Amadito Valdés "the timbal magician" was born on February 14th, 1946 in Havana, Cuba. He studied at the Havana Conservatoire and with maestros Guillermo Barreto and Alfredo de los Reyes.



Amadito Valdés is the creator of a unique style of improvising on the timbales, which mixes Afro rhythms in 6/8 with the son syncopated rhythms in 2/4.



Valdès has worked with all the most important Cuban big bands since the '70s and recorded countelss albums with artists of the stature of Las D'Aide, Paquito Revera, Emiliane Salvador, Bebo Valdès, Las Estrellas de Areito and Peruchin.



Since 1997, he has recorded and toured the globe with arists such as Juan do Marco and the Afro-Cuban-Allstars, Rubèn Gonzàlez, Felix Baloy.



Amadito Valdés is featured in Wim Wender's famouns movie Buena Vista Social Club and has also performed at the 42nd annual Grammy Wards 2000 in Los Angeles featuring Grammy Winner Ibrahim Ferrer.