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 ws 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. 

Dr. Danielle Spencer R.I.P.

Dr. Danielle Spencer, who played little sister Dee Thomas on the classic sticom What's Happening!!, died today, August 11 2025, at the age of 60. The cause was cancer.

Danielle Spencer was born on June 24 1965 in Trenton, New Jersey. Her parents divorced when she was very young, and her mother married Tim Pelt, who she counted as her father. She began acting when she was only seven years old. It was in 1976 that she was cast as Dee Thomas, the younger sister of lead character Roger "Raj" Thomas (Ernest Thomas), on the sitcom What's Happening!!. The show ran for only three seasons, but proved very popular in syndication.

Danielle Spencer also guest starred on The Brady Bunch Variety Hour and NBC Special Treat. She would later reprise her role as an older Dee Thomas on the syndicated sequel series What's Happening Now!!. She has a cameo as a veterinarian in the movie As Good as It Gets (1997). She also had a cameo in an episode of Days of Our Lives in 2001.She also appeared as a veterinarian in the short "Peter Rabbit and the Crucifix" (2001). 

Danielle Spencer attended the University of California-Davis and later UCLA. She earned a degree in veterinary medicine at Tuskegee University in 1993. She set up practice in  Santa Clarita, California, then moved to Richmond, Virginia where she set up a practice. In her capacity as a veterinarian she appeared on local CBS affiliate WTVR-TV where she hosted segments on health care. 

In 2014 Danielle Spencer became the first and only child star inducted into the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Danielle Spencer's acting career was brief, but a Dee Thomas on What's Happening!! she had an enormous impact. Dee was smart and funny, and always spoke her mind. She often delivered her lines deadpan and tended to be down-to-earth when it came to family life. Her catchphrase, "Ooh, I'm gong to tell Mama," became popular in the late Seventies. Dee became very popular with teenage girls. Of course, Dr. Spencer was also well-respected as a veterinarian and known for her compassion for both animals and humans. She will be long remembered.