Tuesday 26 March 2019

Joe Loco born 26 March 1921


Joe Loco (March 26, 1921 - March 7, 1988) was a Latin pianist, arranger, bandleader and composer; played a leading part in popularizing mambo and other Latin rhythms in the USA during '40s-50s with big bands and his own popular combo.

Joe Loco was born José Estevez Jr. in Manhattan, New York City of Puerto Rican parentage. He started dance and violin tuition at age eight, skipping school at 13 to dance in vaudeville; he was caught by a truant officer and made to attend Harlem High School in 1937, where he learned the basics of trombone and piano: he played trombone with a New York Amateur Symphony but settled on piano. He danced with Chick Webb's band (featuring Ella Fitzgerald) at the Apollo Theatre, and played piano with the bands of Ciro Rimac, the Happy Boys, Enric Madriguera, Xavier Cugat and others.



He was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Force '45-6; after discharge he studied at Juilliard under the G.I. bill. He then free lanced with Latin music's top bands, which included Polito Galindez, Marcelino Guerra, Pupi Campo, and Julio Andino before striking gold with his monstrous hit recording of "Tenderly" in 1952.


                         

Loco ‘s policy of giving pop standards and original tunes a Latin jazz makeover in a small piano and rhythm group context became a winning formula, securing dates in jazz clubs nationwide as well as Latino community gigs.

Meanwhile Loco kept the albums coming with the under-promoted The Music Of Rafael Hernández and Augustin Lara '57 and The Music Of Gonzalo Curiel and Consuelo Velázquez Vol. 2 '59 on Ansonia. Let's Go Loco and Happy Go Loco on Imperial. He returned to Fantasy for Cha Cha Chá  '58, Olé '58, Latin Jewels '59, The Best Of Joe Loco '60 and Pachanga With Joe Loco '61 made with Mongo Santamaria's charanga.

He changed to GNP for Poco Loco With Joe Loco c.1962; he issued Dance! Joe Loco And His Pachanga Band early '60s and Puerto Rico '68 on Liberty/Sunset. He moved to Puerto Rico '68, and worked in San Juan hotels until his death on March 07, 1988.

(Edited from Wikipedia & donaldclarkemusicbox.)

6 comments:

boppinbob said...

For “Joe Loco, His Piano And His Orchestra ‎– Loco Motion (1955)
& Joe Loco His Piano And Rhythm ‎– The Music Of Rafael Hernandez And Augustin Lara (1957)”
Go here:

https://www.upload.ee/files/9749678/Joe_Loco_-_2_on_1.rar.html

1. Loco Motion
2. Tremendo Cha-Cha-Cha
3. Mama Inez
4. Cha-Cha-Cha No. 5
5. My Heart, My Life, My Love
6. Paso Merengue
7. Manhattan
8. Baion Baby
9. All Of You
10. Negra Consentida
11. Tenderly
12. Happy Days Are Here Again

Joe Loco His Piano And Rhythm ‎– The Music Of Rafael Hernandez And Augustin Lara (1957)”

Music Of Rafael Hemandez
1. Lamento Borincano
2. Silencio
3. Campanitas De Cristal
4. Perfume De Gardenia
5. Hablame De Amor
6. Capullito De Aleli

Music Of Augustín Lara

7. Arrancame La Vida
8. Santa
9. Palmera
10. Amor De Mis Amores
11. Noche De Ronda
12. Maria Bonita


For “JOE LOCO & HIS ORCHESTRA - HAPPY GO LOCO” go here:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/mo8kh5j4lvic57u/locoorch.rar

From madrotter-treasure-hunt.blogspot.com/

Guitarradeplastico,scraping oddities said...

Many thanks

Guitarradeplastico,scraping oddities said...

very informative and rare,for you, some data that does not come out in discogs (Ray Agee, Tarheel Slim ... and many more blues, gospel, etc ...) ( link of Ernest... )

Walter Bruyninckx; L Bruyninckx; Domi Truffandier
93 years of recorded jazz & blues (1917-2010) : (prejazz 1897-1917), A to Z complete
(not completely sure wether it is the above given edition - but most probably...)


https://1fichier.com/?ndttp1hqu2be0iq62156

boppinbob said...

Wow. Thanks GSO, will come in help with dates for my library database.
Regards, Bob

mamboscar said...

busco el tema besos caramelo de joe loco con tito rodriguez informes correo acevedo112@hotmail.es

boppinbob said...

Mamboscar, Desculpe. Isso é tudo que tenho de Joe Loco.