Jesse Velo co-founded Los Illegals in the late 1970’s. Jesse says, “With our backs against the wall, facing an impenetrable, almost segregated Hollywood industry, we partnered with radical elements and (OSF) nuns of the Catholic church to co-found Vex, the first alternative music and art space in East L.A. We kick-started an Eastside L.A. Renaissance that brought together major world-class artists, musicians, actors, and writers with elements of agitprop in a display to the world as a show of unity across racial and economic lines. Our signature song (“El Lay”), with its Dickensian description of the plight of Latinos and all marginalized people, garnered accolades and endorsements in major world media segments from Italy, France, Japan, and the UK. The recognition also included accolades from notables such as The Clash, MC5, Rage Against the Machine, and even the likes of Mick Jagger. Not to mention an appearance on “Late Night with David Letterman.” Velo has also been cited/quoted in Rolling Stone, The Harvard Crimson, and major local news publications across the U.S. and in over 30 political, music, and art university textbooks. He is a retired US Federal Civil Rights Analyst/Investigator.

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xiuy.velo/

   https://www.facebook.com/losillegals/

PBS SoCal (Live @ the Ford): https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/live-the-ford/clip/los-illegals

Songs Samples:

(0:00-0:45) Los Illegals, “A-95,” Internal Exile, A&M, 1983. https://archive.org/details/08themall/12+A-95.mp3 

(0:08-0:55) Los Illegals, “El Lay,” Internal Exile, A&M, 1983. https://archive.org/details/08themall/12+A-95.mp3 

(0:12-1:10) Los Illegals, “We Don’t Need A Tan,” Internal Exile, A&M, 1983. https://archive.org/details/08themall/12+A-95.mp3 

Interview Transcript: https://sonix.ai/share/uc7S6E9tVvZGSzgFXf8ScAAZ

This episode was recorded on March 16, 2024, in front of a live audience at the Frida Kahlo Theater in Los Angeles. 

Bella Gerard edited the audio and interview transcript.