JOSEPH CASTRO 

Joseph Armand Castro, 82, of Las Vegas, passed away 
Dec. 13, 2009. He was a talented musician, loving 
husband and father, and a dear friend to many. Born 
Aug. 15, 1927, in Miami, Ariz., he was the son of John 
and Lucy Castro of Pittsburg, Calif. He began playing 
music professionally, as a pianist, at the age of 15. 
Joe enrolled at San Jose State University, but his 
attendance was interrupted twice - first by a stint in 
the U.S. Army, and later when he formed his first jazz 
trio working on both the West Coast and in Hawaii. In 
1956, Joe moved to New York City, where his trio 
successfully appeared in the city's top jazz clubs - 
Basin Street East, The Embers, The Hickory House and 
Birdland. He was critically lauded by the likes 
Leonard Feather, and Dave Brubeck, who had known 
Castro since the early 1950s. In 1958, he moved to Los 
Angeles to be associated almost exclusively with 
renowned jazz musicians: Teddy Edwards, Billy Higgins 
and Leroy Vinnegar. Castro recorded and performed 
extensively with The Teddy Edwards Quartet while also 
making two of his own recordings as a leader for 
Atlantic Records. The first album entitled, "Mood 
Jazz" (1956), and the second entitled, "Groove Funk 
Soul" (1958). Throughout the 50's and 60's, Joe toured 
the world playing in a variety of venues - The London 
Palladium, The Mars Club in Paris, and Bricktop's in 
Rome. He played with jazz greats such as Louis 
Armstrong, Zoot Sims and Oscar Pettiford. Later, 
tobacco heiress/jazz enthusiast Doris Duke and then 
long-term boyfriend, Castro, along with silent partner 
and friend, Duke Ellington, formed record company 
Clover Records and music publishing company Jo-Do. 
Castro's third album as a leader entitled, "Lush Life" 
was the only album released on Clover Records. From 
1959 to 1960, Castro also backed vocalists Anita 
O'Day, June Christy, and was the music director for 
Tony Martin from 1961 to 1963. While working, writing 
and arranging for the Hawaiian Symphony, he met and 
married vocalist/pianist Loretta Faith Haddad in 1966. 
They were married for 41 years until her death in June 
2008. Joe and Loretta performed and lived together in 
Hawaii and Los Angeles before eventually moving to Las 
Vegas in 1971, where they raised two sons. Joe 
continued to accompany vocalists and play in Las Vegas 
pit bands, and arranging for the likes of Joe 
Williams, Count Basie and Al Hibbler until he became 
the musical director for the Tropicana Hotel's Folies 
Bergere. He retired in the late 80's, but continued to 
play in jazz combos until his death. He is survived by 
his sons, John (Cynthia) Castro of New York City, and 
James (Lisa) Castro of Las Vegas. All will miss his 
proud/gregarious nature and sense of humor, but most 
importantly, the gift of music he gave and inspired to 
so many. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, 
at Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd.

Published in Las Vegas Review-Journal on December 18, 
2009