Coke Escovedo

Escovedo was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Pedro Escovedo, a plumber and amateur musician, who had immigrated from Mexico at age 12, and Anita (née Valenzuela). Escovedo grew up in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. He developed an early interest in jazz and Latin music through exposure gained from his father Pedro, an aspiring big band singer, and eventually gravitated to drums and Latin percussion. Coke's older brother, fellow percussionist Pete Escovedo, recruited Escovedo for a local Latin jazz combo led by pianist Carlos Federico. The Federico combo evolved into the Escovedo Brothers Band, which also counted Pete, bassist brother Phil Escovedo, saxophonist-flautist Mel Martin and trombonist Al Bent among its regular members.

Coke Escovedo has five musician brothers:

Phil Escovedo played bass alongside Coke and Pete in the Escovedo Brothers Band, and also on sessions with Latin Jazz vibraphonist Cal Tjader. Pete Escovedo also was a percussionist with Santana. His daughter Sheila E. is a well known percussionist. Alejandro Escovedo is currently a prominent recording artist working in the Americana style of music. He and Jon Dee Graham formerly led the True Believers. Javier Escovedo was a member of the pioneering punk rock band The Zeros, as well as of the True Believers. Mario Escovedo fronted critically acclaimed San Diego rockers The Dragons. Coke Escovedo also has a son, Paris A. Escovedo of the Escovedo Project, and 2 daughters, Sabrina L. Escovedo and Antonia Escovedo.

Escovedo died of cirrhosis at the age of 45 on July 13, 1986.