Pepe Jaramillo (October 27, 1921 - April 30, 2001) was a notable Mexican pianist, composer, arranger, and recording artist. He was most active in London as an EMI recording artist in the 1960s and 1970s.
Born José Jaramillo García in Lerdo, Durango, Mexico, both of Jaramillo's parents were originally from the state of Chihuahua. Pepe's father was Vicente Baca Jaramillo and his mother was Doña Enriqueta García. He also had a sister and three brothers. Jaramillo's sister's piano-playing inspired the then-four-year-old to teach himself to play the instrument, largely by ear. His family soon arranged for private lessons with a local teacher, and Jaramillo later continued his private lessons with the director of the Mexican Conservatory of Music.
In spite of his musical gifts, his family urged him to still have a back-up plan within a more stable profession. Thus, after studying dentistry for a frustrating two years, Jaramillo completed his higher education at the Academia de Negocios de Milton (Milton Business Academy), México City; he also devoted himself to learning English, French, Italian and Portuguese.
Jaramillo was employed for several years under a British mining company operating in the state of Chihuahua. One evening, while visiting the bar of the fashionable Ritz-Carlton in Mexico City, Jaramillo casually began "tinkering" on the grand piano in the hotel lobby for the entertainment of his friends; upon hearing his playing, hotel management promptly offered him a job playing in the Ritz-Carlton's night club. This marked the beginning of Jaramillo's lifelong musical career, during which he focused on the composition, arrangement and performance of various Latin American and Spanish musical styles, including Cuban cha-cha and rumba, boleros, and Brazilian samba, among others.
After a successful three-year term at the Ritz, Jaramillo was subsequently employed by friends who had opened the Quid Grill, a restaurant and bar. In turn, it was these friends' Hollywood actor friends who proved to be instrumental in introducing Jaramillo to the mainstream media, beginning in Mexico City; he also became highly sought-after as an accompanist for visiting and touring vocalists and other musicians.
After a 1957 visit to Paris with his cousin, Jaramillo fell in love with Europe, ultimately deciding to relocate to London. He appeared on a radio series with the BBC called Stairway to the Stars. After answering a call on TV for musicians, Jaramillo sent a recording of some of his earlier Mexican releases to Norman Newell; soon thereafter, his 20-year recording career (spanning 1959–1979) as an EMI artist began.
Here's "Pepe" from above album.
As a seasoned professional performer in Mexico, at age 38 Pepe Jaramillo was well prepared to move to the international stage. Through his nightclub and theater performances in some of the world's major cities, he became known as the "Ambassador of México." His performance venues in the Americas included Los Angeles, Harlem, New York City, Miami, Colombia, and Buenos Aires. European performances included London, Paris, Madrid, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Yugoslavia.
During a world tour he performed in many theaters across Japan, and also performed in Tangier, Hong Kong, Thailand, and China. During his concert tour in Australia and New Zealand, he also performed with The Seekers. By popular demand, Pepe visited Durban and Johannesburg for three tours of South Africa. In London, Pepe played at the reception hosted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family.
When he was not working or staying in London, Pepe Jaramillo spent his free time at his villa Las higueras (The Fig Trees) on the Costa del Sol in Spain. He enjoyed swimming, tennis, and painting. Pepe's generous charitable benefits and sponsorships included organizations in his homeland like the Red Cross and the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
José Jaramillo García was recognized in September 1991 by
Lerdo as "Distinguished Citizen." In November 1996, Pepe made another
return visit to his hometown, gave several concerts, and donated a piano to the
local Casa de la Cultura.
On April 30, 2001, Pepe Jaramillo died of anemia during sleep at his residence located near the town of Mijas, Malaga province in Andalusia, Spain. His ashes were returned to his family in Mexico.
(Edited from Wikipedia) (Online, and within other sources, Jaramillo has often been confused with an Ecuadorean singer of the same name.)