About Us

Hector A. Gonzalez – Owner/CEO of Rampart, Linda, Faro, Valhalla, Prospect Records, Eastside Soul, and Rampart Latino Records (subsidiary’s of Gordo Enterprises). Mr. Gonzalez is an Emmy Award-winning and Grammy Award Nominee who began his career in the Hollywood Entertainment Industry while attending Nimitz Middle School in 1967 as an Extra on the NBC Television series, “High Chaparral”. He later studied music and became a Recording Artist for Rampart Records as the Leader and Bass Player for the band, “Eastside Connection”. Under Hectors’ Musical Direction, (an student of the legendary studio bass player, Chuck Rainey), the band garnered a strong reputation in the United Kingdom and Canada with their song, “You’re So Right For Me” (1977) which was chosen by Billboard Magazine on September 10^th, 1977 as the recommended “Top Soul Single Pick of The Week”. The group scored an additional hit record a year later with, “Frisco Disco” (1978). Both of these songs charted on the National Billboard Top 40 Disco charts. “Frisco Disco” has been sampled by various Rap & Hip Hop Artists including, “ONYX” and “SLICK RICK”. The song, “Frisco Disco” was also performed as part of a DJ tribute with Grand Master Flash and Kid Capri on VH1’s 2005 Hip Hop Honors. There original 1979 Rampart Records album, “Brand Spanking New” was re-released in Japan by Record Producer, Shin Miyata and Music Camp Entertainment on Barrio Gold Records in 2007.

In 1980, Gonzalez’s technical career began at the ABC Television Network (Television Center) as a Studio Field Audio Engineer working on such productions as Barney Miller, American Bandstand, the Lawrence Welk Show, the Annual Academy Awards, Good Morning America (GMA) and the West Coast ABC Network News Bureaus. In 1985, he was nominated and won his first Prime Time Emmy Award for the 1984 Summer Olympics and ABC Sports. 

In 1987, Hector went on to work for Bill Cosby Productions on the show, “A Different World” and began his career in Spanish Television working for Univision. Later that same year, Hector began working for the CBS Television Network earning several additional Emmy Nominations for the game shows, “Win, Lose, or Draw” and “The Price is Right”. 

In 1994, Gonzalez became the heir to the Eddie Davis Recording and Publishing Estate, The Rampart Record Group and the Faro Music Publishing Group (A Division of Gordo Enterprises). He relinquished his staff position at CBS Television City to administer these companies and license a vast music catalog dating back to 1958 for CD compilations, Film and Television. Since 1960, Rampart Records has been devoted almost exclusively to the development of Mexican American Chicano Talent known on the West Coast as “The Eastside Sound”. The Orchard distributes Rampart Records. 

In 1998, Hector went from working behind the scenes to working in front of the camera as the Musical Director with his family band, “Lava & the Hot Rocks” for the Telemundo Network Television Show, “Al Dia Con Maria Conchita” starring actress and Grammy-nominated singer, Maria Conchita Alonso. Hector is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and has appeared on Daytime’s #1 Soap Opera for CBS, “The Young & the Restless” as Fernando Cedilla. 

Gonzalez is the Producer for the upcoming Musical Documentary, “The Rampart Records Story” featuring East Los Angeles Chicano Rock Legends of the 60’s. In 2010, Hector directed, “The King of Latin Soul”, a Concert Film Documentary featuring New York singer, Joe Bataan. He also provided music for the 2006 HBO film, “Walk Out”, “The Hunting Party” with Richard Gere (2007), the HBO Comedy “East Bound & Down” (2011) and the Netflix / Playtone Mobster series, “Lilyhammer” (2012) and the HBO Musical Documentary “The Latin Explosion” produced by Shelia Nevins and Tommy Mottola. In 2006, Hector received his Academic Eminence from the Los Angeles Community College District and Educational Policies Advisory Committee along with the District Academic Senate to teach Broadcast Technology and Mexican American Chicano Studies. He taught in 2008-09, “The History of Chicanas and Chicanos in Film” at East Los Angeles College. In 2015 Rampart Records Latino was nominated for a Grammy in the category for Best Regional Mexican-American, including Tejano music. Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 summer theatrical blockbuster “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and original Motion Picture Soundtrack featured “Hector” by The Village Callers originally released 1968 Rampart Records. Coming this fall, another classic from the Rampart Vault “Take My Heart” by The Romancers will be featured in the British movie “Judy” starring Academy Award Winning Actress Rene Zellweger. Along With the long-awaited Land Of 1000 Dances, The Rampart Records 58^th Anniversary Complete Singles Collection is Scheduled for release by Rampart Records/Minky Records. This extraordinary 4-CD Box Set includes 79 tracks: A Complete Discography of all Rampart Records singles form 1961-1977, a 102-page, photo-illustrated book with essays by Don Waller and Luis Rodriguez. Dozens of exclusive, never-before-published, early photos of Rampart artists with The Beatles (1965 tour), The Rolling Stones, King Curtis, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and Brenda Holloway. The early years of Rock ‘n Roll, from Doo Wop to Disco. East Los Angeles’ greatest hits from the classic Rampart Records catalog, still going strong after 58 years!

 Jimmy Velarde – President/Rampart Latino Records with over thirty-five years experience in the entertainment industry has 28 Emmy nominations, 11 Emmy Awards for his production work at CBS Television Network. In 2015, Rampart Records Group earned its first Grammy Nomination. Current nominations include 2019 Prime Time Special Carpool Karaoke Late, Late Show with James Corden. In 1980, Mr. Velarde’s began his multi-facet career as a freelance photographer for The Los Angeles Daily News in creating their highly successful Restaurant and Nightclub Guide: media and advertising campaigns for clients including Pizza Hut, Anheuser Busch, McDonalds, Washington Mutual, Miller Beer, Windex, the Boy Scouts of America, and many other retail, regional, and national accounts. He has worked with music legend Stevie Wonder, “Keep America Beautiful” Iron Eyes Cody as their personal photographer. This general market association opened the door for becoming the Entertainment Director of Hispanic Media, the Hispanic branch of Guber-Peters Entertainment. He was also instrumental in producing corporate sponsored Hispanic Cultural Music Events in the San Fernando Valley.  

In 1981, music being Velarde’s first love found himself as assistant tour manager for blues icons Buddy Guy and the late harmonica man, Junior Wells while opening for the Rolling Stones. Followed by Blues Revival Festivals with legends Big Mama Thornton, Big Jay McNeely, Joe Houston, and Koko Taylor to name a few. In 1989, Velarde’s desire for network experience was met by attaining a staff position as a cameraman with CBS-Television City in Los Angeles. Working on many iconic shows such as The Carol Burnett Show, The Redd Foxx Special, The Price is Right, Real Time with Bill Maher, Dancing with The Stars, American Idol, The Late Show with David Letterman, Survivor, CBS Sports, Late, Late Show with James Corden, The Rose Parade, The Emmy Awards, The Grammy Awards, The Espy Awards, BET Awards, The Hollywood Bowl with John Williams, The Los Angeles Marathon, The Bold and Beautiful, The Young and The  Restless, and many more. In 1995 Jimmy partnered with the Latino comedy troupe Culture Clash to form Big Top Locos, promoting live concerts with headliners Rage Against The Machine, Cypress Hill, Quetzal, and many more groups in the Los Angeles area.

Mr. Velarde has produced/directed/edited television programs for Culture Clash Television Show/Fox Television, Elli-Lilly Pharmaceutical Ricardo Montalban Diabetes Infomercial/the Rodd-Group-New York, Synergy Infomercial Marketing, and RMM Records: Independent Films “Let Me Count The Ways,” “Never Trust A Serial Killer,” Short Films: “A Guide to Falling Upwards,” “Hanging with Mr. Canker,” “Hi Fly,” Documentary Format: Con Safos-Reflections Of Life In The Barrio, Private Insanities, Internet Content: “Pyramid Johnny and his Travelin’ Medicine Show” starring Oingo Boingo’s Johnny Vatos, “The Drone Chronicles,” “Las Cronicas De Drones.” “Kidding Around with Drones,” “Vito’s Italian Cucina”, Music Videos/EPK: Chia & Professor Funk “Good Morning L.A.”, Ixya Herrera Grammy Nominated EPK, Shane Salcido “Silky Smooth” EPK, Los 2 Hache “Ando Bien Crudo” EPK, A&M Records Latino.

From January 1996 to present, Mr. Velarde has served as CEO/President of Creative Teamwork Entertainment Inc., a multi-facet entertainment company involved in film, television, music, and “Live” concerts. In 2014, Velarde launched his own independent record label Angeltown Records (a division of the Rampart Records Group) with the release of rock guitarist Leigh Williams “Raging Inferno”. In 2015 Rampart Records Latino was nominated for a Grammy Award, for Best Regional Mexican-American, including Tejano music. Mr. Velarde has produced such music artists as Lava and Hot Rocks “You Damm Mexicans are too Loud!,” Jose Montoya y El Trio Casindio “Pachuco Portfolio,” Leigh Willliams “Raging Inferno”, Taming Ingrid “Taming Ingrid”.  2020, promises to create a substantial Internet presence with the Co-venture/partnership with Dymic Digital “The Drone Chronicles” web site. CTE/Dymic digital marketing strategy is become Industry experts in projecting the explosive growth in the use of drones for commercial applications. He is an active member of The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, The Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. Mr. Velarde currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Pacoima Historical Society.