In the period of 1965 to 1973 East L.A.’s musical community had to live and perform with the draft and the specter of going to Viet Nam and possibly dying hanging over their heads.  The draft ended in 1973, so the musical artists of East L.A. that came after didn’t have that dark cloud over them. What happened to many during the time of America’s involvement in the Viet Nam war is their bands broke up, even the bands with hit records such as The Premiers and The Blendells, or their careers ended because they not only lost the momentum of their musical lives but due to PTSD had no desire to, or simply couldn’t continue.

The panel will be composed of three musicians/Viet Nam Veterans. Jerry Salas, lead singer of El Chicano, who had two national hits in the early 70s, “Viva Tirado” and “Tell Her She’s Lovely,”  Sal Murillo, lead singer of The Blendells, who had a national hit, “La La La La La,” in 1965, and Fred Rivera, whose band Genesis had an album out on a major label and was performing on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood when he was drafted. He subsequently wrote an award-winning book on his experiences, “Raw Man.” Moderated by Mark Guerrero, co-curator of A Great Day in East LA: Celebrando the Eastside Sound.

This talk is part of the public programming for LA Plaza’s temporary exhibition A Great Day in East L.A.: Celebrando the Eastside Sound—a multimedia exhibition that delves into the rich musical legacy of East Los Angeles, highlighting the eclectic sounds and cultural influences that shaped its unique artistic identity. The exhibition will be on display through August 23, 2026.