JUAN ESCOVEDO, aka The J
As a child, Juan taught himself to play bongos, congas, trap drums, timbales, percussion, and other instruments. When he turned 14, he went from studying his father, Pete Escovedo, to proudly performing with him.
Juan has toured, performed, and recorded with many artists, including Prince, Tony Toni Tone, Miguel, El Chicano, Con Funk Shun, Patti LaBelle, Amerie, Chingy, Jody Watley, Lou Bega, MC Hammer, Lionel Richie, En Vogue, El DeBarge, Freddie Hubbard, Barry White, Herbie Hancock, Cyndi Lauper, Teri Lynn Carrington, Bobby McFerrin, Tito Puente, Cheryl Lynn, Raphael Saadiq, Bobby Womack, his sister Sheila E., and, still, his father, Pete Escovedo.
Juan tours, writes, and records as a solo artist with his father’s Latin Jazz Orchestra and The E Family: his father, his brother, Peter Michael Escovedo, and his sister Sheila E. Produced and arranged by Peter Michael Escovedo, The E Family’s latest CD, Rhythm of the Night, is a collection of nine “Old School” Soul & R&B hits, re-arranged and transformed into an explosion of Latin Jazz articulated through a fourteen-piece Latin Jazz Orchestra. The album features guest vocalists Peter Michael, Simon Russel, Sy Smith, Sheila E., Peter Michael, and Debi, as well as Escovedo’s great grandchildren.
Juan Escovedo released his first solo CD, THE J, on November 8, 2021, at his official record release party with two sold-out shows in Oakland. This CD elevates your soul with a masterfully crafted sound and rhythm meticulously created with an orchestra of seasoned sound that promises to take your breath away. Angel, the first single, features singer-songwriter El DeBarge with Martin Kember from Color Me Badd. Raphael Saadiq plays bass on two songs, Eddie M plays saxophone on two songs, and Andy Fargas of Santana sings on another piece. The video Angel was released on December 1, 2021!