Jazz Legend

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Jazz Legend

Pete Escovedo

                        Pete Escovedo was born on July 13th, 1935 in
                                 Pittsburg, California and raised in Oakland. He
                                 was introduced to music at a very early age as his
                                 father was a singer and guitarist who often invited
                                 fellow musicians to hang out at the Escovedo
                                 house. Pete was inspired to play timbales by
                                 Tito Puente. The two met when Pete was 18
                                 years old and from there they established a
                                 lifelong friendship.

Pete and his brother Coke developed a love for Latin jazz and formed the Escovedo Brothers Latin jazz Sextet (along with younger brother Phil) and quickly became one of the most popular Latin jazz groups in Northern California.

In the late ‘60s, Pete and Coke joined Carlos Santana Latin rock band. They would work together for about three years and recorded three albums together: Moonflower, Oneness and Inner Secrets.

In the early 70s, Pete and Coke formed another group called Azteca; a 16-piece Latin big band. They recorded two albums and became a part of the rock movement of that time.

Today, Pete has an ensemble performing their
brand of Latin jazz. The group also includes his
daughter Shelia E and sons Peter Michael and
Juan, along with other musicians from the Los
Angeles and San Francisco area.

Pete is married to Juanita Escoveda (a
percussionist as well) and they have four
beautiful and definitely talented children—Shelia,
Juan, Peter Michael and Zina. You can catch
Pete and Shelia E at this year’s Atlanta Jazz
Festival on Sunday, May 27th.

Atlanta Jazz Info

2350 Spring Road

PMB 224

Smyrna, GA 30082