Chuy Reyes

Chuy Reyes is a Latin American pianist who led a "Latin American society band" which played mainly in Hollywood, L.A. at the legendary 'Mocambo' Club, but also played gigs in *N.Y.C. (*Xavier Cugat's territory) as well as traveling outside the U.S. Chuy Reyes was born in 1920 in the Huastec region of Mexico. In 1925 he went to live in Mexico City. Two years later he was enrolled in the Consaervatorio de Mexico and subsequently received a scholarship to study in Germany for 5 years. His American debut came in 1933 at the Chicago World fair. He had small bands at Era Carroll's (for two years) and other spots but had a full outfit (piano, four reed, two brass, five rhythm) at the Trocadero, in Hollywood in 1944 as well as the Mocambo Club (in Hollywood), the Copacabana (in Chicago), the Flamingo (in las Vegas) He also provided music for films and appeared in a number of features including The Big Tip Off (1955), Pan-Americana (1945) and Everybody's Dancin' (1950). Played a stage show "A Night at the Trocadero" at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles with Miguelito Valez, a full orchestra and dancers. His band in 1944 included : Ed Barto - accordion, Nick Escalante - bass, Ferle Roper - marimba, Chuy Pina - drums, Chino Ortiz - trumpet, Paul Lopez - trumpet