Big Man, Huge Heart

    Bebo Valdes,  the great Cuban musician and pianist,   was one of the founders of Latin jazz, and a pioneer in bringing Afro-Cuban sacred rhythms to popular dance music.  His style of playing during the Mambo years of Jazz brought many lovers together with his beautiful melodies. 

    The life of Bebo Valdes is portrayed in the movie "Old Man Bebo."   Listen to this gracious and funny man and admire his unique style of piano-playing. It is rare to find such a gift.
Mambo is a musical form and dance style that developed originally in Cuba, with further significant developments by Cuban musicians in Mexico and the USA.  The word "mambo" means "conversation with the gods" in Kikongo, the language spoken by Central African slaves taken to Cuba.
      Valdes met his second wife in Sweden, while on tour there with his band and he decided to remain and settle in Sweden. He described meeting his wife, Rose Marie Pehrson, as the most important moment of his life: "It was like being hit by lightning," he said. "If you meet a woman and you want to change your life you have to choose between love and art."^[  They remained together until her death in 2012.    

                                  His Life Inspired this Animation Film - nominated for an Oscar in 2012