Jesse Valadez

Last updated

Jesse Valadez was a Mexican American lowrider and artist based in East Los Angeles who became known as a major figure in lowriding, a cultural practice among Chicanos that he helped pioneer. [1] [2] He was a founding member of the Imperials car club and designed the famous Gypsy Rose lowrider in the 1970s, which went on to make international waves for lowrider culture, boosted by its feature on the show Chico and the Man . [3] [2]

Contents

In 1997, Valadez passed the Gypsy Rose down to his son, Jesse Valadez Jr. or "Little Jesse," who became a notable second-generation lowrider. [3] [4] Valadez died in 2011. [1] His son died in 2019. [4] The Gypsy Rose of the Valadez family was the first lowrider ever to be inducted into the Historic Vehicle Association and is now housed at the Petersen Automotive Museum. [4]

History

He was born in Nueva Rosita, Coahuila, Mexico in 1946, before immigrating to Texas in 1959. Two years later, Valadez moved to Los Angeles, California. [2] He opened an upholstery and auto shop shortly after in the city of Garden Grove. [2]

Lowrider construction

Valadez constructed three lowriders in his lifetime, all of which he named Gypsy Rose. [2] The first Gypsy Rose was a 1960 Chevrolet Impala [2] that he painted a simple flashy pink, thinking of the burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee. [2] In 1964, he founded the Imperials car club with his brother Armando. [5] [6] He was part of the lowrider cruising scene in East Los Angeles and wanted the Imperials club to represent the city well. [5]

1968 Gypsy Rose

His second was another Impala that would become the predecessor to the famous Gypsy Rose lowrider. [2] On this car, he hand-painted roses to honor his mother "because she liked flowers" and she "loved the idea of putting roses on the car." [2] This second Gypsy Rose car made its debut on the lowrider scene at the 1968 Winternationals Custom Show. [2] At first, some of his fellow lowriders from other car clubs were critical of the design. A veteran recalled "They used to dog on him like, 'How can you put effin' roses on your car, man?'" [2]

In 1972, this car made the front page of Car Craft magazine, which expanded its notoriety. [2] However, it was destroyed shortly after from members of a rival car club in El Monte, after the Imperials reportedly hosted an event in their neighborhood without consultation. [2]

1974 Gypsy Rose

The famous Gypsy Rose was Valadez's third lowrider build. 1964 Chevrolet Impala Gypsy Rose.jpg
The famous Gypsy Rose was Valadez's third lowrider build.

After the previous car's destruction, Valadez decided to build a third Gypsy Rose car with another flower design, which made its debut in 1974. [2] Valadez created the concept and design and Walter Prey, a custom car legend, helped bring his vision to life. Prey also worked with painter Don Heckman. [2] While his second car featured 72 flowers, the lasting Gypsy Rose featured 115 flowers. [2] Valadez's older brother, Gil, did all of the upholstery work on the car in a matching velvet color, along with its extra aesthetic features. [2]

That same year, Freddie Prinze, who was the star of Chico and the Man (1974–1978) insisted that the car and Valadez be featured in the opening sequence of the show, which resulted in its widespread recognition. [2] When funk band War came out with their song "Low Rider" in 1975, the Imperials car club was reportedly the first to hear it. [5] Hydraulic suspension was added to the car some years later. [2]

In 1997, Valadez passed the car on to his son. [2] Valadez Jr. admitted he was scared to take on such a responsibility, but recalled the words of his father: "He always said, 'Have fun with the car.'" [2] In 2007, Valadez received the Lifetime Contributor Award from Lowrider Magazine . [6] The car was shown at the Petersen Automotive Museum in 2008. [6]

Death

Valadez died in January 2011 at the age of 64. [2] His funeral was in East Los Angeles and was attended by his many loved ones. [2] [5] After his death, the car was put on display at The Mall, Washington, D.C., where his son spoke about the car. [2]

His son, Valadez Jr., died in 2019, at the age of 45. [3] His funeral was also attended by his many loved ones as well as lowrider fans both nationally and internationally. [3] [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Impala</span> American full-size car

The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size car that was built by Chevrolet for model years 1958 to 1985, 1994 to 1996, and 2000 to 2020. The Impala was Chevrolet's popular flagship passenger car and was among the better-selling American-made automobiles in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lowrider</span> Customized car with a lowered body

A lowrider or low rider is a customized car with a lowered body that emerged among Mexican American youth in the 1940s. Lowrider also refers to the driver of the car and their participation in lowrider car clubs, which remain a part of Chicano culture and have since expanded internationally. These customized vehicles are also artworks, generally being painted with intricate, colorful designs, unique aesthetic features, and rolling on wire-spoke wheels with whitewall tires.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodwin Knight</span> 31st Governor of California

Goodwin Jess "Goodie" Knight was an American politician and judge who served as the 31st governor of California from 1953 to 1959. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 35th lieutenant governor of California from 1947 to 1953 under Governor Earl Warren.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Wrigley Jr.</span> American businessman (1861–1932)

William Mills Wrigley Jr. was an American chewing gum industrialist. He founded the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company in 1891.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton</span> Motor vehicle

Three Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaetons were produced in 1952 by Chrysler as ceremonial vehicles. They were styled by Virgil Exner and were in many ways a preview of the new "100 Million Dollar" styling that would debut in 1955 on the newly separate Imperial marque and on other full-size Chrysler Corporation Cars.

Earle C. Anthony was an American businessman and philanthropist based in Los Angeles, California. He worked in broadcasting and automobiles and was also a songwriter, journalist and playwright.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse L. Lasky</span> American film producer and co-founder of Paramount Pictures (1880–1958)

Jesse Louis Lasky was an American pioneer motion picture producer who was a key founder of what was to become Paramount Pictures, and father of screenwriter Jesse L. Lasky Jr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petersen Automotive Museum</span> Automotive museum in California, United States

The Petersen Automotive Museum is located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles. One of the world's largest automotive museums, the Petersen Automotive Museum is a nonprofit organization specializing in automobile history and related educational programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lowrider bicycle</span> Customized bicycle

A lowrider bicycle is a highly customized bicycle with styling inspired by lowrider cars. These bikes often feature a long, curved banana seat with a sissy bar and very tall upward-swept ape hanger handlebars. A lot of chrome, velvet, and overspoked wheels are common accessories to these custom bicycles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let Me Ride</span> 1993 single by Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg

"Let Me Ride" is a song by rapper and producer Dr. Dre, released in 1993 as the third and final single from his debut studio album, The Chronic. It experienced moderate success on the charts, until it became a massive hit when Dre won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance for the song during the Grammy Awards of 1994. The chorus is sung by Ruben and Jewell, and Snoop Dogg raps the line "Rollin' in my 6-4" and appears in some background vocals.

Lawrence William Knechtel was an American keyboard player and bassist who was a member of the Wrecking Crew, a collection of Los Angeles–based session musicians who worked with such renowned artists as Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, the Beach Boys, the Mamas & the Papas, the Monkees, the Partridge Family, Billy Joel, the Doors, the Byrds, the Grass Roots, Jerry Garcia, and Elvis Presley. He also was a member of the 1970s band Bread.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Hardy</span> American football player (1923–2019)

James Francis Hardy was an American football quarterback. He was born in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My 64</span> 2007 single by Mike Jones featuring Bun B and Snoop Dogg

"My 64" is the second single from Mike Jones' extended play The American Dream. It features rappers Bun B and Snoop Dogg. It samples "Boyz-n-the-Hood" by Eazy-E. The radio version doesn't feature Snoop's outro and the last chorus that follows thus the airplay single is 3:55 long.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George C. Thomas Jr.</span> American golf course architect, botanist, and writer (1873-1932)

George Clifford Thomas Jr. was an American golf course architect, botanist, and writer. He designed the original course at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club, outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and more than twenty courses in California, including Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades and Red Hill Country Club in Rancho Cucamonga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whittier Boulevard</span> Street in Los Angeles County

Whittier Boulevard is an arterial street that runs from the Los Angeles River to Brea, California. The street is one of the main thoroughfares in both Whittier and East Los Angeles. At various times, portions of Whittier Boulevard carried the designation of U.S. Route 101. Whittier Boulevard also carries a portion of El Camino Real. Its west section leading from the Sixth Street Viaduct was demolished in 2016; the replacement was officially opened in 2022.. Currently, Whittier Boulevard carries two Caltrans controlled highways. The portion between Rosemead Boulevard and Beach Boulevard carries State Route 72 and the portion between Beach and Harbor Boulevards carries California State Route 39. The portion of State Route 72 up to State Route 19 was relinquished back to Pico Rivera in the early 2000s and the portion of State Route 72 between State Route 19 and Downey Road was deleted from SR 72 in 1992.

<i>Lowriders</i> (film) 2016 American film

Lowriders is a 2016 American drama film directed by Ricardo de Montreuil, written by Elgin James and Cheo Hodari Coker, and starring Demián Bichir, Gabriel Chavarria, Theo Rossi, Melissa Benoist, Tony Revolori and Eva Longoria. It was released on May 12, 2017. The film received mixed reviews from critics and has grossed $6 million.

Rafael Esparza is an American performance artist who lives and works in Los Angeles. His work includes performances affecting his physical well-being and installations constructed from adobe bricks. Esparza often works with collaborators, including members of his family.

Richard Megugorac, commonly known as Dick or by his nickname Magoo, was an American land speed racer and customizer.

Clifford Augustus Hall was a native Angeleno and photographer who documented many parties and celebrations in some of the city's wealthiest neighborhoods, and shot images of the riots that occurred in the city in 1992. He also conceived of and designed a car that he hoped would be both an inexpensive, agile city car suited to Los Angeles driving conditions, and a source of reliable, well-paying jobs that would allow Black families in Los Angeles to build wealth.

Raul Garcia, better known by his stage name, Jonny Chingas (1940-1991), is a Mexican American musician known for his electronic and soul songs, such as "Se Me Paro".

References

  1. 1 2 McLellan, Dennis; Times, Los Angeles (2011-02-12). "Jesse Valadez dies at 64; pioneer of L.A.'s lowriders". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 "A Tribute To "Mr. Imperial Material" Jesse Valadez, Sr. - Lowrider". MotorTrend. 2011-05-16. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Lowrider fans pay their final respects to owner of Gypsy Rose in East LA". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  4. 1 2 3 "Jesse Valadez Jr., owner of most famous lowrider in LA history, dead at 45". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Berglund, Cary; Brayton, Julie. "Lowrider Legend Remembered". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  6. 1 2 3 Radio, Southern California Public (2011-02-07). "Honoring Jesse Valadez of 'Gypsy Rose,' legendary lowrider". Southern California Public Radio. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  7. ↑ "Jesse Valadez Jr., owner of most famous lowrider in LA history, dead at 45". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.