What are some popular sock hop songs (among Latinos/Chicanos)?

Which play are you doing? “Sock Hops”....do you want Chicano/Mexican music….or Pop stuff? Which era is it set in? The 50’s? 60’s? 70’s? Contemporary?

I think I can help.

La Bamba

It’s an original adaptation of the three little pigs (“pigletitas”). I would say more “classic” sock hop that would be favorites of this demographic (probably ‘50s).

50s in age? Or 1950’s? (Sorry, Kev….just trying to hone in a bit more.)

1950s

Got it…...my dad’s era…and they listened to whatever was playing on contemporary radio. Many went on to serve in Korea. They were desperately attempting to be fully integrated “Americans” so, they embraced rock and roll. If you really are thinking of sock hop, Southwest, 1950’s.

I remember he liked “Diana” by Paul Anka (very sock hop)...La Bamba (a little later, but still played a lot)...“Chantilly Lace” by the Big Bopper. For a slow song, you can try “Amapola” by Gene Autry (if you are trying to give it a Southwestern feel) as it is both in English/Spanish. Country like Hank Williams (Your Cheatin Heart) was also well-liked.

Other tunes I can remember that he enjoyed as a teen…“Blueberry Hill” by Fats Domino and definitely, “Mona Lisa”....Nat King Cole…he always sang that.

Did they listen to Mexican music from Mexico? Yes…but they were not always played at Sock Hops….simply because they administration would not allow it.

Now…if you want to find the traditional “norteno” (Northern) music of Mexico which was popular in the 50’s and 60’s in the Southwest, that’s available, too. If a high school that
was predominantly Mexican-American had a dance with a live band (conjunto) then they would have sounded like this CD (and this might be useful if you want to play Mexican Sock Hop music.) Lots of modern Tejano music found its roots in the 50’s….

http://www.amazon.com/Antonios-Conjuntos-1950s-Various-Artists/dp/B0000001IT

If you want to truly depict a Mexican high school “baile”.....then I would mix American rock and roll with conjunto music….that’s how it was truly done. The only time that a hop had only Mexican music was if a conjunto was playing and they only knew Mexican music. But sock hops were usually with records/albums.

Hope this helps.

Hands down, you need the Pachuco Boogie recordings. I think they would be perfect for your project.

A sample

@DarlingRhadamanthus, wow. That’s an impressive and helpful response. Thanks.
@peedub, undoubtedly just as effective ;-), I will give it a listen.

Ooh, I’ll bet everyone was nuts for Buddy Holly!