Ben Quiñones

Vintage photos courtesy ofRampart Records Mention Mexican-Americans and music, and most people conjure up stereotypical images of a sombrero-wearing mariachi singing rancheras or maybe accordion-laden corridos. They don’t think of the sounds of Ludwig drums, Farfisa and vox organs, Fender bass and guitars. In other words, not rock & roll......

“Bravo,” calls the announcer as a daring midget bullfighter named Ravanito and three other Enanito Toreros barely avoid getting horned by bucking bulls. Men wearing tejanas (Stetsons), Wrangler jeans and exotic animal-skin boots, and women dressed for a night on the town, have gathered with their families inside Staples Center......

The summer of 1985 was setting up to be a good, long, lazy one for L.A. The city was still on a sports high from hosting the ’84 Olympics, where Boyle Heights boxer Paul Gonzalez had won a gold medal, and Magic Johnson’s “Showtime” Lakers had just beaten the much-hated......