ArtistInfo

J.M. Valle

Songwriter, Producer and CEO of Raza del Soul J.M. Valle grew up in East Side San Jo (California), just blocks away from historic King and Story Roads. Mr. Valle’s parents were both farmworkers who moved to San José in the late 1970’s during the height of San José’s low-rider capital to work on the computer assembly line. Mr. Valle’s grandfather came to the United States under the Bracero program, a government program that helped fill farmworker labor while a majority of Americans were serving in World War II. While Mr. Valle’s parents were chasing the American Dream, Mr. Valle endured a flawed education system, police harassment and brutality, and everyday survival of the barrio. J.M. Valle founded the Souleros Ball in 2009, which undeniably was the first public event where Rare Oldies (Soul Harmony/Low-rider Oldies) record collectors gathered to spin their prized collection in front of a live audience. The Souleros Ball indirectly embarked on an entire movement and market encompassing Oldies vinyl nights, old school cholo artwork, and contemporary recordings of the Low-rider Oldies and Rare Oldies sound. Although the Souleros Ball showcased live performances since its inception, the Souleros Ball became a game changer in 2011, after a live performance by Myron and E of Timmion Records (Finland, Europe). This was the first time contemporary recording artists involved in the growing analog and vinyl craze performed in front of the Raza. Myron and E performed a live cover of The Exit's "Under the Street Lamp", at Mr. Valle's request, which later led to a record contract with Stones Throw Records. During the same year, Wax Poetics Magazine releases a cover story of the growing Chicano Rare Oldies scene which featured Mr. Valle and his contributions to the movement. In 2015, J.M. Valle wrote a screenplay and directed a music video for The Jack Moves "Joyride" (Wax Poetics). The music video depicted la Chicanada with cameos of OG Dave (Barrio Brawl), Victor Barrera (Duke of Earl Movie), Roberto Hernandez (SF Lowrider Council), and Big Serg (The Principal). Filmed in San José, San Francisco's Mission District and Oakland, the video is also dedicated to Sonny Madrid, founder of Low Rider Magazine and Teen Angel, both of which had their break in San Jo, and passed during the same year. Putting together a harmony group was bound to happen. After trial and error, J.M. Valle formed Thee Baby Cuffs made up of Joe Narvaez, Gilberto Rodriguez and Dave Herrera and began his songwriting and producing career. In 2017, Mr. Valle took his seat, and self released a rendition of Larry Sanders’ “Where Did Peace Go” backed by The M-Tet (Bay Area). Mr. Valle re-worked the lyrics to describe the plight of Raza and re-titled Larry Sanders’ protest song to “Where Did Our Pride Go”. Digital formats and streams were released during anti-presidential inauguration protests nationwide when Trump took the White House. A 45 release followed during the same year on Cinco de Mayo. The following year in 2018, Mr. Valle sequaled a song written for Stylart, a subsidiary of Timmion Records. Written four years prior and recorded as a demo which never came to surface at Chris Lujan's (Lugnut Brand Records) studio bedroom. Written over four years ago and recorded as a demo at Chris Lujan's (Lugnut Brand Records) studio bedroom. Titled, “My My My Baby”, is a vocally dynamic take, accompanied with harmonies, a man rapping to his ol’ lady and securing what she means to him. The lyrics mirrored Valle's early relationship with his wife, getting married and having a family, yet challenged by the unacceptance of family members who naturally want to shield their baby girl. Cold Diamond and Mink later cut an uptempo version which gave both Mr. Valle's songwriting and his group, Thee Baby Cuffs an international platform.

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