He played in a few swing bands (including Tony Pastor's) before graduating from high school, and was with Charlie Barnet for a time in 1947. After serving in the military, Pass became a drug addict, serving time in prison and essentially wasting a decade.
From 1962 recorded several other albums for Pacific Jazz and World Pacific, and performed with Gerald Wilson, Les McCann, George Shearing, and Benny Goodman (1973).
Pass worked in the Los Angeles studios for more than 10 years before he signed with the Norman Granz’s Pablo label.
1973's Virtuoso series of solo guitar recordings for Pablo label and solo concerts made him famous. During this same period at Pablo he recorded a set of records with Ella Fitzgerald on which he provided accompaniment with his solo guitar. He also played with such masters as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Milt Jackson, and Dizzy Gillespie. Joe Pass remained very active up until his death from cancer in 1994.
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