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]
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]
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
:3was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "Lowrider fans pay their final respects to owner of Gypsy Rose in East LA". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
- ^ a b c "Jesse Valadez Jr., owner of most famous lowrider in LA history, dead at 45". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 2023-01-27.