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Bebo Valdés

Dionisio Ramón Emilio Valdés Amaro (October 9, 1918 – March 22, 2013), better known as Bebo Valdés, was a Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger. He was a central figure in the golden age of Cuban music, especially due to his big band arrangements and compositions of mambo, chachachá and batanga, a genre he created in 1952.

He was the director of the Radio Mil Diez house band and the Tropicana Club orchestra, before forming his own big band, Orquesta Sabor de Cuba, in 1957. However, after the end of the Cuban Revolution, in 1960, Bebo left his family behind and went into exile in Mexico before settling in Sweden, where he remarried. His musical hiatus lasted until 1994, when a collaboration with Paquito D'Rivera brought him back into the music business.

By the time of his death in 2013, he had recorded several new albums, earning multiple Grammy Awards. His son Chucho Valdés is also a successful pianist and bandleader.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 9, 1918 (Quivicán), Died March 22, 2013 (Stockholm)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor CU-380[b] 10-in. before 7/20/1950 Hemos terminado Orquesta Bebo Valdés ; Myrta Silva Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor CU-381 10-in. before 7/20/1950 Sabrosona Orquesta Bebo Valdés ; Myrta Silva Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Valdés, Bebo," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106926.

Valdés, Bebo. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106926.

"Valdés, Bebo." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106926

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