http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.32604&variant=artist-playlists&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rssBebo Valdes is a giant of Cuban music, but like many Cuban musical giants, he went into hibernation for decades after the revolution. A conservatory-trained piano prodigy, Valdes came of age in the 1940s and '50s, back when Havana was a playground for wealthy Americans and his club, the Tropicana, was a required stop. A sought-after arranger, bandleader and musical director, Valdes performed with a stellar cast of visitors that included Sarah Vaughan and Nat King Cole in the Tropicana's heyday, but as the revolution began, he left the club to avoid the escalating violence. Unable to find work, he formed an orchestra, Sabor De Cuba, as a pretext to leave the country and defected to Mexico. While touring in Sweden, Valdes met and eventually married a Swedish woman. He then spent decades in that country playing restaurants, cruises and hotels in obscurity until Paquito D'Rivera sought him out in 1994 for some recording sessions. <I>Bebo Rides Again</i> dropped that year, and suddenly the virtuosic pianist and bandleader was in vogue again -- he was featured in the film <I>Calle 54</i> and formed a trio with Patato and Cachao. In his ninth decade, Valdes continues to perform. - Sarah BardeenCubanen720Fri, 1 Jan 2010 01:07:56 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.32604&variant=artist-playlists&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss Bebo Valdes is a giant of Cuban music, but like many Cuban musical giants, he went into hibernation for decades after the revolution. A conservatory-trained piano prodigy, Valdes came of age in the 1940s and '50s, back when Havana was a playground for wealthy Americans and his club, the Tropicana, was a required stop. A sought-after arranger, bandleader and musical director, Valdes performed with a stellar cast of visitors that included Sarah Vaughan and Nat King Cole in the Tropicana's heyday, but as the revolution began, he left the club to avoid the escalating violence. Unable to find work, he formed an orchestra, Sabor De Cuba, as a pretext to leave the country and defected to Mexico. While touring in Sweden, Valdes met and eventually married a Swedish woman. He then spent decades in that country playing restaurants, cruises and hotels in obscurity until Paquito D'Rivera sought him out in 1994 for some recording sessions. <I>Bebo Rides Again</i> dropped that year, and suddenly the virtuosic pianist and bandleader was in vogue again -- he was featured in the film <I>Calle 54</i> and formed a trio with Patato and Cachao. In his ninth decade, Valdes continues to perform. - Sarah Bardeen http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.31346902&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss World/Reggae Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:22:33 -0800 Playlists Featuring Bebo Valdes on Rhapsody Online 31346902 ply.31346902 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.31346902&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.30263551&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss World/Reggae Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:32:24 -0700 Playlists Featuring Bebo Valdes on Rhapsody Online 30263551 ply.30263551 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.30263551&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.30189135&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss World/Reggae Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:08:39 -0700 Playlists Featuring Bebo Valdes on Rhapsody Online 30189135 ply.30189135 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.30189135&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.27170483&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss Jazz Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:13:41 -0800 Playlists Featuring Bebo Valdes on Rhapsody Online 27170483 ply.27170483 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.27170483&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.24580384&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss Latin Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:13:15 -0700 Playlists Featuring Bebo Valdes on Rhapsody Online 24580384 ply.24580384 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.24580384&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.19457830&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss Jazz Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:22:09 -0800 Playlists Featuring Bebo Valdes on Rhapsody Online 19457830 ply.19457830 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.19457830&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.18337684&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss World/Reggae Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:27:45 -0700 Playlists Featuring Bebo Valdes on Rhapsody Online 18337684 ply.18337684 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.18337684&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.17448463&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss Jazz Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:22:12 -0800 Playlists Featuring Bebo Valdes on Rhapsody Online 17448463 ply.17448463 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.17448463&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.16053209&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss Jazz Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:22:13 -0800 Playlists Featuring Bebo Valdes on Rhapsody Online 16053209 ply.16053209 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.16053209&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9509857&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss Rock/Pop Tue, 3 Nov 2009 11:24:51 -0800 Playlists Featuring Bebo Valdes on Rhapsody Online 9509857 ply.9509857 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=ply.9509857&variant=play&rws=%2Fbebo-valdes%2Fplaylists.rss