Jaco pastorius official website biography page

"Jaco" was born John Francis Pastorius III, the first of three sons born to John Francis Pastorius II and Stephanie Katherine Haapala Pastorius.

He had Finnish, German, Swedish, and Irish ancestry. Although "Jaco" was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, the family subsequently moved to Fort Lauderdale. Jaco went to elementary and middle school at St. Clement's Catholic School in Wilton Manors, and he was an altar boy at the adjoining church.

Jaco pastorius official website biography page

He went to high school at Northeast High in Oakland Park. He was a talented athlete with skills in football, basketball, and baseball, and he picked up music at an early age. He took the name "Anthony" at his confirmation.

He loved basketball, and often watched basketball with his father, whose nickname was "Jack." Jaco's nickname was influenced by his love of sports and also by the umpire Jocko Conlan.

He changed the spelling from "Jocko" to "Jaco" after the pianist