Joe Ojeda

Jose "Joe" Ojeda (born in 1968) is an American keyboardist and songwriter. Demonstrating a proclivity for music from an early age, Ojeda began assembling a band and eventually partnered with Pete Astudillo to form Los Bad Boyz. The duo performed locally until a Laredo-based DJ secured them a regular slot at a local nightclub. Their performances gained the favor of the club's staff and management, who recommended them as an opening act for Selena y Los Dinos. Impressed by their stage presence and musicality, the group's manager, Abraham Quintanilla, and the members of Los Dinos invited Los Bad Boyz to serve as regular openers. In December 1988, Ojeda and Astudillo integrated into Selena y Los Dinos, with Ojeda taking on the role of second keyboardist alongside Ricky Vela.

Ojeda and Astudillo's influence was featured in Selena (1989), their first studio album to feature compositional and production input. A.B. Quintanilla, the group's bassist and producer-songwriter, was particularly drawn to Ojeda and Astudillo's integration of cumbia music. He encouraged the adoption of this stylistic blend, recognizing its potential to broaden the group's appeal and infuse an "international flavor" into their sound. Their collaborative influence helped diversify the band's sonic identity beyond its earlier repertoire. Ojeda co-developed the foundational arrangement for "Baila Esta Cumbia" (1990), a track that marked a significant commercial breakthrough for the group in Mexico.

Following Selena's death in March 1995, Ojeda took a hiatus from music. In 1996, he co-founded The Chris Pérez Band with Los Dinos guitarist Chris Pérez. Ojeda co-wrote much of Resurrection (1999), which won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album in 2000. After the release of their second album, Una Noche Más (2002), Ojeda withdrew from music to focus on his family. In the early 2010s, Ojeda briefly explored rock music with Ruido Añejo before returning to Tejano music with Astudillo in the group Pete Astudillo y Tekno-Mex. Touring ceased indefinitely following the COVID-19 pandemic. The release of Selena: The Series (2020-21) on Netflix reignited Ojeda's interest in performance, prompting him to pursue a solo career.