José Padilla is a Spanish DJ and ambient music producer from Barcelona, Spain. He is best known for his association with Café del Mar in Ibiza, where he becomes resident DJ in 1991 after moving to the island in 1975.

Career

Padilla compiles the first Café del Mar album for React in 1994 and selects tracks for the first six volumes of the series, as well as a later 20th-anniversary release. The compilation series expands into a wider run of related releases and leads to the creation of Café del Mar’s own label.

He releases his first album, Souvenir, in 1998 on Mercury Records. The album includes collaborations with chill-out musicians such as Lenny Ibizarre and Paco Fernández. His second album, Navigator, follows in 2001 and receives a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Album.

Later work

Padilla is no longer the resident DJ at Café del Mar and tours internationally. He also works on other compilations and releases, including Bella Musica in 2007 and Here Comes the Sunset in 2011, and he is later associated with Fregene in Italy. In 2015, So Many Colours appears through International Feel, after first being made available via Resident Advisor.

Death

Padilla is diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2020 and dies in Ibiza, Spain later that year.

Selected compilations and albums

His credits include the Café del Mar volumes 1 to 6, Souvenir, Navigator, Navigator (Special Ed.), El Sueno de Ibiza, Man Ray, Vol 4, Café Solo, Café Solo, Vol 2, Café Mambo Ibiza 09, Ibiza Classic Sunset, Here comes the sunset vol.4 - Singita, miracle beach, Blue Note Beach Classics - presented by José Padilla, So Many Colours and Jose Padilla's House Party.