Coke Escovedo

Coke Escovedo
Birth name	Joseph Thomas Escovedo
Born	April 30, 1941(1941-04-30) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Origin	Oakland, California, U.S.
Died	July 13, 1986(1986-07-13) (aged 45) Montebello, California, U.S.
Genres	R&B, Jazz Fusion, Soul, Disco, Funk
Occupations	Percussionist
Instruments	Timbales
Years active	1969–1986
Labels	Mercury Records
Associated acts	Santana, Azteca, Pete Escovedo

Coke Escovedo (born Joseph Thomas Escovedo) was an American percussionist born April 30, 1941 in Los Angeles, California. Coke Escovedo first rose to prominence in 1969 as a member of Santana. Coke would be a featured on Santana's) Santana III album. In early 1972 Coke formed Azteca along with his brother Pete Escovedo. The band signed to Columbia Records and released its self-titled debut album in December 1972. It would chart at #38 on the R&B chart in 1973. A second album, Pyramid of the Moon (album), released in the fall of 1973. This album failed to reach the charts and by 1974 Coke had left the group. In 1975 Coke had would begin work on the first of his three solo albums simply titled Coke. He would record two more albums. The pop-oriented Comin' At Ya! in 1976 and Disco Fantasy in 1977 which proved critically and commercially disappointing and would signal the last time Coke would release anymore solo material. Coke would continue to do session work and tour and with the likes of Santana, Herbie Hancock and his niece Sheila E. Coke Escovedo died at the age of 45 on July 13, 1986.

Personal life

Coke Escovedo has many family members involved in the entertainment industry. Coke's brothers include Pete Escovedo, who was also percussionist with Santana (and father of Sheila E), and Alejandro Escovedo, who is currently a prominent recording artist working in the Americana style of music and formerly led the 1990s band the True Believers, a band which included brother Javier Escovedo (of pioneering punk rock band, The Zeros). Youngest brother Mario Escovedo fronted critically acclaimed San Diego rockers The Dragons. Escovedo's niece is Prince collaborator Sheila Escovedo (a.k.a. Sheila E.) and his son is Paris Escovedo of the Escovedo Project.

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album	Chart positions[1]		Record label
		US	US R&B
1975	Coke	195	44	Mercury Records
1976	Comin' At Ya!	190	37
1977	Disco Fantasy	195	—

References

1. ^ "Coke Escovedo US albums chart history". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p30272/charts-awards/billboard-albums. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 

Persondata
Name	Escovedo, Coke
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	April 30, 1941
Place of birth	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Date of death	July 13, 1986
Place of death	Montebello, California, U.S.