Amadito Valdés

Who is Amadito Valdés?

Amadito Valdés is a Cuban percussionist, best known for his work with the Buena Vista Social Club.

Valdés studied at the Havana Conservatoire and it was there that he began to develop his improvisational style on the timbales, mixing Afro rhythms in 6/8 time with the Cuban son syncopated rhythms in 2/4 time.

In 1996 Valdés became one of the Cuban musicians who joined American guitarist Ry Cooder for the Buena Vista Social Club collaboration, playing percussion on both records and performances for the group and featuring in the 1999 movie also titled Buena Vista Social Club. Since the success, he has worked with the Afro-Cuban All Stars and with Ruben González.

On July 7, 2007 he performed at LIVE EARTH in Hamburg, Germany.