Jose de Jesus Paez Padilla was born in Havana, Cuba, on December 24, 1949.  He was a music student before being drafted into the army for three years.  He worked in the tourism industry and played music with his father, Jose Chelo Paez.  He worked for the Cuban government as a music instructor and music events manager before immigrating to the United States.  He living in New York and Florida before moving to New Orleans, La., in 1982.