Jose Padilla
José María Padilla Requena, known as José Padilla, was a Spanish disc jockey and producer of ambient music best known for his work behind the decks at the Café del Mar bar on Ibiza, a residency that helped define the chill-out genre internationally. Born December 4, 1955 in Barcelona, he became closely associated with the sunset-facing bar from the 1970s onward, curating compilations under the Café del Mar name that carried his ambient sound far beyond the island's shores. La Torre Ibiza's interview coverage described how listeners drew strength from his unforgettable chill-out sessions during the winter months, crediting his compilations with shaping how a global audience understood Ibiza's laid-back, sunset-driven sound.
His work as a DJ and producer bridged club culture and ambient composition, distinguishing him from purely dancefloor-focused Ibiza DJs of the same era through his slower, atmospheric programming. Multiple international Wikipedia editions, including Spanish and Italian entries, independently confirm his identity as the disc jockey behind the Café del Mar sound and his standing as a defining figure of Balearic chill-out music. He continued to perform and curate music tied to the Café del Mar brand for decades following his initial residency there.
José Padilla died on October 18, 2020, in Ibiza, at age 64.