George John Delgado

George John Delgado, 81, of San Gabriel California peacefully entered eternal rest at his home on October 19, 2025. He was a cherished brother, uncle, and friend, his divine presence will be deeply missed. All who had the honor of knowing George knew his warm and infectious laugh, thoughtful communication, infinite kindness, masterful social boundaries and his unquenchable thirst for root beer.

The greatest passion of George’s life was music, he started out by borrowing a guitar and jamming with neighborhood friends. Slowly he developed his skills as a rhythm guitarist and would become a founding member of The Premiers. Together the band played local events and in July 1964 when George was only a senior in high school, they had a hit with Farmer John. The band is unique for being the first eastside Chicano rock group to achieve national success in 1960.

Remarkably The Premiers were soon on tour across the nation and only a teenager George was able to gain an education outside of his hometown doing things that were never before possible. Their first tour was a Dick Clark “Caravan of Stars” show that started in St. Louis and continued through the Midwest and East Coast. Other artists on the bus tour included, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Bobby Freeman, Major Lance, Fabian, Gene Pitney, Brian Hyland and the Crystals. Their second tour was in the South, where they opened for the Rolling Stones in Alabama and for the Kinks and the Zombies. George was a part of the community and brotherhood that formed around musicians of the 60s cultivating the musical knowledge and experience he would share with anybody interested. George worked for the Los Angeles School District in transportation operations from which he would retire while continuing to make music and jam from his home studio and at local events on the weekend.

George will always be remembered as a humble and extraordinarily kind man and for his charitable donations to both the Los Angeles Mission and World Vision organizations. He always had a sacred willingness to help family and friends with anything he could. We will miss him dearly and imagine hearing him say “gee whiz” one more time. His memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved him.

“What I remember most are the people and the fans- being young and carefree everything was like magic. It was more than beautiful it was a blessing.” - G. Delgado