Born in Portugal and raised in South Africa, JoJo learned how to play the guitar when he was 12 years old by listening to records and studying instructional books. By age 15, JoJo was playing in Portuguese clubs on the weekends with band mates 10 to 15 years older than he was. He studied classical guitar for several years and after leaving school and was a member of two successful rock bands, City Limits and Syndicate, both of whom released albums.
When he became frustrated with the music scene in South Africa, JoJo moved to Los Angeles he played in every style of music in almost every club and restaurant in town. In the mid-nineties, he was a member of the band The Fleshdevils and he recorded an album in England with drummer Charlie Morgan (the drummer for Elton John).
Since then he has recorded with artists such as George Duke, Paulinho da Costa, and Gerald Albright. In 2000, JoJo released a solo album titled Terra Negra, and he now plays solo dates with his revolutionary Six on Seven.