Wednesday, June 4, 2014

LITTLE JULIAN HERRERA (Dig, Starla, Essar & Emmo Records)


Little Julian Herrera  was born Ron Gregory in Massachussets to hungarian jewish parents (really its origins are unclear as well as his real name) adopted by a mexican-american family from East Los Angeles suburb of Boyle Heights.


In 1956 adopted the name Little Julian by their idols; Don Julian & The Meadowlarks and signed with Deejay and producer Johnny Otis who recorded the boy in the Dig label with the sides_Lonely Lonely Nights/In Exchange For Your Love. Problably with The Dig’s Premiers vocal group as back up.

The A Side have a good local airplay and Otis re-released the disc on his label Eldo Records in 1962

LISTEN....

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In the spring of 1957 Dig released two new sides_Symbol Of Love/Here In My Arms. without success.

LISTEN...



In late 1957 Julian signed with record producer Art Laboe who introduced him to The Tigers a vocal group from Pomona, they recorded in the Starla label_I Remember Linda/True Fine Mama. as Little Julian Herrera & The Tigers.

To Listen or Download A Side, please visit; https://app.box.com/s/9hkkjcxx2uv4l6rj7nhy

Or go to Youtube...



The A Side (influenced by_I Still Remember. by The Roamncers) was a minor hit in L.A. because Art Laboe plugged it on his radio show, Starla was Laboe's label. and the group appearing in a San Diego theater show but in the end of the show the police came and arrested Julian accused of statutory rape with a young mexican girl.


In 1963 he was playing in a nightclub in Tijuana and rediscovered by Deejay Dick “Huggy Boy” Hugg and offered to act at El Monte. Huggy Boy released one single on his Essar label with an update version of_Lonely Lonely Night. b/w_I Want To Be With You. (actually pressed with two different takes from the A Side ) in this recording Julian was backed by the band from the Bellflower-Long Bech area, The Illusions.

LISTEN...



After another recording for Emmo Records_Your Careless Love/You Will Cry. Julian disappeared into obscurity again.

LISTEN...


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