Frank Zappa was a counter-culture musician before counter culture was cool. He and his band the Mothers of Invention were known for such album titles as “Freak Out!” and “Weasels Ripped My Flesh.”
But early in his career, the Pomona Valley resident wrote a very mainstream tune, “Memories of El Monte” with bandmate Ray Collins for DJ and producer Art Laboe.
The song mentions many of the artists that performed at Laboe’s famous dances at El Monte Legion Stadium in the 1950s and ’60s.
ALSO SEE: El Monte Legion Stadium was a mecca for rock ‘n’ roll in the ’50s for SoCal teens
The song was recorded in 1963 by Cleve Duncan of the Penguins.
Here are the groups and songs included in the lyrics.
The Five Satins: Group fronted by Fred Paris that recorded “In the Still of the Night” in 1956.
The Shields: The group was said by some rock historians to be essentially session singers put together to back lead vocalist Frankie Ervin on the song “You Cheated,” a hit in 1958.
The Heartbeats: Quintet fronted by James “Shep” Sheppard that charted with “A Thousand Miles Away” in 1957.
The Medallions: The group of teenagers recorded “The Letter,” a 1954 song with nonsense words such as pismotality, said to be invented by lead singer Vernon Green.
Marvin & Johnny: This duo of Marvin Phillips and Emory “Johnny” Perry released “Cherry Pie” in 1960.
Tony Allen & the Champs: The doo-wop group had a hit with “Nite Owl” in 1955.
The Penguins: The group fronted by Cleve Duncan released “Earth Angel” in 1955.
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