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| I Don't Care Band |
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| In 1972, he started with an original jazzy, rhythm and blues, rock and roll band called, “I Don’t Care” from Cleveland, Ohio. 13 record companies turned them down until Buddah Records decided to accept them. During that time with the I Don’t Care band, they produced one album.
Visit: I Don't Care website
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| Graf |
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| In 1976, he left the I Don’t Care band, with some of its band members and created the original band called, “GRAF”. They also produced one album with Precision Records, under Epic Label, who was an extension of CBS Records. Today, he has released his compilation of those two original bands, calling it, “Joe Business and the Bad Mo’ Stanky’s”, The Best of Wendlo. Combining the Old with the new, you get this great progressive rock album that was far ahead of its time.
Visit: Joe Business and The Bad Mo' Stanky's, The Best of Wendlo
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| Roy Ayers "You Send Me" |
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| In 1978, Jose played drums for Roy Ayers, on the album, “You send me”. The album went to number 4 on the Jazz Pop Charts, number 16 on the Black Pop Charts, and to number 48 on the Pop Charts. Which can be viewed here:
Visit: Roy Ayers, "You Send Me"
One night during the Jazz Festival in Los Angeles, CA at the Roxie Club, Stevie Wonder joined Roy Ayers and his band and asked Jose if he could play the drums, Jose was honored.
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| Fever Album 1 |
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| In 1979, Jose was invited by Dennis Wadlington to play drums for the band, “Fever” in California. There, they recorded two albums under Fantasy Records. Some hit songs include, Beat of the Night and Pump it up.
Visit: Fever Albums on Discogs
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| Demento's Mementos |
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| In 1980, there was an oddball comical DJ, from Elyria, Ohio by the name of Victor “Uncle Vic” Blecman. He was a Sunday night staple for Northeast Ohio radio listeners on WGCL 98.5 FM. Uncle Vic also wrote songs and collaborated with Jose to come up with the song called “Space Invaders”. During that year, this song went to number one on the Nationally Syndicated show, Dr Demento and to number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June of 1980. Dr Demento placed this song on one of his albums in 1982, called “Dementos Mementos”.
Visit: Dr. Dementos Mementos
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| Carol Hensel's Exercise Album |
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| In 1982 and 1983, he played drums on Carol Hensel’s, Exercise and Dance program Volume 2 which peaked on the Pop album charts at number 70 and Volume 3 which peaked at number 104. He went on to do another exercise album called, “The Exercise Record for Pregnant Women”.
Visit: Carol Hensel's Exercise album
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| Linda Fratianne, Dance and Exercise |
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| Also in 1982, Jose did two exercise albums with the Ice Skater, and Silver Medal winner, Linda Fratianne. The album, “Dance and Exercise with the hits” peaked at 174 on the Pop album charts. The second album was “Tune up with the hits”.
Visit: Dance and Exercise with Linda Fratianne
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| Xer0 Gravity |
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| Jose is currently with Xer0 Gravity, Xero Gravity's website, a 3 piece original band in Maui. Their album, Xer0 Gravity, The Best of, was released last year in 2008. This album introduces Jose’s imagination as a percussionist by implementing the futuristic, Hand Sonic HPD-15 by Roland. All the percussions on this album were produced using the Hand Sonic HPD-15. Demonstration of this product can be viewed here at:
Handsonic HPD-15 video
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| Jose and wife, Patricia |
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| Jose with his beautiful wife, Patricia.
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| Jose Ortiz with his collage of albums |
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| Since then, Jose has performed with many cover bands, locally in Cleveland, Ohio such as Sketches, Cliché and Mass-Conn Fusion from Connecticut. He's opened for Stevie Wonder, K.C and The Sunshine Band, Buddy Miles, King Crimson, Frank Zappa and Billy Cobharn.
He has many influences including, Chick Korea, Chicago, Santana, George Duke, Steely Dan, and The Isley Brother’s to name a few.
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