Editing Edward James Olmos (section)

==Early life==
Olmos was born and raised in [[East Los Angeles]], [[California]], the son of Eleanor ([[married and maiden names|née]] Huizar) and Pedro Olmos, who was a welder and mail carrier.<ref>[http://www.filmreference.com/film/83/Edward-James-Olmos.html "Edward James Olmos Biography (1946–2010)"] filmreference.com, accessed 19 October 2009</ref> His father was a [[Mexicans|Mexican]] immigrant who moved to California in 1945 and his mother was an American of Mexican descent.<ref name="legends"/><ref>Velazquez, Gabriela (1 December 2003) [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-4253353_ITM "Edward James Olmos: fighting for justice and defying gangsters: on charity boards, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Oscar Nominee"] ''Latino Leaders'', accessed 19 October 2009</ref> His parents divorced when he was seven years old, and he was primarily raised by his great-grandparents as his parents worked.<ref name="legends"/> He grew up wanting to be a professional [[baseball]] player, and at age 13 joined the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]' [[farm system]], as a [[catcher]]. He left baseball at age 15 to join a [[rock and roll]] band, which caused a rift with his father, who was hurt by the decision.<ref name="legends"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Baseball Discovered: Who's Who: Edward James Olmos|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/mediacenter/baseball_discovered/whoswho.jsp?content=edward_james_olmos|access-date=January 10, 2017|work=Major League Baseball}}</ref>

He graduated from [[Montebello High School]] in 1964. While there he lost a race for Student Body President to future California [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] Chair [[Art Torres]]. In his teen years, he was the lead singer for a [[psychedelic rock|psychedelic]]/[[hard rock]] band he named Pacific Ocean, so called because it was to be "the biggest thing on the West Coast".<ref name=BSG>[http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/cast/adama/ Cast:William Adama] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080330025133/http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/cast/adama/ |date=March 30, 2008 }}, scifi.com, accessed 2 December 2006</ref> At the same time, he attended classes at [[East Los Angeles College]], including courses in acting.<ref>Bethel, Kari Francisco (2002) "Edward James Olmos" pp. 155-159 in Henderson, Ashyia N. (editor) (2002) ''Contemporary Hispanic Biography, Volume 1''  Gale, Detroit, page 156, {{ISBN|0-7876-6538-X}}</ref> 

For several years, Pacific Ocean (later renamed Eddie James and The Pacific Ocean) performed at various clubs in and around Los Angeles,<ref>{{Cite web |date=1968-05-09 |title=The Van Nuys News from Van Nuys, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/24204699/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1968-12-02 |title=The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/383058214/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and released the album ''Purgatory'' via VMC Records in late 1968.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1969-01-19 |title=The Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/118402956/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1969-01-24 |title=The Solano-Napa News Chronicle from Vallejo, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/1035668980/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The album was promoted with two singles, "I Can't Stand It"/"I Wanna Testify," and "My Shrink"/"16 Tons," and was followed by a nation-wide tour in early 1969.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1969-02-10 |title=The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/383020583/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=1969-03-08 |title=Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph from Colorado Springs, Colorado |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/62546532/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> While setting up for a Pacific Ocean show one night, Olmos slipped on stage and landed on a nail that went through his knee.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1969-02-04 |title=The El Dorado Times from El Dorado, Arkansas |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/35098508/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Another time during a concert, Olmos jumped from the top of an organ across the stage into the drum set, getting knocked unconscious and dislocating the drummer's shoulder.<ref name=":0" />