Pedro J. González

After serving with Pancho Villa in the Revolution (1910-1920), Pedro J. González joined the thousands of Mexicans immigrating to the U.S. in the early 1920s. González hosted one of the first Spanish radio broadcasts in California, Los Madrugadores (“The Early Risers”), which premiered on KMPC in 1929. The show aired from 4-6 am, when workers were heading to the fields and the only time that broadcasters were interested in playing Mexican music. In the 1930s, he formed the musical group Los Madrugadores, which became one of the most prominent Mexican groups in Los Angeles. González used the airwaves to rail against mass deportations of Mexicans, which soon drew the attention and ire of the authorities. In 1934, at the peak of his career, González was sent to San Quentin prison on falsified rape charges. He was released in the early 1940s after appeals by two Mexican presidents and huge public protests.

Los Madrugadores, circa 1930s. Pedro J. González is seated at center.
Left to right: José Torres, Pedro J. González, Alberto Hernández. (circa 1930s)
Promotional flier featuring Los Madrugadores for
Los Madrugadores with Pedro J. González in the middle.
Left to right: Victor Sánchez, Josefina Rivas, Pedro J. González, La Prieta Caldera, Fernando Linares (circa 1930s).
KMPC radio station, 1938.
Left to right: Victor Sánchez, Fernando Linares, Pedro J. González, Carmen Caudillo, and Jesús Sánchez (1930s).
Left to right: Victor Sánchez, Pedro J. González, Martin Hauffer, Ismael Hernandez, and Jesús Sánchez (1930s).

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