Jorge Ramirez, known to many as Tasteless Jack, died on August 17, 2026, at the age of 37.

Jorge was born in Queens, New York, and grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, in a family with roots in Medellín, Colombia. He was the son of Jorge E. Ramirez and the late Blanca Doris Ramirez, who died on February 15, 2024. He is survived by his father, Jorge E. Ramirez; his eldest sister, Sandra Ramirez; and his older brother, Johan Ramirez.

In high school, Jorge began writing poetry. Words became another way for him to make sense of what he felt and what he saw around him. Poetry would remain part of his creative life, eventually becoming intertwined with the music and artistic community he helped build in Worcester.

Music came into his life in a way that was both unexpected and deeply meaningful.

In 2010, after Jorge’s house burned down, a family friend gave him his first acoustic guitar. That guitar became the beginning of something.

Jorge taught himself to play, developing a love for acoustic guitar and rock while drawing from the music he had absorbed growing up. His brother’s old hip-hop CDs had introduced him to one world of music, while his uncles had introduced him to metal. Over time, his musical curiosity kept expanding.

He wrote acoustic music for more than a decade and continued exploring new sounds, including electronic, chillstep, and trip-hop production. His influences ranged from Iron & Wine, Pearl Jam, and Dave Matthews to Ratatat, Infected Mushroom, Billie Eilish, and Apashe.

The guitar that entered Jorge’s life after the fire eventually became part of the life he built.

As Tasteless Jack, Jorge became a familiar presence in Worcester’s music and arts community. He was an acoustic guitarist, musician, songwriter, artist, poet, and performer. With cellist Skip Von Kuske and drummer Matt Greene, Tasteless Jack became a collaborative acoustic project rooted in Worcester.

Jorge released original music including “The Right Place,” “Weather,” “Alone Again,” the Life After Death EP, and Tasteless Jack: The First Performance (Live). He was nominated for Best Male Vocalist at the 2025 Worcester Magazine Music Awards.

But Jorge’s story was never really about becoming known. It was about making something. And then making room for other people to make something too.

Jorge created Tasty Tunes, a showcase series that brought musicians and other performers together. The shows began at Hotel Vernon and later grew through shows at Husky’s Pub and other venues. By 2024, the Thursday Tasty Tunes shows at Husky’s had hosted more than 100 acts.

Jorge wasn’t only interested in getting himself onstage. He wanted other people up there too.

He looked for musicians to collaborate with, artists to introduce to venues, performers who deserved an opportunity, and people who might simply need someone to believe in what they were doing.

His philosophy was Artists Supporting Artists. “Rising tides raise all ships.”

For Jorge, that wasn’t just something to put on a website. It was how he approached the people around him.

He was the lead guitarist for the Dirty Gerund Poetry Show house band, beginning in 2023. Music, poetry, and community became intertwined in his life, and Jorge became known not only for what he could play, but for the way he supported the people around him.

The people who knew him through that community remembered him as a musician, artist, poet, band member, community maker, and friend. They remembered someone who listened, who showed up for other people, who celebrated their successes, and who was there during difficult moments.

That is the part of Jorge’s story that is hardest to put into an obituary. Because Jorge didn’t just make music. He made connections. And somewhere along the way, those connections became family.

Relatives and friends are invited to gather and share memories on Friday, August 28th from 3:00 - 5:00 PM at Kelly Cremation and Funeral Care, 154 Lincoln Street in Worcester. 

In lieu of flowers, Jorge's family would like you to go support a local artist, attend an open mic night, and tip the performers well. To leave a condolence or share a memory please visit www.kellycremation.com.

Jorge’s “Tasteless Jack’s” music and work can be found here:

• Tasteless Jack — Official Website

• Tasteless Jack on Spotify

• Dirty Gerund Poetry Show — “May Your Drinks Always Be Tasteless”