cheo

Cheo (aka José Luis Pardo) is a Brooklyn-based artist, guitarist, DJ, songwriter, and music producer, best known as the founder and creative director of the internationally acclaimed dance-funk band Los Amigos Invisibles.

A Latin Grammy winner with 10 additional nominations (seven as an artist and three as a producer), Cheo has carved out a distinctive place in the global dance-music landscape. His work spans studio recordings, live performances, DJ sets, remixes, compilation albums, mixtapes, and podcasts—always marked by musicality, soul, and an unmistakable groove.

Cheo began his DJ career in Caracas, Venezuela, in the mid-1990s, initially warming up shows for his band. His eclectic taste and ability to move dance floors quickly earned him residencies, including the influential weekly party “Super Sancocho Variety,” which ran for over two years and sparked his interest in remixing and editing music for DJ sets.

In 2001, Cheo relocated to New York City, where he became deeply embedded in the city’s dance scene, opening for artists and performing at venues such as Centrofly, Cielo, and Shine, as well as events like Giant Step, PS1 Warm Up, Punchy, and Roots.

His work soon caught the attention of legendary DJ and producer Louie Vega, who brought Cheo on as a guitarist for numerous remixes and the acclaimed Elements of Life project. This led to collaborations with artists including Blue Six, Nicodemus, Sir Piers, and Dimitri From Paris.

In 2007, Cheo released the remix compilation Will Work for Fun, followed by his solo EP and the LP Free (Nacional Records, 2011). That same year, he launched collaborative projects such as The Copasetic (with soul singer Manchildblack) and the Venezuelan-influenced trio Los Crema Paraíso, whose albums El Debut and De Película received critical acclaim—the latter named one of NPR’s Top 10 Albums of 2015. Alongside Neil Ochoa, Cheo also co-founded Cutupra Studios in Manhattan.

After a Latin Grammy nomination for Song of the Year in 2013 (“La Que Me Gusta”), Cheo closed his chapter with Los Amigos Invisibles and shifted his focus toward producing and mentoring emerging artists. Since producing Rawayana’s Trippy Caribbean in 2011, he has worked with artists such as Okills, La Garfield, Sofía Stainer, Luz Pinos, Simón Grossmann, and Yordano, establishing himself as a trusted creative guide.

To stay active as a live performer, Cheo joined Chicha Libre, which later evolved into LOCOBEACH, a Brooklyn favorite blending psychedelic disco cumbia and world music. The band released Psychedelic Disco Cumbia (Peace & Rhythm) along with several singles.

In 2017, Cheo returned fully to songwriting and singing with ¿Dónde?, a duet album with Ulises Hadjis. In 2019, he surprise-released his first solo album Sorpresa (Nacional Records), marking what he describes as his return to “being an artist.”

During the pandemic, Cheo launched DJ livestreams “Casaecheo” and “Bajo Perfil,” drawing audiences of up to 30,000 concurrent viewers. His second solo album, Música Para Verse Bien, was released in May 2023, followed by live performances at venues including Nublu, Sony Hall, Sultan Room, ZeyZey Miami, and SummerStage.

In 2024, as a resident DJ at Nublu, Cheo partnered with the venue to create “Latinos del Mundo,” a weekly celebration of Latin rhythms featuring his ensemble Cheo y Los Consentidos de la Casa. The project culminated in the release of Live at Nublu on his own label, Tocuyo Records.

Today, Cheo remains a defining force in Latin dance music—both globally and in New York City—continuing to shape the sound through performance, production, and community.