Joe Posada

As one of Tejano Music’s most celebrated recording artists, Joe Posada is widely renowned by music lovers for having combined the sounds of Jazz and Tejano, thus creating a unique melodic fuse that has been found both intriguing and real by audiences. A native of San Antonio’s Westside, Multi-Grammy nominated Posada began studying saxophone at the age of twelve. Though his parents were not musicians, Posada’s mother greatly encouraged her son’s study of music, so as to keep him off the streets and away from potentially bad influences. “By the time I finished elementary school, I was already a member of D.R. and The Interiors, a group of kids from around the San Juan Courts,” Posada has said, still living today on the same street he grew up on. In 1967, Posada was only thirteen, but by then had already recorded his first 45 rpm single, “Por Última Vez,” as the sax player for Fito Riojas and The Sensations. “I didn’t start singing until I joined Rudy Tee and the Reno Bops, and Red Gonzales had me doing back-up vocals on some songs.” Soon, came a brief period with Little Jr. Jesse and the Teardrops and Zapata. Soon after, David Marez convinced The Royal Jesters to hear Posada sing; as a result making Posada one of the three-part harmony voices on their album “The Band;” this followed with a three-stint with the Royal Jesters. In 1976, Posada was voted into Mike Chavez’s All-Pro Band. In the year that followed, David Marez left the Royal Jesters and founded People, along with Posada. This time also included work with George Morin and Momentus, as well as with the Al Sturchio Band and the original Sounds of the Spurs; all this before Posada finally founded El Quinto Sol in July of 1982. Between the years of 1982 and 1994 (which saw the end of El Quinto Sol), audiences had witnessed a significant transition in Tejano Music: seeing the mediocrity of cookie-cutter bands, compared to the world-class melodic entertainment spearheaded by Posada; simultaneously releasing albums for Cara, Capitol & EMI Latin. Such albums (today regarded as Classics in Tejano Music) included “Breakaway,” “Playin’ it with Style,” and “Canción para mi Padre.” After this phase in his career, Posada seemingly dropped-out of the Tejano Music scene, realizing that within his own craft he still had very much to learn. He returned to his first love of Jazz, as well as delving into intense study of Music Theory. An incredibly versatile musician, the maestro’s musical reach grasps that of flute, piano, accordion, and guitar along with his signature instrument: saxophone! After major music labels had abandoned the Tejano Music genre, Posada began a new stage in his career as Founder/CEO of Baby Dude Records; his own independent music label that has produced several new albums every year since its inception in 2004, as well as earned 8 consecutive Grammy and Latin nominations. His artists also include Grammy and Latin Grammy nominated artist, David Marez, Leslie Lugo, and Anthony Hernandez, along with his own albums, which have earned him 3 Grammy nominations and 3 Latin Grammy nominations. Other subsequent honors have also included 2005 Tejano R.O.O.T.S. Hall of Fame inductee, 7 Tejano Music Awards, 8 Academy of Tejano Artists & Musicians Awards, and 2008 Premios a la Música Latina “Best Latin Jazz Trio.” A sought-after entertainer, versatile fountain of musical proficiency, and an unmatched source of melodious passion and ardor, Posada continues to enthrall audiences everywhere he goes; reminding them that great music and first-class entertainment is not at all a thing of the past!