This Thursday, October 19, the prominent Cuban percussionist and vocalist Oscar Valdés Campos died in Havana at the age of 85.
He was born in Havana on November 12, 1937, into a notable family of musicians such as his father Oscar (percussionist) and his uncles Marcelino (percussionist), Alfredo and Vicentico Valdés (singers).
In 1949 he began his career in music, learning from great masters the batá playing, the construction of the abakuá drums, the batá and the chequeré. He studied with teachers Guillermo Barreto and Salvador Admiral and at the Alejandro García Caturla Conservatory. He studied timpani.
After 1959, he was part of the Rebel Army Band and Choir, and worked in the CMQ, ICRT, Benny Moré and Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna orchestras.
In 1972, when the group Irakere was founded under the direction of Chucho Valdés, he joined as a singer and percussionist. Her job with this group was to create the lyrics and rhythmic ideas of the group: the use of batá and the folkloric part, while Chucho created the music and orchestrations.
With Irakere, Valdés performed at the most important jazz festivals in the world, sharing with high-level musical figures such as Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. among others. In 1980, the group won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Recording.
During 1993, he worked with his sons Diego, bassist, and Oscarito, drummer, and in 2000 he formed the group Diákara, which performed jazz, returning to the folkloric roots in the same line of work that he had previously done with Irakere, but treated in a more deep
This allowed him to make contemporary music with the use of Afro-Cuban instruments, using three drummers, with the same musicians who play the tumbadora, bongó, batá, drums and at the same time sing; In addition, the electric guitar, three brass, piano and bass are integrated.
In this line he made innovative arrangements to such emblematic songs as black tears, Mom are from the hill, To break the coconut y Xiomara. She composes, records, offers classes, makes music non-stop and performs with Diákara in exclusive venues such as La Zorra y el Cuervo and the Jazz Café.
In 2000 he taught classes at universities in France and Argentina and in 2001 he toured Spain and other European countries, as well as Israel, where he performed with the group in clubs and festivals and offered courses and conferences.
Your disk Living legendwith Bis Music, a fusion of his folkloric roots with Afrojazz, won the 2010 Cubadisco Special Award.
At the time of his death, the prestigious Cuban percussionist was a member of Uneac. In a statement, the Cuban Institute of Music conveyed condolences to family and friends.
