Alfredo de la Fé

He was born in Havana, Cuba,[1] to a family of musicians. De La Fé began studying violin at the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory in Havana in 1962.[3] In 1964, he received a scholarship to attend the Warsaw Conservatory in Poland.[3] In 1965, he performed compositions by Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in Carnegie Hall.[3] A scholarship to Juilliard Arts enabled him to further his studies.[3] De La Fé launched his professional career, at the age of 12, when he switched from classical music to salsa and accepted an invitation to join charanga musician José Fajardo's orchestra in 1966.[4]

In 1972, he joined Eddie Palmieri's orchestra.[3] He remained with the group for five years, moving temporarily to San Francisco where he joined Santana in 1976. Returning to New York, De La Fé joined Típica 73 in 1977.[3] Two years later, he released his debut solo album, Alfredo,[3] and was nominated for three Grammy Awards. His song, "Hot to Trot", appeared in the top 50 in the US.[4]

In 1980, De La Fé signed with Sars All Stars, and produced thirty-two albums for the Latin record label. His second solo album, Charanga '80, was released the same year. In 1981, De La Fé became musical director of Tito Puente's Latin Percussion Jazz Ensemble. In 1981 he resumed his solo career, signing with Taboga, for whom he recorded the album Triunfo.[3] Relocating to Colombia in 1983,[3] De La Fé signed with Philips and released three albums – Made in Colombia, Dancing in the Tropics and Alfredo De La Fé Vallenato – by the end of the 1980s. In 1989, De La Fé switched to the Fuentes label. In 1991 he toured Europe playing in Geneva, Paris and Rome and met Eddie Palmieri. In 1991, he also participated in a Colombian soap opera Azucar. Although he joined the Fania All-Stars in 1995, De La Fé continued to pursue a solo career. He signed with Sony Music in 1997. Two years later, he toured with his own band, appearing at festivals in Denmark, Holland, France, Turkey and Belgium, and reunited with Eddie Palmieri's Orchestra for a European tour.[4]

In 2002, after several years in Europe, he moved back to New York and toured the US with his New York band,[5] led by pianist Israel Tanenbaum. Other musicians included bass player Maximo Rodriguez, percussionists Tony Escapa and Little Johnny Rivero, flute player Andrea Brachfeld.

Solo albums

• 1979: "Alfredo"
• 1980: "Alfredo De La Fé y la charanga 1980"
• 1981: "Para África con amor"
• 1982: "Triunfo"
• 1984: "Made in Colombia"
• 1985: "Alfredo De La Fé Vallenato"
• 1990: "Salsa"
• 1990: "Los violines de Alfredo De La Fé"
• 1992: "Los violines de Alfredo De La Fé vol. 2: Sentir de Cuba".
• 1993: "Con toda la salsa Alfredo De La Fé"
• 1995: "La Salsa de Los Dioses"
• 2000: "Latitudes"
• 2006: "Alfredo De La Fé y Fruko (La Llave de Oro)"

Guest artist on other productions

• 1973: "The Sun Of Latin Music" by Eddie Palmieri & Friends Con Lalo Rodriguez
• 1976: "De Ti Depende" by Hector Lavoe
• 1977: "Selecciones Clásicas" by José Fajardo
• 1977: "El Baquine de Angelitos Negros" by Willie Colon
• 1978: "Comedia" by Hector Lavoe
• 1979: "Típica 73 en Cuba - Intercambio Cultural" by Típica 73
• 1979: "I Need You" by Sylvester
• 1980: "Charangueando con la Típica 73" by Típica 73
• 1980: "Señor Charanga" by José Fajardo
• 1982: "On Broadway" by Tito Puento
• 1997: "Bravo" by Fania All-Stars
• 2001: "Diferente" by Jose Alberto (El Canario)

• Official website
• Mentioned in the Latin Jazz Timeline at the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of American History.
• Jazz Music Archives Review and Brief Bio
• Tipica'73: A Salsa Profile
• MTV Biography page