Latin bandleader, vocalist, percussionist, and composer Joe Quijano was seven years of age when his family settled in New York. In 1950, while at school, he sang and played maracas with a teenage group organized by Orlando Marín and pianist Eddie Palmieri. Marín assumed leadership after Palmieri’s departure, and Quijano took over when Marín was drafted into the Army. He named the band Conjunto Cachana and recorded an independent single with pianist Hector Rivera, which led to a deal with Spanoramic Records. He then released A CATANO and VOLVI A CATANA before moving to Columbia Record in 1960. In 1965, Quijano participated in the second Alegre All-Stars descarga album, and founded his own Cesta Records label, releasing the Cesta All-Stars albums LIVE JAM SESSION and SALSA FESTIVAL, both directed by Charlie Palmieri.