|
During the late 1940's Patato Valdez helped develop the first tunable congas. Earlier models has been turned by heating with a sterno can -- an unwieldy method. Patato's interest in conga design, as well as his friendship with LP Founder Martin Cohen, led to the development of the LP Patato Model Conga, one of the top-selling conga drums of all time.
Patato immigrated from Cuba in 1952 and has had an incredible career, playing with such musical giants as Billy Taylor, Art Blakey, and Tito Puente. Now, in his 70s, Patato still has the spontaneity and charm to draw audiences from all over, and way into the irresistable Afro-Cuban rhythms he so skillfully creates.
|
