Los Nombres / 7 Nombres / Willie and the Nombres / Pacesetters

Lorain, 1967-1980s

Latino-American rock-n-roll was coming sound in the late 1960s, especially from Los Angeles. In Lorain, a group of high school students of Puerto Rican ethnicity in Lorain formed the Nombres. Lorain has had a large Puetro Rican/ Latino community going back to the early 1900s and the Nombres were the younger generation's way of expressing their cultural influences with the teen band trend.

The band started as the Pacesetters and competed on the teen dance circuit with the Coachmen, Mickey and the Clean Cuts, etc. Many of the members attended/graduated from Admiral King high school. They included 'Latin American' as one of the styles they played in club ads. In 1970 they changed to the Nombres and upped the Latin influences in their music.

The core members of the Nombres included Willie Marquez (lead vocals) and Jose "Pepe" Rivera (guitar). The band (which was also listed at least on record as the Seven Nombres, and Willie and the Nombres) lasted from the late 1960s until the 1980s, releasing several 45s and an LP, almost all of which were self promoted. Nelson Marquez, Willie's younger brother,was the drummer, along with Richard Velasquez (guitar and keyboards). At one time in the early 1980s it was claimed they had over 20 members! 

the band ended sometime in the late 1980s.

Discography
Listen People / Full Of Love (Day-Wood 701, Boddie 7016) 1970 credited to the 7 Nombres
Cold Wine (Part 1) / Loving You (Beth 7102 - 7102 is actually the Boddie matrix number) 1971
Trivialities / Todos (Beth 101, Boddie 7204) 1972
Trivialities / Todos (Lorain Sound 790) c. 1977, different recordings
Write a Better Song / (Lorain Sound)
What's Going On / Soft Summer Nite (Lorain Sounds 8932) 1978
LP - Los Nombres (Lorain Sound no #) 1978 credited to Willie and the Nombres