Tenor sax master Joe Marillo was born in Niagara Falls, NY. His roots in rhythm and blues led him to start his career on the east coast in early R&B bands, most notably Jimmy Cavallo and the House Rockers, with whom he was featured in the cult favorite movie "Rock, Rock, Rock". 

As San Diego's "Godfather of Jazz", Marillo founded and organized the "San Diego Society for the Preservation of Jazz". Marillo has performed with Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Irene Kral, Frank Rossolino, Dizzie Gillespie, Buddy Rich, Carmen MacRae and Sarah Vaughn.