For more than 50 years, Pete Escovedo’s Latin Jazz sound has reached people around the world — but it all started here in the Bay Area.
Escovedo was born in Pittsburg — and his musical journey began in Oakland.
His latest album, Back to the Bay, is a tribute to those roots. This weekend the legendary percussionist and his orchestra will host a concert at Yoshi’s to celebrate his 83rd birthday.
KALW’s Jenee Darden spoke with Escovedo about how his family — and Oakland itself — shaped him into the artist he is today.
"My mom used to say, 'Stop beating on those drums and get a job.' So she got me a job at a cannery. I hated it."