One of the several recent deaths I haven't remarked on was that of the conguero máximo & hijo de Changó Carlos "Patato" Valdés, who passed away in December. Not only does he deserve a half-dozen lifetime achievement awards for inventing the tunable conga and being the rooting beat to supadupa groupings like those of Pérez Prado, Art Blakey and Machito, but he also earned the Best Use of a Cachucha award for his distinctive caps.
On Monday SOB's hosts a tribute to the master, plainly called "A Tribute to Carlos “Patato” Valdez by Little Johnny and The Lp All Stars," featuring Little Johnny Rivero and other men of the drum.
Below is Patato demonstrating a sabroso tumbao. I wasn't able to embed the video I really wanted to post, where Patato gets up to dance in the middle of a performance, but you can see it here.
Comments