Pupi Campo

Pupi Campo (May 1, 1920 in Havana, Cuba – December 12, 2011 in Las Vegas, United States) was a Cuban entertainer, dancer and bandleader who spent most of his life in the United States. As a bandleader in the 1940s and 50s, he made recordings for labels such as Seeco and Tico. His band featured percussionist and musical director Tito Puente and pianist Joe Loco.

Pupi Campo in 1942.

Career

Starting as a dancer to a band at the Eden Concert nightclub, he eventually fronted his own band, which appeared on Jack Paar's Morning Show on American television from 1954 to 1956. Later he was dubbed "the rumba maestro" by the New York Daily Mirror.[1] In 1970 he moved to Las Vegas, where he set up the jazz club "Cleopatra's Barge," inside Caesar's Palace.[2]

Two future Latin music stars, Tito Puente and Joe Loco, played with the Pupi Campo Orchestra in the late 1940s.[1] Tito Puente was the orchestra's musical director for two years.[3] In the 1970s, when Cachao moved to Las Vegas, he played in Pupi Campo's band, among others.

Personal life

Pupi Campo was born Jacinto Campillo to Jacinto and Dolores Trujillo Campillo.[1][2] Pupi Campo was married three times: to "Latin bombshell" actress Diosa Costello, to singer Betty Clooney (sister of Rosemary Clooney) and to Joette. At the time of his death in 2011, he was survived by a son, Carlos Alejandro Campo, and three daughters, Cari Leary, Cathi Campo and Cristina Stretz, all from his marriage to Betty Clooney; a sister, Jo Ann Herrera; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.[1]

Partial discography
  • Mambo Americana Vol. 1 (7” EP, unknown date), Coral Records, catalog EC 81093
  • (with Miguelito Cuba and His Orchestra) 12 Cha-Chas And Merengues (LP, 1956), Hollywood Records, catalog LPH 23
  • Latin Dance Party - Volume 5 (LP, 1957), Seeco, catalog SCLP-9084
  • Rhumbas and Mambos (CD, 1991), Tumbao Cuban Classics, catalog TCD-007

References
  1. "Pupi Campo, Cuban Bandleader and ‘the Rumba Maestro,’ Dies at 91", December 24, 2011 The New York Times
  2. "Pupi Campo" at "Find a Grave"
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