Joe Mondragon


Joe Mondragon was an American jazz bassist.

Early life

Mondragon was born in Antonito, Colorado, and raised in the Española Valley region of New Mexico. Mondragon was of Apache and Hispanic origin.

Career

Mondragon was an autodidact on bass, and began working professionally in Los Angeles. He served in the United States Army during World War II, and then joined Woody Herman's First Herd in 1946. Over the next two decades, he became one of the more popular studio bassists for jazz recording on the West Coast, appearing on albums by June Christy, Shorty Rogers, Shelly Manne, Buddy Rich, Buddy DeFranco, Marty Paich, Claude Williamson, Georgie Auld, Chet Baker, Bob Cooper, Sweets Edison">Sweets (album)">Sweets Edison, Gerry Mulligan, Art Pepper, Bud Shank and Ella Fitzgerald. Mondragon can also be heard on soundtracks for films such as The Wild One and Pete Kelly's Blues.
Mondragon never recorded as a leader.

Personal life and death

Mondragon died in San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico.

Discography

With Georgie Auld
With Chet Baker
With Louie Bellson
With Buddy Bregman
With Hoagy Carmichael
With The CarpentersHorizon
With Bobby DarinLove Swings Winners Venice Blue Bobby Darin Sings The Shadow of Your Smile
With Harry Edison
With Herb Ellis and Jimmy GiuffreHerb Ellis Meets Jimmy Giuffre
With The Four FreshmenMore Four Freshmen and 5 Trombones
With Astrud Gilberto
With Johnny HartmanI Love Everybody
With Woody Herman
With Lena HorneLena...Lovely and Alive
With Harry James
With Stan Kenton
With Barney Kessel
With Peggy LeeThings Are Swingin' Mirrors
With Henry Mancini
  • More Music from Peter Gunn
With Shelly Manne
  • West Coast Sound">West coast jazz">West Coast Sound
With Warne Marsh
With Carmen McRae
With Sérgio MendesSérgio Mendes' Favorite Things
With Jack Montrose
With Gerry Mulligan
With Mark MurphyThis Could Be the [Start of Something (Mark Murphy album)|This Could Be the Start of Something] Mark Murphy's Hip Parade Playing the Field
With Oliver Nelson
With Art Pepper
With Jane PowellCan't We Be Friends?
With Shorty Rogers
With Pete Rugolo
With Lalo Schifrin
With Bud Shank
With Carly SimonPlaying Possum
With Frank SinatraCome [Fly with Me (Frank Sinatra album)|Come Fly with Me] Ring-a-Ding-Ding! Cycles My Way
With Mel TorméTormé Tormé album)|Back in Town] Mel Tormé Swings Shubert Alley Comin' Home Baby! I Dig the Duke! I Dig the Count! Mel Tormé Sings [Sunday in New York & Other Songs About New York]
With Paul Williams