Mike "Mickey" Aversa grew up in Montebello, California, a stone's throw from the cradle of the "Eastside Sound," the unincorporated part of East Los Angeles where most of the music venues were located. Also in the neighborhood was Whittier Boulevard, whose cruising scene has been made legendary in story and song. Mike's musical journey began with guitar lessons from his brother in-law when he was seven years old. Later he took formal guitar and piano lessons. Learning to read music made much of his later musical exploits possible. His first band was Mickey and His Cavaliers. They were managed by his father, who also came up with the name. The band formed in 1961. One of the venues they often played was Auction Village in Baldwin Park, California. Like many bands in the early 60s, Mickey and His Cavaliers played a lot of surf music. However, they also played R&B and even country music. They were soon regular guests on the "Squeekin' Deacon" radio show, which was a country western show. Members of Mickey and His Cavaliers were Mickey Aversa (guitar, vocals), Don Vena (drums), Edward Matisoff (sax), Dave Irwin (bass), Nancy Maldonado (vocals), and Pat Richardson (vocals).
In 1963, the band changed its name from Mickey and His Cavaliers to Mickey & the Invaders. The name gave them a more modern and other-worldly dimension. Their band cards even proclaimed "music out of this world." They played weddings, parties, dances, and Naval bases. By this time they added some standards to their song list. Band members came and went until the members of Mickey & the Invaders were Mickey Aversa (guitar), Simon Casas (bass), Sonny Lathrop (guitar), Denny Robinson (guitar), Linda Robinson (vocals), Barry Ward (drums), John Ortiz (sax), and Mario Sosa (trumpet). (Drummer Barry Ward would later play for a while with Three Dog Night.)
Two other members of Mickey & the Invaders give them major East L.A. street cred, Bobby Espinoza and Danny Lamont. After a couple of years with Mickey & the Invaders, Bobby Espinoza went on to play with the popular East L.A. band the V.I.P.s, who later evolved into the hit band El Chicano. Bobby's Hammond B3 organ style became the heart and soul of El Chicano's sound. Mickey & the Invaders was the first band Bobby ever played with. Here's how it happened: Mickey Aversa was taking piano lessons at Lew Salter's in East L.A. on Atlantic Boulevard, just south of Whittier Blvd. Mickey told Mr. Salter he was looking for a keyboard player for his band. Mr. Salter recommended Bobby, who was also one of his students. According to Mickey, Bobby was a very shy kid at the time, but with a little prodding he agreed to join the band. This was the genesis of Bobby's musical career. Drummer Danny Lamont went on to become a member of Thee Midniters during their heyday in the mid-60s. Thee Midniters were the most popular band in East L.A. in that era. In the early 70s, La Mont joined Bobby Espinoza as a member of El Chicano for a time. Danny Lamont played on El Chicano's fourth album, "El Chicano," released in 1973.
It's true Mickey & the Invaders played surf music and depending on the venue could indeed morph into an authentic surf band. They're even included in the 1996 book, "Surfin' Guitars," by Robert J. Dalley and published by Popular Culture, Ink. However, it would be more accurate to describe the band as musical chameleons. On the "Eastside circuit" they would play R&B and hits by some of the East L.A. bands of the era. At a wedding dance, they could play standards or Mexican music. Bassist Simon Casas' father was a guitarrón player in a mariachi and his mother was part of a Mexican vocal duo with her sister, Las Hermanas Fraga, who recorded for Columbia Records. Mickey & the Invaders even played Gypsy music at Gypsy weddings! They were very good musicians, most of whom could read music.