- Carlos Valdes
Carlos Valdes (1926 –December 4 ,2007 ) born in Cuba in 1926, living in New York City since 1954. [ [http://www.artdrum.com/DRUMMERS_CARLOS_PATATO_VALDES.htm Carlos 'Patato' Valdes] , Artdrum.] As a musician, he played theconga [ [http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/worldmusic/view/page.basic/artist/content.artist/carlos_patato_valdes_12768 National Geographic's World Music website] ] and worked withWillie Bobo inHarlem . [ [http://www.congahead.com/Musicians/Meet_Musicians/Valdez/Valdez.html Carlos "Patato" Valdez] , Congahead.] He was also known by the name "Patato." [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/06/arts/music/06valdes.html?_r=1&ref=arts&oref=slogin New York Times obituary] ] He invented and patented the tunable conga drum (earlier drums had nailed heads) which revolutionized use of the instrument.Tito Puente called him "the greatest conguero alive today" [ [http://www.patatomusic.com/bio.htm www.patatomusic] – Puente quote, patent, other biographical detail] .References
External links
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3030617.ece Obituary in "The Times", 11 December 2007]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.