Patato

Carlos Valdés Galán, better known as Patato, was a Cuban conga player. In 1954, he emigrated from La Habana to New York City where he continued his prolific career as a sideman for several jazz and Latin music ensembles, and occasionally as a bandleader. He contributed to the development of the tunable conga drum which revolutionized the use of the instrument in the US. His experimental descarga albums recorded for Latin Percussion are considered the counterpart to the commercial salsa boom of the 1970s. Tito Puente once called him "the greatest conguero alive today".

Similar Artists

Ray Barretto & New World Spirit

Machito & His Orchestra

Francisco Aguabella

Andy Gonzalez

Tata Güines

Peruchin

Machito Orchestra

Mario Bauzá

Paoli Mejias

Los Papines

Chuchito Valdes

Carlos "Patato" Valdez

Orestes Vilató

Giovanni Hidalgo

Chano Pozo

Ralph Irizarry

Chico O'Farrill

Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band

Hilton Ruiz

Jazz On The Latin Side All Stars