Luis Conte
Encyclopedia
Luis Conte is a Cuba
n percussionist.
, Conte began his musical odyssey playing the guitar
. However, he soon switched to percussion, and that has remained his mode since.
He was sent to Los Angeles by his parents in 1967, in order to prevent him from being forced to serve in the Cuban military. This was a turning point in Conte's life, as the musical community in Los Angeles during this period was vibrant. It was during this time that he studied at Los Angeles City College
.
Conte proved himself versatile musically, and by 1973, he was playing regularly in local clubs. He quickly became a busy studio musician, and throughout the 1970s, he played in the Latin fusion band Caldera
.
In the 1980s, Conte toured with several different musicians, including Madonna
, guitarist Al Di Meola
, and Andy Narell
. His debut as a bandleader
came in 1987, when he released La Cocina Caliente, which included a Latinized version of Chopin's "Susarasa". Conte also played percussion on the Pat Metheny Group
release 'We Live Here', in 1995, as well as I Mother Earth
's first two albums Dig
(1994) and Scenery and Fish
(1996).
Recently, Conte has toured as part of James Taylor
's "Band of Legends." He has also played alongside such famed musicians as Alex Acuña
, Jaguares
, Larry Klimas, and David Garfield, both as a bandleader and a sideman
.
Luis Conte was part of Phil Collins
1997 "Dance into the Light" tour and 2004 "First Farewell Tour", performing in both of them Afro-Cuban
percussion and adding more depth into the concert songs.
In 1999 Conte collaborated in Maná MTV Unplugged
project.
In 2009 worked together with Sergio Vallín
in his Bendito Entre Las Mujeres
album.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n percussionist.
Early years
As a child in CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, Conte began his musical odyssey playing the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
. However, he soon switched to percussion, and that has remained his mode since.
He was sent to Los Angeles by his parents in 1967, in order to prevent him from being forced to serve in the Cuban military. This was a turning point in Conte's life, as the musical community in Los Angeles during this period was vibrant. It was during this time that he studied at Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College, known as LACC, is a public community college in the East Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California. A part of the Los Angeles Community College District, it is located on Vermont Avenue south of Santa Monica Boulevard...
.
Musical career
Caldera
A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, such as the one at Yellowstone National Park in the US. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters...
.
In the 1980s, Conte toured with several different musicians, including Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, guitarist Al Di Meola
Al Di Meola
Al Di Meola is an acclaimed American jazz fusion and Latin guitarist, composer, and record producer of Italian origin. With a musical career that has spanned more than three decades, he has become respected as one of the most influential guitarists in jazz to date...
, and Andy Narell
Andy Narell
Andy Narell is a musician and composer specialized in the steelpan.-Biography:He was born in New York City and moved to California in his teens. He took up the steelpan at a very young age in Queens, New York...
. His debut as a bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
came in 1987, when he released La Cocina Caliente, which included a Latinized version of Chopin's "Susarasa". Conte also played percussion on the Pat Metheny Group
Pat Metheny Group
The Pat Metheny Group is a jazz group founded in 1977. The core members of the group are guitarist and bandleader Pat Metheny, composer, keyboardist and pianist Lyle Mays , and bassist and producer Steve Rodby...
release 'We Live Here', in 1995, as well as I Mother Earth
I Mother Earth
I Mother Earth, or IME, was a Canadian alternative rock band. The band was at the peak of its popularity in the mid-to-late 1990s; its members have moved on to other projects.-Early years:...
's first two albums Dig
Dig (I Mother Earth album)
Dig is the debut album by the Canadian alternative rock band I Mother Earth, released by Capitol and EMI on August 10, 1993. It went gold in Canada in its initial run, and today stands at platinum in Canada...
(1994) and Scenery and Fish
Scenery and Fish
Scenery and Fish is the second album by the Canadian alternative rock band I Mother Earth, released by Capitol and EMI on July 9, 1996. It was the band's most commercially successful work, going double platinum in Canada....
(1996).
Recently, Conte has toured as part of James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
's "Band of Legends." He has also played alongside such famed musicians as Alex Acuña
Alex Acuña
Alejandro Neciosup Acuña aka Alex Acuña is a Peruvian drummer and percussionist, in the Afro-Cuban jazz style.Born in Pativilca, Peru, Acuña played in local bands from the age of ten, and moved to Lima as a teenager. At the age of eighteen he joined the band of Perez Prado, and in 1967 he moved...
, Jaguares
Jaguares (rock band)
Jaguares is a Mexican alternative rock band formed by former Caifanes lead singer Saúl Hernández, ex-Caifan Alfonso André , and two long-time friends Federico Fong and José Manuel Aguilera .-History:...
, Larry Klimas, and David Garfield, both as a bandleader and a sideman
Sideman
A sideman is a professional musician who is hired to perform or record with a group of which he or she is not a regular member. They often tour with solo acts as well as bands and jazz ensembles. Sidemen are generally required to be adaptable to many different styles of music, and so able to fit...
.
Luis Conte was part of Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
1997 "Dance into the Light" tour and 2004 "First Farewell Tour", performing in both of them Afro-Cuban
Afro-Cuban
The term Afro-Cuban refers to Cubans of Sub Saharan African ancestry, and to historical or cultural elements in Cuba thought to emanate from this community...
percussion and adding more depth into the concert songs.
In 1999 Conte collaborated in Maná MTV Unplugged
Maná MTV Unplugged
Maná MTV Unplugged is a complete live album that was recorded in Miami, FL for MTV by Latin American Mexican rock band Maná. Maná's MTV Unplugged performance was a live show which was performed in an acoustic sound. The live performance was recorded on March 10, 1999 and released in CD and DVD on...
project.
In 2009 worked together with Sergio Vallín
Sergio Vallín
Sergio Vallín Loera is the lead guitarist of the Mexican band Maná. Vallín was born in Mexico City, where he lived for the first ten years of his life until he moved with his family to Aguascalientes, capital of the state of the same name...
in his Bendito Entre Las Mujeres
Bendito Entre Las Mujeres
Bendito Entre Las Mujeres is the first solo album by lead guitarist of Latin rock band Maná, Sergio Vallín. The album was released on September 22, 2009...
album.
Discography
- La Cocina Caliente (1987)
- Black Forest (1989)
- "En Casa de Luis" (2011) [BFM Jazz]