Rockin' Funnies: Born In East LA (1984)

President Trump probably wouldn't like this video.

Richard "Cheech" Marin, one half of Cheech & Chong, went solo with a send-up of Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" with "Born in East LA", which was also released in 1984.

The concept is simple. Cheech runs afoul of a INS officer and is deported to Mexico along with some other undocumented "immigrants". "Born" would later be adapted into a feature film, with Marin writing, starring, and directing, three years later.

In addition to a cameo appearance by Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, "Born" also pokes Randy Newman's "I Love LA", ever so gently.



Nearly 20 years later, Marin gave it a whirl as a contestant on Celebrity Duets, trying his hand at country music, singing in his natural voice. Unfortunately, he didn't win. We'll discuss Celebrity Duets another time.