Rosie Hamlin: Chicana Rock 'n' Roll Pioneer

When people think of Chicano pioneers in rock 'n' roll, Ritchie Valens is probably the first to come to mind. Not as well known is a Chicana who wrote and performed one of the most successful singles of the early rock 'n' roll era. "Angel Baby" peaked at no. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961 and spent 13 weeks on the chart. It also peaked at no. 5 on the Billboard R&B chart and spent eight weeks there. "Angel Baby" was written by Rosie Hamlin and she performed the song with her group Rosie and The Originals. 

Rosie Hamlin was born on July 21 1945 in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Her mother was Mexican while her father was an American of English descent. She spent much of her childhood in Alaska before her family moved to California. She came from a musical family. Her father played guitar. Her grandfather played banjo and harmonica. She began her music career when she was very young. She was only 13 when she started singing with a Country & Western band. It was in 1960 that her mother bought her a piano and her aunt began teaching her to play it.

Rosie Hamlin was only 14 years old when she wrote "Angel Baby" as a poem for her very first boyfriend. It was when she was 15 years old that she and some friends rented the only recording studio near San Diego, California where they lived, a studio in San Marcos, California. It was owned by an airplane mechanic who had converted part of his hangar into a recording studio. "Angel Baby" was originally recorded on a two-track machine. Because of this any time someone made a mistake, they had to start all over from the beginning. It took thirty times or more for them to get "Angel Baby" done the way they wanted it. 

Rosie and The Originals could not interest a record label in "Angel Baby." She finally took one of their 45s to Kresge's Department Store in San Diego and asked the manager if he could include the song in the listening booths in the store. The song turned out to be so popular with teenagers at Kresge's that it eventually attracted the attention of a scout from Highland Records, who offered Rosie and The Originals a recording contract.

Rosie and The Originals would follow "Angel Baby" up with two more singles, "Lonely Blue Nights" and "Why Did You Leave Me," neither of which met with success. The group disbanded, and Rosie Hamlin recorded an album with guitarist Noah Tafolla for Brunswick Records. Rosie Hamlin and Noah Tafolla eventually married and had two children. She retired from singing in 1963 to raise her family.

Rosie Hamlin would eventually return to performing. She recorded singles in 1969 and 1973. Rosie & The Originals would also release the album Steppin' Out in Style in 2000. In 2002 Rosie Hamlin released the album Angel Baby Revisited, which included a Spanglish version of "Angel Baby."

While Rosie Hamlin's recording career did not last long, she would have a lasting impact. She was the first Chicana and hence the first Latina to ever appear on American Bandstand. She was also the first Chicana and hence the first Latina to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her song "Angel Baby" has become a classic and has been recorded by such artists as John Lennon (who counted Rosie Hamlin among his favourite artists), Kathy Young, Linda Ronstadt, Jenni Rivera, and others. Rosie Hamlin was a true pioneer, the very first Chicana to have a hit record, who paved the way for all Chicano artists ever since.