Amadito Valdés is a Cuba

Cuba

The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...

n percussionist, best known for his work with the Buena Vista Social Club

Buena Vista Social Club

The Buena Vista Social Club was a members club in Havana, Cuba that held dances and musical activities, becoming a popular location for musicians to meet and play during the 1940s...

.

Valdés studied at the Havana Conservatoire and it was there that he began to develop his improvisational style on the timbales

Timbales

Timbales are shallow single-headed drums with metal casing, invented in Cuba. They are shallower in shape than single-headed tom-toms, and usually much higher tuned...

, 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

Ry Cooder

Ryland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...

 for the Buena Vista Social Club

Buena Vista Social Club

The Buena Vista Social Club was a members club in Havana, Cuba that held dances and musical activities, becoming a popular location for musicians to meet and play during the 1940s...

 collaboration, playing percussion on both records and performances for the group and featuring in the 1999 movie also titled Buena Vista Social Club

Buena Vista Social Club (film)

Buena Vista Social Club is a documentary film by Wim Wenders about the music of Cuba. It is named for a danzón that became the title piece of the album Buena Vista Social Club.-Synopsis:...

. 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

Live Earth

-Background:Founded by Emmy-winning producer Kevin Wall, in partnership with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Live Earth was built upon the belief that entertainment has the power to transcend social and cultural barriers to move the world community to action...

 in Hamburg, Germany.

See also

• Ibrahim Ferrer
  Ibrahim Ferrer
  Ibrahim Ferrer was a popular Afro-Cuban singer and musician in Cuba. He performed with many musical groups including the Conjunto Sorpresa, Orquesta Chepin-Choven and Afro-Cuban All Stars...
  
  
• Rubén González
• Compay Segundo
  Compay Segundo
  Compay Segundo was a Cuban trova guitarist, singer and composer.-Biography:...