SGV 014: Band kid to ska star with Jackie Mendez

Jackie Mendez is a rocksteady and soul artist from South El Monte. She honed her chops singing in the backyards and dive bars of the Mid-Valley, starting with her legendary band The Boss Beats.

She’s one of the SGV’s most recognized songwriters after putting in over a decade, working her way through different styles. Her path seems to be a patient one; now she’s poised to release a flurry of top tier, lived in, “soulsteady” music.

In this episode we talk about her life all over the Valley, buying used cd's in the KROQ era of ska punk, how her parents put her on to playing music, the Boss Beats days, and how her ska style as a solo artist evolved and where her love for it comes from.

Jackie's physical releases are all sold out, but you can find some copies on discogs.
Stream her on Spotify.