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.
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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.)