Access Restrictions
Use Restrictions
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Processing Information
Biography
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Related Material
Title: Eddie Davis West Coast East Side Sound archives
Identifier/Call Number: CEMA 117
Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
3.0 linear feet
(3 document boxes, 3 clamshell boxes, and one oversize box)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1950-1990
Date (inclusive): 1935-2010
Abstract: This collection contains papers, publications, audio and video files, as well as scrapbooks that document the history of Rampart
Records and multicultural rock and roll bands in the Los Angeles area. As an ongoing collection owner, Hector Gonzalez continues
to operate the record companies that he inherited from Eddie Davis in 1994.
Physical Location: Del Norte
Language of Materials: The collection is in English.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or
quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given
on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], Eddie Davis West Coast East Side Sound archives, CEMA 117. Department of Special Research Collections,
UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Acquisition Information
In 1994, Hector Gonzalez became the heir to the Eddie Davis Record and Publishing Estate, The Rampart Record Group, and The
Aro Music Publishing Group. The Eddie Davis West Coast East Side sound archives were established with the California Ethnic
and Multicultural Archives in 2010 through Hector Gonzalez's donation.
Processing Information
Processed by Callie Bowdish and CEMA Staff, 2010. Additional material processed by Mari Khasmanyan, 2015.
Biography
In 1994, Hector Gonzalez became the heir to the Eddie Davis Recording and Publishing Estate, The Rampart Record Group, and
The Faro Music Publishing Group (a division of Gordo Enterprises). He relinquished his position at CBS Television City to
administer these companies and license a vast music catalog dating back to 1958 for CD compilations, film and television.
Since 1960, Rampart Records has been devoted almost exclusively to the development of Mexican American talent known on the
West Coast as "The Eastside Sound."
Eddie Davis was a child actor and successful restaurateur and is quoted as saying, "If anybody thinks I got rich over my East
Los Angeles music, they're wrong. I cooked a lot of hamburgers to make those records." Rampart Records contributed to what
is known as the West Coast East Side Sound and included bands such as Cannibal and the Headhunters (which opened for the Beatles
at Shea Stadium in 1965). Multicultural bands such as the Mixtures and the Blendells were also given recording opportunities
by Rampart Records.
Hector Gonzalez's documentary about Rampart Records is a part of this collection. Director Jimmy A. Velarde said the following
about the documentary:
The West Coast Eastside Sound Story immortalizes the 1960's East Los Angeles Chicano rock legends that have contributed to the popular American cultural experience.
This documentary salutes Eddie Davis and the many groups on his various record labels and their contribution to American pop
music that has been immeasurable. Yet, it has not been recognized for its historic value and cultural importance."
When discussing the music, author Luis Rodriquez stated: "They were the heroes and heroines of low-rider car clubs, street
gangs and high school teens. Their records were sold as soon as they came out and whenever they made appearances, they crowded
dance halls and concerts.
They were the rock artists based in East Los Angeles, California and part of the phenomenon known on the West Coast as,
The Eastside Sound. It has spanned over 40 years of Chicano musical development. They were Latino, they were rhythm and blues, they were soul,
combined with the British sound and they defied musical categories.
The music was a localized fusion of Mexican and American influences, yet their participation in the development of American
rock 'n roll has been largely ignored.
The ensuing struggle to bring them out of the barrio, record them, and get them to national prominence is a story of glory
and tragedy: a story not often told in the annals of the record business."
Scope and Content
The collection spans from 1935 through 2010 and will be periodically updated. It consists of one document box that contains
business and publication papers, one document box that contains 4-CD Box Sets, three small clamshell boxes containing CD's,
two scrapbook binder boxes, one oversize box with music records (33 rpm) and larger size publications.
This collection also includes digitized files. There is an online slideshow exhibit titled, "East L.A. Rocks" featuring highlights
from historical images of Rampart Records. There are movie files (iMovie .mov format) recording Gonzalez's comments on the
scrapbooks. Also included are clips that were used to create the
History of Rampart Records video, in addition to the video itself.
As Gonzalez is still running the company, he maintains a majority of the original scrapbook material for his own publications,
thus the ones in his collection at UCSB consist mostly of copies from the originals. Some of the images from the original
scrapbooks have been scanned, and are available digitally. Some of the music CDs have been re-mastered and released as sets
in collaboration with other publishers. Also included within the collection are digital video files of a few of the bands,
as well as a documentary about Rampart Records and Eddie Davis.
Arrangement
Series I. Business Records Contains miscellaneous records pertaining to the record industry. Also included are flyers regarding the Chicano rock and
roll bands. They are listed alphabetically.
Series II. Publications Includes publications which describe Rampart Record's role in the early rock and roll days. Some oversized publications are
located in oversize box 6, while current projects are included in box 1. They are listed alphabetically.
Series III. Photos and Negatives Series Includes historical pictures of Eddie Davis as well as images of cultural bands (including Cannibal and the Headhunters
with the Beatles) located in box one.
Series IV. Scrapbooks Covers scrapbook material found in box 2. They are organized chronologically and expand from the 1930s to the 2000s. They
contain event flyers, publicity photos, and items connected to rock and roll music activities in Los Angeles.
Series V. Audio The audio series is housed in boxes 2-7, with some files which are also stored on the library server. There are three 33rpm
albums in oversize box 6.
Series VI. Video Include interviews and commentary from Hector Gonzalez, old footage of bands, and a documentary on the history of Rampart
Records. These files are on the library server, as well as on CDs available through Special Research Collections.
Related Material
Hector Gonzalez papers, CEMA 118
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Hector Gonzalez
Audiovisual materials
California--East Los Angeles
CD-ROMs
Digital moving image formats
Mexican Americans--California--East Los Angeles
Mexican Americans--California--East Los Angeles--Music
Rock Music
Rock Music --California--East Los Angeles
Scrapbooks
Sound recordings
Video recordings