Salesian High School Rock n Roll Show Volume 2

The Salesian High School Rock ‘n Roll Show LPs

Salesian High School Rock n Roll Show Volume 2Bishop Mora Salesian High is a Catholic school at the intersection of Whittier Boulevard and South Soto Street in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. In 1964, the school’s band director W.A. Taggart began producing concerts at East Los Angeles City College, where the auditorium would hold over 2,500 attendees, and at least three of these were recorded and released through Century Custom Recording Service in 1964 and ’65..

The Salesian High School Rock ‘n Roll Show LPs are little known outside of collectors of Los Angeles r&b and rock’n’roll. I’ve seen three volumes, one each from concerts on April 19, 1964,  October 18, 1964 and May 16, 1965 at the auditorium of East Los Angeles City College (ELACC) in Monterey Park. I’ve read there is a fourth volume, but haven’t seen it yet. I only own Volume 2, so if anyone has the music from Volume 3 please get in contact with me.

Volume 1 (Century Custom 19070, recorded April 19, 1964):

Bobbie and the Esquires – “You’ll Lose A Good Thing”
John Gamboa Sextet – “Down at The Chicken Shack”, “Moody’s Mood For Love”
Sal Padilla and the Leggeriors – “Night Train”
Thee Midnighters – “Chinese Checkers”, “For Your Love”
The Vesuvians – “The Fugitive,” “Hand Clapping”
Blue Satins – “Summertime”, “Love Lights”, “My First Love”
The Salesian Mustang Swing Band – “Theme For Rock ‘n Roll”

Salesian High School Rock n Roll Show Volume 2 side 1Volume 2 (Century Custom 20069, recorded October 18, 1964):

Art and the Nite Liters – “Tuff Talk”
The Velvetones – “Tenderly”
Ronnie and the Casuals – “20.75”
The Rhythm Playboys – “This Is My Prayer”, “One Degree North”
Thee Midniters with Li’l Willie G. vocalist – “And I Love Her”, “So Far Away”, “I Need Someone”, “Darling Forever”, “Sad Girl”
The Blue Satins – “Help Yourself”, “Oh-Pu-Pi-Do” (featuring The Sisters Trio), “The Bounce”

Notes by George L. Pineda.

Volume 3 (Century Custom 21995, recorded May 16, 1965):

The Goofy Six Plus One – “I Need Someone”
The Relations – “I Do Love You”
The Invaders – “Sad Girl”, “Darling Forever”
The Etalons – “Out Of Sight”
The Little Heartbreakers – “Cradle Rock”
The Enchanters – “Try Me”
The Parley Brothers – “Uncle Sam’s Men”
The Emeralds – “Wooly Bully”
The Precisions – “I Been Trying”
The Counts – “Girl of My Dreams”
Clarence Playa – “I Wake Up Crying”
The Velvetones – “Gloria”
The Progressions – “Twine Time”
Li’l Ray – “Oooh Baby Baby”
The Ambertones – “Ebb Tide”

Produced by W.A. Taggart, directed by Gilbert Pineda, photography by R. Ruiz.

Salesian Rock 'n Roll Show Vol. 4 Century Custom LP Side 1Volume 4 (Century Custom 22972, recorded Oct. 10, 1965 at East Los Angeles City College)

Thee Vandells – “Get Down With It”
The Entertainers – “Double 00 Soul”
The Fabulons – “I’ll Go Crazy”
The Four J’s – “My Girl Sloppy”
The Executives – “High Heel Sneakers”
The Relations – “Heat Wave”
The Impalas (Thee Impalas) – “Treat Her Right”
The V.I.P.’s – “Davids Mood”
Frankie Valens – “Gee Whiz”
The Emeralds – “So Far Away”
The Enchanters – “Midnight Hour”
The Enchantments – “Try Me”
The Etalons – “Ask Me Why”
The Noblemen – “To Be Loved”
The Ambertones – “I Need Someone/My Prayer”
The Four By Fours – “Roll Over Beethoven”

The first volume is less than half an hour long, consisting mostly of r&b covers, instrumentals and ballads. It includes Thee Midniters first recordings, a cover of Booker T & the MGs “Chinese Checkers” and “For Your Love” (a ballad, not the Yardbirds song). Larry Rendon and Romeo Prado of Thee Midniters were students of Bill Taggart.

Dominic Priore gives a concise early history of the group in the liner notes to the Norton Records compilation In Thee Midnite Hour!:

“Ex-Gentiles Little Willie G and Larry Rendon had first clicked with Benny Ceballos as Benny & the Midniters. This early lineup was know for wearing Lone Ranger style masks, which they would throw into the audience, driving the girls wild. The usual band lineup swaps (including a period with two lead singers, Little Willie G and Little Ray Jimenez) resulted in the solid recording band Thee Midniters, Willie, together with George Dominguez (lead guitar), Roy Marquez (rhythm guitar), Ronny Figueroa (organ), Larry Rendon (tenor sax), and trombone blaster Romeo Prado formed the core of the group with the drummer George Salazar and bass player Benny Lopez being succeeded by Danny La Mont and Jimmy Espinoza, respectively, Jimmy coming to the group via the Vesuvians and the Crowns, led by local legend Johnny Gamboa. Romeo too had entered the Midniters fold via the Crowns.”

Another notable performance is the Blue Satins, who do a rockin’ extended version of “Turn on Your Love Light”. The Blue Satins included Mike Gomez (vocals), Louie Lopez (vocals), Pete Ventura, Raul Suarez (lead guitar), Frank Estrella, Frank Mezquita (bass guitar), Bobby Loya (trumpet), Charles Lueras (sax), Robert Perez (sax), John Betancourt (drums). They had one 45 single, “You Don’t Know Me” / “My Wife Can’t Cook on Scarlet 501. More info on the Blue Satins is at the excellent site, You Found That Eastside Sound.

You can hear the album in its entirety at East LA Revue Radio, where Steven Chavez writes “the concert admission price was $1.25 and only $1 if you were a high school student with a valid school ID. I was one of the 2,000 in attendance that Sunday afternoon. It was initially sold at the high school book store for a hefty $3.25. This is the first concert record produced by ‘The Prof’ Bill Taggart’s team at the Boyle Heights parochial school for boys. Another person that was instrumental in the production and recording of this event is Tony Garcia.”

The October 18, 1964 concert is especially interesting to me because part of it was released as Thee Midniters’ first single, “Land of a Thousand Dances” (parts 1 & 2) on Chattahoochee 666. The rest of their performance from that concert is on “Rock ‘n Roll Show Volume 2”, including a version of the Beatles “And I Love Her” and Hank Jacobs’ “So Far Away” along with a few ballads.

Thee Midniters were supposed to be backing Cannibal & the Headhunters who were known locally for their version of Chris Kenner’s “Land Of A Thousand Dances.” But with Cannibal & the Headhunters stuck in Fresno with bad weather, Thee Midniters had the starring spot and did their own version of the song. Richie Unterberger recounts the story in more depth in “Urban Spacemen and Wayfaring Strangers”.Thee Midniters Chattahoochee 45 Land of 1,000 Dances

The obvious appeal of their performance somehow led concert producer W.A. Taggart to let the group bring the recording to Ruth Contes of Chattahoochee Records in Hollywood, who quickly released it in the month following the concert. In fact, it seems Thee Midniters released their version within weeks of Cannibal & the Headhunters cutting their own, recorded live at the Rhythm Room. In an interview, Headhunters member Richard “Scar” Lopez said their Rampart single was released in May, 1964 but this date is too early, as it wouldn’t have taken nine months to start showing up on local charts. Thee Midniters’s single turns up in radio station playlists beginning in December of ’64, then goes head to head in competition with Cannibal & the Headhunters’ single beginning in mid-January of ’65. The Headhunters’ Rampart single has a Monarch pressing # of 54957, indicating a November, 1964 mastering and pressing date. I would guess Cannibal & the Headhunters saw Thee Midniters were about to make a hit out of their signature song and rushed their own version out.Salesian High School Rock n Roll Show Volume 2 side 2

No one seems to dispute the legend that Headhunter lead vocalist Frankie Garcia came up with the “Na, Na Na Na Na…” hook spontaneously during a performance when he forgot a verse, though Thee Midniters include the Na Na Na Na hook in their version at the concert. In any case, Cannibal & the Headhunters won out in the national charts and the song is now associated with them, while Thee Midniters went on to record many great singles.

Other highlights on Volume 2 are the Blue Satins again who do a great trio of “Help Yourself”, “Oh-Pu-Pi-Do” (featuring The Sisters Trio) & “The Bounce”. Ronnie & the Casuals get only one song, the fine “20-75”; they had many releases on Donna and Mustang as Ronnie & the Pomona Casuals, including a version of “Land of a Thousand Dances” on their LP Everybody Jerk. The Rhythm Playboys had been Frankie Garcia’s group before joining Cannibal & the Headhunters. Their instrumental “One Degree North” is one of the best cuts on the LP.

Salesian High School Rock n Roll Show Volume 2 back coverVolume 1 and 2 have similar front covers, with band photos on the back, while Volume 3 has band and audience photos on both front and back covers (unfortunately without identifying which band is which).Salesian High School Rock n Roll Show Vol 3

Volume 3 has an expanded lineup with all new acts except the Velvetones, each receiving one song on the album with the exception of the Invaders. Many Eastside legends show up on this LP, including the Invaders (likely Mickey Aversa & the Invaders), the Heartbreakers (brothers Benny & Joe Rodriguez, with several singles on Donna, Brent and Linda labels), The Counts aka Thee Counts: Johnny Joe Ramos, bass; Bobby Gurrola, guitar; Bobby Rodriguez, trumpet; Don Viray, guitar; Charlie Montijo, lead singer; Albert Barron, sax; Ronnie Wheat, drums; Arnold Serafin, keyboards; and Joe Vasquez, sax; with a great single on Highland, “Someday I’m Gonna Get You” / “So Far Away”), and the Ambertones, who I’ve covered on this site. Clarence Playa was in the Progressions, who are probably backing Li’l Ray on “Oooh Baby Baby” on the Volume 3 LP, as they were his backing for a single on Donna as Little Ray, “I Who Have Nothing” / “I Been Trying”.

Salesian continued producing shows for decades, but no others were released to my knowledge. If anyone has scans of the cover or music from the reputed Volume 4 release, please contact me!

Thank you to Van Bryan for the track list and label scans of the very rare Volume 4.
Salesian Rock 'n Roll Show Vol. 4 Century Custom LP Side 2

80 thoughts on “The Salesian High School Rock ‘n Roll Show LPs”

    1. Chris, how can I get a digital copy of volume 2. My dad was the bass player for art and the nite liters. I’d love to give him a copy as a gift.

        1. Hi Steven Chavez, my name is Melissa. I hate to bother you but I see you are able to get a copy of the Rock N Roll Vol.2? If possible, may I ask if I would be able to buy a copy from you?? if so my email is: m.nino10113@yahoo.com I would so appreciate if possible!! Thank you, so much!!

      1. The shipment has arrived. Salesian High School Rock and Roll Shows Volumes 1 – 5 on Five separate CDs with original album covers printed on the front and back of case. They look and sound great! We did this for the music fans and for the musicians. It has been over 55 years in the making.

        We are asking $50 for the set of Five CDs and FREE shipping to anywhere in the US.

        1. Hello my name is Jaime Pulido and I would LOVE to purchase the 5 CD’s of The Salesian High School Rock And Roll Shows Volumes 1 – 5
          Please let me know what I have to do to get them, Muchísimas Gracias, Sinceramente Jaime Pulido
          Here’s my contact info.
          Email is jaimep.tarasco@yahoo.com
          Cell phone number is 626-290-8806
          PLEASE email me, call me or text me with the information, Man you have no idea, I’ve been looking for these Forever and a day 🙏🏾

        2. Steve, this Henry we met a few times and Radio Azlan music festivals, with the KUCR Dj’s. I would like to purchase the cd’s.

  1. A fantastic writeup about the history of Salesian High School’s Rock and Roll shows of the mid 60s under the guidance of Taggart and Fr. Ralph J Murphy. I remember as if it was just yesterday the preparations for these while attending the school and being at the first two. thank you for the memories.

    1. My mom Stella Barron sang a song this is my prayer she is now in heaven if anyone remembers her song let us know she is greatly missed.

  2. MY NAME IS SAL PADILLA, I WAS THE LEADER THE LEGGERIORS
    BACK IN THE EARLY 60’S AND I AM LOOKING FOR PHOTOS OF THE GROUP

  3. Hello, great website you have here…..Yes, I do have all 5 volumes of the Salesian High School Rock ‘N Roll Shows….yes, you heard it right….FIVE. I have them all on glorious vinyl. The last volume (LP) is mainly marching band, except for a couple of rock ‘n roll tracks.

      1. The shipment has arrived. Salesian High School Rock and Roll Shows Volumes 1 – 5 on Five separate CDs with original album covers printed on the front and back of case. They look and sound great! We did this for the music fans and for the musicians. It has been over 55 years in the making.
        We are asking $50 for the set of Five CDs and FREE shipping to anywhere in the US.

        1. Hello my name is Jaime Pulido and I would LOVE to purchase the 5 CD’s of The Salesian High School Rock And Roll Shows Volumes 1 – 5
          Please let me know what I have to do to get them, Muchísimas Gracias, Sinceramente Jaime Pulido
          Here’s my contact info.
          Email is jaimep.tarasco@yahoo.com
          Cell phone number is 626-290-8806
          PLEASE email me, call me or text me with the information, Man you have no idea, I’ve been looking for these Forever and a day 🙏🏾

        2. Fantastic. Please let me know how I can purchase the set of 5C d’s as I would like to get this for my brother who is older and after an age. Not too many years left I think this would be a dream come true for him to sit in his easy chair and listen to. Realbigdog13@msn.com Is my email my name is Frank via and my phone number is 3236308587 I would like to purchase this as soon as possible thank you once again you have no idea how long we have been looking for these. Once again thank you very much

    1. Hi Gene Aguilera, I heard you loud and clear……whoot! whoot! Lol! You have all 5….just wondering if your willing to make copies of them? If so, how much? i would Love to have the copies!! Thank you for letting us know. Melissa Nino

  4. I just located Gene Aguilera, this year, that made me a CD copy of the Salesian Rock ‘n Roll show Vol. 4. October 10, 1965. I gave it to my dad for Father’s Day.

    My father is Art Valenzuela (Leader and Sax player) of Art and The Fabulons. My 2 uncles, Joey and Ernie Valenzuela, both played, along with other friends. My dad still speaks to band member Efraim every Sunday.

    I took a chance and located Gene Aguilera on Facebook because of an article I read about him having an old collection of records out of LA. I told him that I wanted to put his record collection to the test. My dad and I have searched for this Album for a long time. Gene did have the copy and sent it to me. It was the neatest thing to have All of our family hear.

      1. The shipment has arrived. Salesian High School Rock and Roll Shows Volumes 1 – 5 on Five separate CDs with original album covers printed on the front and back of case. They look and sound great! We did this for the music fans and for the musicians. It has been over 55 years in the making.
        We are asking $50 for the set of Five CDs and FREE shipping to anywhere in the US.

    1. My Name is Ben or back then Your Dad played with our Band the Nite Dreamers .Say hi and see if he remembers us i knew all the brothers ask him to email me Benny

    2. Wow!My name is Richie Valenzuela..No joke! And I remember Art and the Fabulons! One of my favorite bands at that time. I remember them doing “Hold on I’m coming” at ELA collage. I played with the group “Thee Executives” I got the name off a colone bottle I saw once..Anyway I sang the song “High heel sneakers” on volume 4. Man I never knew Art’s last name was Valenzuela..! He had a great band! Not just saying that, their the only band I remember seeing that day. Well I also would like to find that recording of Volume 4. I sang and played harmonica on the song mentioned earlier..And not very well, so what a surprise it was that they choose my song over Misty sang by George Ochoa. Much better singer. Well I hope I can get some guidance on getting a copy of vol 4

    3. Did your father and his brothers attend First Street School in Boyle Heights?

  5. For the record, I was also the drummer with the Gentiles, who became Benny and Thee Midniters, who became Thee Midniters. Around 1964 Bobby Cochran and I left to form the Vesuvians with Bobby Hernandez and Jimmy Espinoza. 1965 would see Jimmy and myself back with Thee Midniters. My first single was I found a Peanut,/ Are you Angry.

    1. I remember you Danny. Playing at St. Alfonsos with Benny and the Midniters. It was great when you all came out. You starting the solo with the masks on. Great show! I too became a drummer playing with the Fabulous Emeralds!

    1. Hi my name is Tyree Johns. In 1965 I played with the group,Thee Entertainers. My brother,known then as Clarence Playa, played then with The VIPS, I think. I desperately want a copy of this Lp. You can reach me in Bakersfield,Ca. by usual mean.

      1. The shipment has arrived. Salesian High School Rock and Roll Shows Volumes 1 – 5 on Five separate CDs with original album covers printed on the front and back of case. They look and sound great! We did this for the music fans and for the musicians. It has been over 55 years in the making.
        We are asking $50 for the set of Five CDs and FREE shipping to anywhere in the US.

  6. Great site. I can see the bands raising up from the “Pit” at ELAC playing their music with the Salesian Lettermen holding back all the girls. That was the best job on the planet at the time!

  7. Good write up. Although I did not attend Salesian, I attended Cantwell Highschool in Montebello, I was greatly influenced by William Taggart. Another musical influence , around the same or a little earlier ,was Professor Jose H. Robledo of La Banda Original Mexicana a Boyle Heights youth band.

    1. Hi Larry. I played with you when you were in Thee Counts. We had so much fun. The performances of all of these E.L.A. Bands were great. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY MOVIES OR CLIPS FROM THESE SHOWS? Are there any audio copies of these shows available?

      1. Hello Dan. The Counts were a great band. Did you perform “Girl of My Dreams” at the Salesian Show? We are interviewing many of the participants and fans in audience regarding the. Would you be available for interview via Zoom Audio? Thanks shows

  8. I remember “The Pit”……at first, it was a little scary…..then…the Screams!!!!!!!…..after that, total chaos!!!!!…Great Fun!!!!!!!….Danny Medina…….”The Ambertones”.

  9. We were a new band at that played on Sunday early afternoon, at ELAC and we got the raising stage. It was scary. I played rhythm guitar and that Sunday our lead guitar player didn’t show up. I was forced to play lead and of course we messed up. I remember playing two songs – “I know I Need Someone”, and “Out of Sight”. We stuck around and listened to the more professional bands. Great! Thanks for the memories.

    1. Jack. The Ambertones were great. Saw you guys at Kennedy Hall and Saint Nicholas Hall. Also the Salesian Shows. We are interviewing some of the audience and band members. Are you available for interview via Zoom audio. Thanks

  10. I loved those guys. My Brother-in-law went to Salesian & introduced me to the guys. What a thrill it was. We were from across town in Lincoln Heights but couldn’t wait for their little concerts at East L.A. College.
    Where can I buy their music ???

  11. I was a student of the GREAT PROF
    I WAS IN THE MUSTANG HIGH SCHOOL BAND WITH AARON BALLESTEROS IN THE EARLY DAYS AARON AND I WERE GOOD FRIENDS ALONG WITH TOMMY LASORTA I HOPE I SPELLED THAT RIGHT. AARON AND TOMMY BOTH PLAYED
    FOR THE ROYAL CHECHMATE’S Aaron love his metal flake green drums .

  12. My Father is Ray Rosa he played Rythm Guitar for the Emeralds that appeared on Silesian Vol.3 Can you please send me a scan of the front and back cover? THANKS

    1. Hey Mark. I was there when the Emeralds played “So Far Away” . Great opener. We are interviewing some of the participants of the show. Are you available for interview? I got copy.

  13. I was the drummer for Johnny Gamboa amd the Crowns, Rhythum Playboys, Cannibal (Frankie Garcia) , Tony Garcia & the Mystics and Lil Ray and the Progressions. I did get around. I owe it all to Mr. Taggart who was my musical mentor at Salesian.

  14. Just found this site. Great, what memories it brings. My name Carlos A. Mota ,I was the lead guitar player of the Velvetones Band. Thanks to the friends of Fr. Murphy, we were able to get 5 of the original members to -gether (2011) for a Fund raiser for Fr. Murphy. He has passed away since. We played in the 2nd albume. But what a night at East Los Angeles College Auditorium. The ” pit ” was something, but then the lights, the scrames from all the girls….Ill never forget that night.

    1. Dear Mr. Mota,

      Do you know whatever became of Louie Martus. We played with Lil Ray and the Progressions.

    2. Carlos. My name is Steven Chavez. We are presently interviewing band members and audience participants for music audio special of the Salesian shows. Are you available for audio interview via Zoom audio? Thanks

      1. My name is Ray Santillan. I played trombone with The Mob, and I was hoping someone would have pictures of the 1975 Battle of the Bands at East Los Angeles College.

  15. My name is Ray Suarez I was the guitar player for the Blue Satins Band.This brings back memories playing at St.Alfonsos hall with Thee Midniters. I also attended Roosevelt high school with a lot of other musicians,

  16. How can I get copies of these great albums. I use to listen to Darling forever when I was a kid, a friend turned me on to it by thee Midnighters. They in my opinion did it better than any one.

  17. I have a copy of Volume 4 listed on eBay. There are images of the labels that you should be able to copy, or I can email them no problem. Unfortunately, there is no cover, and the record is beat. I don’t want to spamvertise here, so I won’t attach a link to the sale, but I’ll share any information I can while I still have it.

    1. Thank you for posting, it’s a big help as I hadn’t seen a copy of vol. 4 before and wasn’t positive it even existed! I’ll check out your ebay auction.

  18. I found a copy of vol. 4 today with a cover, let me know if you would like me to send you photos of the cover. Would be more than happy to assist with that.
    Cheers,
    -hector waluyo

  19. Hey Chris-
    I have all of the LPs & had Jimmy Espinoza of the The Vesuvians/Thee Midniters on my show (Intoxica Radio) a few times. One of these times (maybe 2 of ’em) I brought all 4 LPs and we went through them for 2 hours…I’d play a track & ask him questions or he’s share memories…I will locate the show, upload it, and post a link where everyone can listen to it…

  20. I went to salesian 62 thru 65 and remember the shows where I get and buy the salesian rock n roll albums I live in the l.a. area california

  21. My name is Ben Phillips and back then i was known as Benny Bass Player for the Nite Dreamers We Played in two Rock n Roll shows i have lots of Pictures of back then , the best time of my life. Thanks Benny

  22. Great to find you..My Name is Ray Lopez . I played bass for the Royal checkmates. We played and won two battle of the bands at ELA Collage. Back in the day. I’m wondering if you have any clue if the music was recorded by anyone ? I have asked a few of friends who are still around about that. We saw recording gear around the stage, so somebody has the tracks.
    I have a old life friend..Robert Hasting He moved to NM from ELA. I swear he has over more music that anybody I have ever met. I’ll bet he has your vol. # in there somewhere. I’ll find out.

    1. I would like to buy Salesian battle of the bands vol. 1,2,3,4, for my cousin a salesian graduate of sixties . we enjoy all those good old days great memories

  23. I would love to buy a copy of the battle of bands 1, 2,3,4, for a gift to my cousin bobby Gonzalez nickname Frenchie graduated from Salesian in the sixties.

  24. Greetings all! I am currently searching to purchase Salesian Rock n’ Roll Show Vol.4 If anyone has it or if anyone can put me in contact w/someone who has it I would greatly appreciate it! I am located in the Los Angeles county area,and I am willing to drive long distance or whatever it takes to purchase this particular album.Thnk you -Mark Rosa-

  25. I went to salesian and was there for the shows I lost my album does anyone know where I can get another copy of the album

  26. The VIP’s on Vol.4 of the Salesian Rock and Roll album has a picture of my brother on the sleeve wearing a sequined short coat sing, but the song they did, David’s Mood, was pretty tight, real rock n roll stuff, no horns, just a grooving rhythm section that was a sign of the successful future of the band. My brother was drafted and I believe Clarence replaced him. I remember going to band practice with my brother and picking up Bobby at his house off of Goodrich, and listening to KGFJ on the way to Freddy’s house by the Tiki Village by Portrero Grande.

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