Pupi Campo

PUPI CAMPO Pupi Campo, 91, of Las Vegas, passed away Dec. 12, 2011. He was born May 1, 1920, in Havana, Cuba, and was a 41-year resident of Nevada. Pupi was a pioneering Cuban bandleader, becoming the first Latino in American TV history featured as a regular artist when he debuted on Jack Paar's "The Morning Show" on CBS in 1954. Campo's band featured a number of legendary musicians, including Tito Puente and Cachao Lopez. In addition to his stint with Paar, Campo appeared on the Ed Sullivan show and "Name of the Game." Campo played most of New York City's great night clubs, including the Paramount Theater, the Capitol Theater and the Chateau Madrid. In 1970, he opened Cleopatra's Barge at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, where he performed for nearly a decade. Campo had four children with his late wife, Betty Clooney, sister of singer Rosemary Clooney. Campo, called the "Ray Bolger of Cuba," was an important figure in the history of Latin jazz in the U.S. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Clooney; sister, Georgina Millan; and brothers, Mandy and Alejandro Campo. He is survived by his wife, Joette; daughters, Cari and Cathi; son, Carlos; daughters, Cristi; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, 5825 W. Eldora, Las Vegas, NV 89146. Donations can be made to The Dream Center, Los Angeles.