Raymond Conde

Biography

(Born January 23, 1916) At the age of 13, Conde followed his brothers Vidi and Gregorio to Japan, where they all began successful careers as studio and dance hall musicians. Next to Americans, Filipinos were regarded as the best jazz musicians in Asia and thus the Conde brothers thrived. During the war, Conde had to change his name to Raymond Yoshiba, but he continued performing music with the Shochiku Light Music Orchestra and on the "Tokyo Rose" short-wave propaganda broadcasts aimed at Allied troops. After the war, Conde led the most successful swing combo of the era, the Gay Quintet (later Septet), with Francisco "Kiko" Reyes on piano. The band played the highest-class officers' clubs on the US servicemen1s circuit and recorded several times for Nippon Victor. In 1988 a special concert commemorated Conde's 55-year musical career.