Jesus “Jess” Porras co-founded the Mixtures, a racially integrated 1960s R&B band whose songs “Rainbow Stomp” and “Olive Oyl” were minor hits, especially around their Ventura home base. Among the instruments he covered for the band (originally known as the Playboys) are violin, saxophone, flute, guitar, and piano.
The Mixtures were the house band for the KCOP TV show Parade of Hits, where they performed behind Roy Orbison, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, Paul Anka, and others. Their only album Stompin’ at the Rainbow was released in 1963. It was reissued on CD in October 2010 by Minky Records, along with several bonus tracks.
Porras founded a new group, the Top 5, before moving to San Diego in 1972. He eventually played in several local bands, as well as attending SDSU, where he earned a master’s degree in speech pathology and audiology. As of 2010, he worked at SDSU as a learning disabilities specialist.
Porras died December 26, 2010, at age 69. A memorial service was held on Friday, January 7.