Oscar Valdés, Cuban percussionist and vocalist. He was drawn to music from childhood, as he was part of a prominent musical family, including his father, Oscar Valdés (percussionist).

His musical beginnings began in 1949 with Fermín, a batalero (a drummer who played batá drums), who gave him lessons on the playing of batá drums, the construction of abakuá drums, batá, and chekerés. He later learned to play the timpani with Guillermo Barreto and Salvador Admiral (senior) at the Alejandro García Caturla Conservatory.

At La Campana, with Antúnez’s traditional orchestra, he began filling in when the tumbador or timbalero was missing. He later joined the CMQ orchestra, directed by Roberto Valdés Arnau, this time as a bongo player and timbalero. He worked with Rafael Somavilla at the Habana Milton; with the orchestras of the Hotel Capri (21st Street between North and West, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana); the Cabaret Tropicana (4504 72nd Street, Marianao, Havana); and was also a drummer for Benny Moré’s Banda Gigante. He also worked with conductors Gonzalo Roig, Paquito Godino, Carlos Ansa, and Enrique González Mantici.

After 1959, Oscar Valdés joined the Rebel Army Band and Choir. At the ICAIC, he worked with Leo Brouwer, Chucho Valdés’ group, and Manuel Duchesne. In 1967, he joined the Cuban Modern Music Orchestra, conducted by Armando Romeu and Rafael Somavilla.

He joined Irakere in 1972 as a singer and percussionist. His role with the group was to conceive the lyrics and ideas for the group’s rhythm, including the use of batá and the folkloric elements. He performed with the orchestra, including Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea.

In the 1990s, he worked with his sons Diego (bassist) and Oscarito (drummer); and in 2000, he founded a new group called Diákara, which performs jazz. With this group, he has performed in venues such as La Zorra y el Cuervo (155 Calle 23, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana), Jazz Café (1ra y Paseo, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana), and the UNEAC (17th Street between F and G, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana). Diákara makes instrumental music, but its director modified the line of work he previously did with Irakere; that is, he returns to his folkloric roots, but treats them in a more profound way, allowing him to create contemporary music with the use of Afro-Cuban instruments, in addition to the electric guitar, three brass instruments, piano, and bass.

That same year, 2000, Oscar Valdés toured France and also gave a lecture at a university there. The following year, he performed in several countries on the continent and in Israel, where he worked with his group in clubs and festivals and also gave several courses.

Among his works we can mention: The Truth, What Snatches Away and Luisa.