Jorge Enrique Caicedo Jr

Jorge Enrique Caicedo Jr., age 54, passed away on Friday, January 16, 2026 surrounded by family after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on July 20, 1971 in Cali, Colombia. He moved to New Orleans at the age of four and grew up in Arabi, Louisiana.

He attended Holy Cross and Andrew Jackson high schools and began playing music with the clarinet in the 5th through 9th grades. Jorge learned to sight read music and became versed in music theory, scales and arpeggios with his clarinet skills. He started playing guitar at the age of 14 years and migrated to bass on which he mastered the instrument preparing him for his professional start.

He first took the stage in 1989 at the Storyville Jazz Hall and thereafter performed at various venues throughout New Orleans and beyond, sharing his talent and passion for music.

Jorge is survived by his mother Elaine Villar Jimenez; his brother Amadeo Jimenez (Kisha); his nephew Enrique Jimenez; and his companion Ellyn Young. He is also survived by his aunt Louise V. Poché; uncles Merlin Villar, Jr. (Suzanne); James Villar (Janis) and Warren Villar (Vivian), along with a host of cousins. Preceded in death by his grandparents, Merlin Villar, Sr. and Marguerite Villar, uncle Madison Poché, Jr. and father Jorge E. Caicedo, Sr.

A private funeral Mass will be held for the family. Memorial gathering to be announced at a later date.