Joe Loco

A composer behind countless hit recordings and a skilled orchestrator of quality music, this pianist ranked among the foremost candidates for the label of "most melodic pianist." His professional path began in 1938 as a member of Montecino's Happy Boys. He later served as Machito's pianist until his induction into the US Air Force in November 1945. Following his 1947 discharge, he worked as a freelance musician alongside Latin music's leading ensembles, among them those led by Polito Galindez, Marcelino Guerra, Pupi Campo, and Julio Andino, until he achieved major success with the 1952 release of his powerful recording of "Tenderly." Through his Latinized treatments of American pop standards, Loco's Quintet gained bookings at jazz clubs and other prominent venues that had previously excluded Latin music.