Vicente Valdés Valdés

He was born in the legendary neighborhood of Cayo Hueso, cradle of many artists and traditions.

Younger brother of singer Alfredito Valdés, and alongside him, member of Ignacio Piñeiro's septet since 1937, the following year he joins the orchestra of Cheo Belén Puig and later becomes a member of the Cosmopolita orchestra directed by Antonio María Romeu.

In 1944, established in Mexico, he worked with the orchestras of Arturo Núñez, Rafael de Paz and Jesús "Chucho" Rodríguez. In 1947 he joined Noro Morales' orchestra, and in 1949 he works on recordings with Tito Puente.

In 1953 he is with the Sonora Matancera and recorded with the musicians of Rogelio Martínez, performing mainly guarachas and guaguancós such as "Yo no soy guapo", a guaracha by Reineiro Martínez and the bolero mambo "Decídete mi amor". One of his most representative songs was his version of "Los aretes de la luna", original by José Dolores Quiñones, a song that helped make him known to the public.

Based in New York, Noro Morales incorporates him into his orchestra, and with him he performs diverse pieces, among which stand out, "Guararé", by Ricardo Fábregas, and, "Que problema", by Rudy Castel.

Later, he travels to Cuba together with a large group of Cuban musicians residing abroad, to materialize an idea by producer Gaspar Pumarejo for the "50 years of Cuban music".

In 1958 he makes new recordings with the Sonora Matancera, which achieve notable success: "Los aretes de la luna" by José Dolores Quiñones and "Lo añoro" by Calixto Callava.

In 1975 he participated in presentations of the Sonora in Colombia. In the 80s he reunites in Central Park in New York with all the living singers who had recorded with this legendary Matancera group. His style was original, enhanced by very well-crafted orchestrations.

With Tito Puente's orchestra he recorded "Nueva vida", by Piloto and Vera, "Guaguancó en Tropicana", by M. A. Espinoza, "Soy feliz", "La gloria eres tú", and "Tú mi amor divino", boleros by José Antonio Méndez.

In his maturity as a singer, Vicentico Valdés had his own orchestra, with musical arrangements by René Hernández, Joe Cain or Javier Vásquez. The orchestra was composed as follows: Alfredo Armenteros, Víctor Paz, Jimmy Frisaura and Pat Russo, trumpets; Jesús Caunedo, and Al Tenenbaum, alto saxophone; Shelly Gold, tenor saxophone; Dave Kurtzer, baritone saxophone; Frank Anderson, piano; Bobby Rodríguez, bass; Mervin Gold, trombone; Félix Ventura, conga; Joe Rodríguez, timpani; and José Mangual, bongos; choir, Chivirico Dávila and Felo Brito.

During this artistic period he devoted himself to the interpretation of bolero, although occasionally venturing into other genres. Vicentico Valdés died in New York.

Discography
Así canta el corazón SCLP 92850 Seeco
Mi diario musical SCLP 3002 Seeco - with the Sonora Matancera
Vicentico Valdés sings SCLP 9081 Seeco
Listening and dancing SCLP 9103 Seeco
El gran Vicentico SCLP 9137 Seeco
Vicentico Valdés con la Sonora Matancera SCLP 9154 Seeco
Más éxitos SCLP 9176 Seeco
Algo de tí SCLP 9195 Seeco
Canciones premiadas SCLP 9202 Seeco
El estilo de Vicentico Valdés SCLP 9224 Seeco
Una vez más SCLP 9232 Seeco
Suave SCLP 9249 Seeco
Vicentico Valdés con trompetas y violines SCLP 9253 Seeco
Mr. éxitos SCLP 9261 Seeco
Solo lo mejor SCLP 9266 Seeco
Vicentico Valdés en Sur América SCLP 9270 Seeco
Arriba Vicentico LS 61034 UA Latino
Un momento feliz L 31053 UA Latino
Lo mejor de Vicentico Valdés CLP 1331 Tico
Vicentico Valdés CLP 1307 Tico
Vicentico Valdés LPS 88816 Tico
Alegre y sentimental LS 61022 WS Latino
Vicentico Valdés y la Orquesta de Bobby Valentín BR-96921 01212 Bronco
En la Lejanía (con la Orquesta de Bobby Valentín) BR-96921 01252 Bronco
Clásicos de Vicentico Valdés con Bobby Valentín BR-96921 01402 Bronco