[JPL] about Carlos "Patato" Valdés

[Arturo]

The most melodic of the legendary Cuban percussionists living in the USA
since pre-Castro Days, Carlos Valdés-"Patato" and not potato as often
written, by the way, patato is Cuban slang for "shorty", is recovering
rapidly recovering from a respiratory attack that forced the flight he was
on back to NYC from San Francsisco where he performed at the S F Jazz
Festival as part of the Conga Kings to divert and land in Cleveland. Several
Clevland musicians have visited him in the hospital and as per Carlos'
request have even taken him some Cuban food to consume. Patato is alert and
already "fooling around" with the nurses. Ray Cintron and Cleveland radio
host Tony Vasquez and others have been there every day. Tony who does a show
on WRUW and hosts the Latin Perpsective show, Sundays 4pm to 6, North
Coast-Cleveland time with offer a special tribute show to Patato and the
staff will have a radio set up in his room in order for him to hear the
show. The musicians took photos and recordings of Patato over the decades to
show the doctors and nurses whom they had and now they are all abuzz because
they have a celebrity in their midst. Patato taught Bridgette Bardot how to
dance mambo in the closing scene of the film "And God Made Woman" of the
late 50s. Mighty Mongo Santamaría and 2008 NEA Jazz Master Candido
"1-Thousand Finger" Camero, the Candy Man- were the sponsors for Patato to
come to the USA in 1955, as back then in order to be allowed to migrate a
person could not be a "burden to society" and had to have proof of work and
housing, I know my family was sponsored to come and then we sponsored other
family members. Patato's first US work is for Kenny Dorham's Afro Cuban
recording for Blue Note

I learned of this on Tuesday and contacted our own Bobby Jackson who
promptly called the hospital and offered his services. Patato lives in NYC,
hi is 81 years old, ho also maintains a home in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. His
daughter was a wonderful percussionist and raumba dancer in Miami but passed
away a few years ago in her mid-40s, naturally Patato has been depressed
about it since as no parent wants to outlive their children. Patato is also
a legendary chef, known for cooking in his Brooklyn home for dozens of
musicians after ther gigs in the wee, wee hours of the morning until the
next afternoon. Patato is a lifetime heavy smoker causing his respiratory
ailment which after he is well enopugh to be released will require additonal
attention. There have been rumors that he is hospitalized due to drug
problems, not true.

I applaud the efforts of the pilots as it is not easy to divert a flight and
land, the crew had to contact the airport and airline and insist it was a
true emergency for that to happen, I hope they receive some type of
recognition for their valiant efforts to save the life of Carlos Valdés, the
legendary Patato, creator of the "penguin dance" in Cuba and so much
more..... He helped develop the tuneable congas too.

Arturo Gómez
Music Director, jazz89KUVO
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