Miguel Valdes "Miguelo"

Miguelo was born in the Havana province of Cuba. He comes from a highly musical family, including a father who was one of the top percussionists of the esteemed Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba.

Miguelo was a percussionist graduate from the Havana National School of Art Instructors (ENIA). After extensive training, Valdes soon found himself with a flourishing career, and was performing all over Cuba and in places such as the Tropicana, with many great musicians of different styles such as Richard Egues, Xiomara Laugart, Emiliano Salvador, Orquesta La Ley and many more. Valdes has collaborated with many other talented musicians and groups, including Orquesta Filarmonica de Mexico, Gonzalo Romeu, Grupo Bandula, Elvis Crespo, Celia Cruz, Patato Valdes, Fellove, Israel Lopez (Cachao), Albita Rodriguez, Lena Burke, Emmanuel, Natalia Jimenez, Yomira John, Dennis D’ Kalaff, Ricardo Montaner, Miky Tavera, Yuri.

He also toured and worked regularly with Juan De Marcos Afro Cuban All Stars (Buena Vista Social Club).

In 2010 Valdes left Mexico to come to US where he now resides permanently. Since his arrival he has collaborated with many American and Latino Artists like McCoy Tyner All Stars, Francisco Mela, Rachel Ferrer, Tony Perez, Kambalache Negro (Peru), Steve Turre, Matt Dillon, Elio Villafranca, Mac Gollehon, Vince Herring, Dion Person, Sexteto NY, Itai Kriss, Abdou M’boup, Alex Matos, Nachito Herrera, Michel RoosWomen & New Yoruba’s, Los Hacheros, Cotton Club Big Band, Willy Chirino, Sister Sledge-Debbie Sledge, Jadele Macpherson, Janise Marie Robinson, Frank Owens, Ty Stephens, John Faddis, Terell Stafford, Chucho Valdes and his project Jazz Bata 2.  

Miguelo has three of his own CD’s ( Algo Cool...tural) 2005 (Orumila Agbe Wao) 2007 (Transition) 2010 and has recorded with more than forty different artists. He is currently an Afrocuban Professor at Barnard College in NYC.

Currently he is working on a musical projects under his direction:
The Feeling Messengers.