly. I don’t know where Morris Ochoa went, My brother retired with the railroad and now manages a trailer park.  We are all in our mid ‘60s now but I do know we still enjoy music every day. I retired with FedEx freight in 2013.

The last play I had was with my brother’s group the TCB Flash which is one of the best Elvis groups in southern CA. I sang and played four songs for New Years in 2016 at the Grove Theater in Upland CA. My songs were “House of the Rising Sun”, “Hang On Sloopy”, “Gloria” and “Wooly Bully”. Had a blast from the past and the audience seemed to really enjoy the show.

– Alex Hernandez, 2017

5 thoughts on “The Cosmic Tones “Gonna Build Me a Woman” on Discovery”

  1. Wow was cool hearing this record that I last herd when I was around 7 years old, I had a chance to sing with the (Cosmic Tones) when I was 5 years old at a Bob Hope Telethon, I remember the song was (She was just 17) made famous by the Beatles, Had the opportunity to have my Brother Alex Hernandez in 2016 perform with my Band The TCB Flash Band,
    Chris Hernandez (TCB Flash Band)

  2. Hi,
    I remember your group, I grew up in Bell Gardens, CA too. Alex Hernandez and I went to school there and graduated in 1969. Thanks for putting this up and the reminders of a good youthful time in Bell Gardens.

    Ruth Calhoun

  3. This is Alex Hernandez,

    About two months ago I left a message on discogs and was asking anyone if they knew where I could find our record, (Gonna Build Me a Woman) and on the B side the instrumental ( Hold It). Well, about a month later I was contacted by Ralph Haiber in Hamburg Germany and he said their company (hafenschlammrecords.de) has a copy of this 45 record. I contacted Ralph and the cost was 26Euros which I felt was such a deal, this is $30.00 American money. I went through PayPal and the deal was made. I received the 45 record in 8 days and am very pleased that it is in perfect condition. How our record ended up in Hamburg Germany makes me wonder how it happened. Well, I now have our record that was made in 1965 and am super pleased that I have found it. Love to all and have a great life, Alex R. Hernandez

    1. Hi Alex
      It has been a few years. I was remembering some of my youth and remembered you and did a name search so here we are. After my parents moved, I lost touch and wondered how everyones life turned out. Email me if interested.

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