José-Luis Orozco is a
bilingual educator,
children’s author,
and recording artist who
has dedicated his life
to creating quality
bilingual music, books,
and videos for children.
He encourages learning
of the Spanish language
and promotes Latin
American culture through
his art. His rich
catalog includes 15 CDs,
a DVD, and 3
award-winning songbooks
– a collection that has
garnered over 200
million in sales. Each
year, he shares his
music in live
performances for over
100,000 educators at
education conferences
nationwide, who then
integrate his music into
their classroom
curriculum. In 2020, he
celebrates a career
milestone, his
50-year
anniversary
creating bilingual
children’s music,
with a Fall Tour, an
online contest giving
fans a chance to win a
free concert at their
local school, special
collector’s
bundles of his products
available online, and a
new 20-track compilation
album titled
Favorite
Spanish Songs
for Kids with
José-Luis
Orozco,
released in partnership
with the Duck Duck Moose
label, that features
some of the most beloved
and popular
children’s songs,
like “Itsy Bitsy
Spider,” and
“Old
MacDonald" in
Spanish.
The inspiration for his
long and fruitful career
happened very early in
José-Luis’ life.
Born in Mexico City,
José-Luis Orozco grew
fond of music at a young
age, learning many songs
from his paternal
grandmother. At age 8,
José-Luis became a
member of the Mexico
City Boy's Choir, and
traveled the world
visiting 32 countries in
Europe, the Caribbean,
Central and South
America. It was from his
tour around the world
that he gained the
cultural knowledge he
now shares with children
through his books and
recordings. At age 19,
José-Luis moved to
California in search of
the American dream. He
went to college and
earned his Bachelor's
degree from the
University of
California, Berkeley,
and a Master's degree in
Multicultural Education
from the University of
San Francisco.
After completing his
Master’s program,
José-Luis dedicated
himself to what he truly
enjoys — singing and
writing for children.
Throughout the years, he
has tirelessly
researched and recorded
13 volumes of the
Lírica
Infantil
series (Latin American
Children's Music). He
has also written three
successful award-winning
bilingual books,
De Colores
(Dutton 1994),
Diez
Deditos
(Ten Little Fingers)
(Dutton 1997), and
Fiestas(Dutton 2002), that
present an extraordinary
collection songs,
rhymes, tongue twisters,
lullabies, and games
from various
Spanish-speaking
countries. In 2003,
José-Luis released an
exciting DVD titled
Cantamos y
Aprendemos con
José-Luis Orozco
(Singing and Learning
with José-Luis Orozco),
filled with live action,
animation, and Latino
flavor that motivates
children to learn about
the Spanish language and
the rich tradition of
Latin American
children's music.
José-Luis Orozco's 2009
book release
Rin, Rin, Rin,
Do, Re, Mi,
richly illustrated by
Caldecott Medal winner,
David Diaz, is a
delightfully, lyrical
bilingual (English and
Spanish) children's book
which shows how everyday
family activities such
as cooking, singing,
reading and storytelling
foster essential early
literacy skills such as
letter recognition and
language development.
Rin, Rin, Rin,
Do, Re, Mi
is a book in a series
set for publication and
distribution by
Scholastic's Latino
initiative Lee y
Serás (Read and You
Will Be), which was created to
improve the reading and
literacy development of
Latino children. The
“Rin, Rin, Rin/Do,
Re, Mi” single was
produced by
GRAMMY®
award-winning
producer KC
Porter. In 2012, José-Luis
released the
Caramba
Kids
album, a collection of 6
educational songs
recorded in Spanish and
in English, with
“Rin, Rin, Rin,
Do, Re, Mi” as a
bonus track. The
Caramba Kids
songs teach the
alphabet, counting,
greetings, colors, and
more.
Favorite
Spanish Songs
for Kids with
José-Luis
Orozco,
is the latest album,
released spring 2013, in
partnership with the
Duck Duck
Moose
label, creator of
award-winning
educational mobile apps
and digital downloads
for children.
Favorite Spanish
Songs for Kids with
José-Luis Orozco
features some of the
most beloved and popular
children’s songs,
like “The Wheels
on the Bus,” and
“Good
Morning" in
Spanish.
Through the years
José-Luis has been
honored to receive
awards and recognition
from high-level
organizations. In 2003
and 2005 he was invited
to participate in the
National Book Festival
organized by the Library
of Congress and hosted
by First Lady, Laura
Bush. During the
festivities in 2003, the
Congressional Hispanic
Caucus in Washington,
D.C. honored Mr. Orozco.
In the spring of 2009,
José-Luis received
recognition and was
honored by the
Association of Bilingual
Directors affiliated
with the Los Angeles
County Office of
Education (LACOE). Most
recent were the 2011
Latino Spirit
Award
presented by the
California Latino
Legislative Caucus, and
the
Lifetime
Achievement in the
Arts Award presented to him by the
Mexican American Legal
Defense and Educational
Fund (MALDEF).
José-Luis Orozco is an
acknowledged expert in
children's music and is
a featured speaker and
presenter at educational
conferences and seminars
for teachers, parents,
librarians and childcare
providers who seek to
use music as an
important learning tool
in multicultural
classrooms. He continues
to perform for children
throughout the country
and world at concert
halls, libraries,
bookstores and schools.
José-Luis Orozco is the
father of four and
grandfather to four
children. He currently
lives in Santa Cruz,
California.
