Most people would feel lucky to do anything well for a long period of time. For 88-year-old Pete Escovedo, delighting audiences all over the world has become second nature.
Born in Pittsburg, CA, on July 13, 1935, he began his musical journey while attending high school in Oakland. At the age of sixteen, he began playing the saxophone and then discovered percussion, which became his love of rhythm and his dream of playing Latin Jazz music.
After performing with various bands, in 1960, Escovedo and his brothers, Coke and Phil Escovedo, formed the Escovedo Brothers Latin Jazz band and performed around the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1970 Escovedo and Coke formed the band Azteca that toured the US with Stevie Wonder and The Temptations. They recorded two albums on Columbia Records, which are now considered collectors’ items, Azteca and Pyramid of the Moon.
In 1978 Escovedo and daughter Sheila E. recorded two albums on Fantasy Records Solo Two and Happy Together, which were produced by Billy Cobham.
Peter has performed with his orchestra for President Obama twice at the White House.
As a solo artist, Escovedo has recorded 7 acclaimed albums on Concord Records:
- Yesterday’s Memories, Tomorrow’s Dreams – Live in Concert (1987)
- Mister E (1988) – nominated for a Grammy.
- Flying South (1996)
- E – Street (1997)
- E – Music (2000)
- Pete Escovedo Live (2003)
- Live From Stern Grove (2012)
Pete has also received numerous awards for:
- 1983 Jammie Jazz Musician of the Year
- 1984 Bammie Latin Musician of the Year
- 1989 Grammy Nomination for Mister E
- San Francisco State College Purple Globe Award
- Ronald Dellums Congressional Award
- National Recording Academy Governors Award San Francisco Chapter and Chicago Chapter
- California Arts and Council Award
- ABC Television Profile of Excellence Award
Has appeared in the following movies:
- Jack (1996)
- Chasing Papi (2003)
Nightclubs:
- Escovedo’s – Oakland, CA
- Mister E.’s – Berkeley, CA
- Mr. E.’s Spotlight on the Square – Alameda, CA
- Pete Escovedo’s Latin Jazz Club – San Jose, CA
Escovedo believes that there is healing through music and has donated his time to numerous charity events to help children around the world by teaching them the importance of music.
Today, Escovedo leads one of the top Latin Jazz Orchestras in the country performing his own unique sound and continues to deliver his music throughout the world.
“I’m beginning to wind down now and will stop traveling after this last trip,” Escovedo said. “Traveling is beginning to be a bit much for me, so I’ll perform closer to home going forward.”
Escovedo is performing in the Highmark Blues & Heritage Festival (HBHF) at the August Wilson African American Cultural Arts Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 4.
Escovedo feels honored to have been able to play the music he loves for so long. Born to a musical family, Escovedo and his brothers would listen to his father and family play music around the house.
“When I was 16, I started to play music with my father,” Escovedo said. “After that, my brothers and I would play music anywhere; they’d let us play. That turned us into a band, and we started to get noticed around the community.”
And noticed they did. Escovedo and his brothers played music in the area until they got their first music deal. After that, the show hit the road to support their albums.
“This life has afforded me the opportunity to play with some amazing people,” Escovedo said.
Escovedo’s versatility as a Percussionist has been featured in performances and recordings by a wide range of artists such as Carlos Santana, Tito Puente, Herbie Hancock, Mongo Santamaria, Bobby McFerrin, Cal Tjader, Woody Herman, Stephen Stills, Billy Cobham, Anita Baker, George Duke, Boz Scaggs, Andy Narell, Al Jarreau, Ray Obiedo, Dionne Warwick, Marlena Shaw, Barry White, Angela Bofill, Arturo Sandoval, Poncho Sanchez, Chick Corea, Dave Valentine, Najee, Gerald Albright, Prince — and the list goes on.
“I have been blessed to have seen a lot and done a lot and I have loved every minute of it,” Escovedo said with a smile.
He might be starting to slow down, but he’ll never stop doing the thing that has brought him and his musical family so much joy. Everyone should be so lucky to have the ability to do something so well, for so long at a high level.
Pete Escovedo is living a beautiful life and enjoying every minute of it.
