José Rizo (DJ)

At UCSB in the late 1970s he produced the yearly Cinco de Mayo concerts in the Storke Plaza, where he began working with such artists as Poncho Sanchez, Los Lobos, Tierra and Pete & Sheila Escovedo.

Rizo was the founder of Radio Chicano, a community and student broadcasting organization based at KCSB (UC Santa Barbara) that produced daily Chicano/Latino programming.

Rizo was influenced early in his career by Chico Sesma, a pioneer Latin music disc jockey and bandleader, who became a friend and mentor.

Another significant influence on Rizo's career was Chuck Niles, the only jazz disc jockey honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

After an audition, and a recommendation from Poncho Sanchez, the station invited him onto the airwaves, and his show Jazz on the Latin Side became a success, debuting on Sunday night, January 7, 1990.

Besides the best in Latin jazz, Rizo had frequent live interviews with guests like Cachao, Kenny Burrell, Horace Silver, Mongo Santamaria, actor Andy Garcia, Eddie Palmieri, Poncho Sanchez, Gerald Wilson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hubert Laws, Al McKibbon, Willie Colon, and Marc Anthony.

Rizo is the artistic producer of the L. A. Councilman Gilbert Cedillo's Latin Jazz and Music Festival, held for two days every August in Highland Park in the Los Angeles Area.

[8] Through the years, members of the group have included Alex Acuna, Francisco Aguabella, Poncho Sanchez, Al Mckibbon, Donald Vega, Oscar Hernandez, Joe Rotondi, Freddie Crespo and Adonis Puentes.

Current members are Justo Almario (tenor sax), Danilo Lozano (flute/music director), Marvin 'Smitty' Smith (drums), Francisco Torres (trombone), Rene Camacho (bass), Joey De Leon (congas), Alfredo Ortiz (bongo/guiro/vocals), Jimmy Branly (timbales), Kamasi Washington (alto sax), Scott Martin (baritone sax), Eric Jorgensen (trombone), Bijon Watson (trumpet), Gilbert Castellanos (trumpet), Andy Langham (piano), Jose Rizo (vocals) and James Zavaleta (lead vocals) Discography Rizo is the founder of the Afro-Cuban jazz band Mongorama.

The current Mongorama members are Justo Almario, Danilo Lozano, Ramon Banda, Dayren Santamaria, Rene Camacho, Joey De Leon, Alfredo Ortiz, James Zavaleta, Joe Rotondi and Jose Rizo.