Latin Beat Magazine: Viva Walfredo!

VIVA WALFREDO! "My father (Walfredo de los Reyes II) and my uncle (Emilio Reyes) are the actual Mambo Kings," says the great Cuban trap drummer Walfredo de los Reyes. "The play and the movie could be their story. They went to New York City together. My father had a big name back then with Casino de la Playa. He took trumpet solos like Harry James that made him famous."

Since 1989, Walfredo III has resided in Concord, a suburb of San Francisco, with his wife Debbie. In his time as a Bar Area resident, he has greatly enriched the local scene with his knowledge and experience.

Born on June 16, 1933, he grew up listening to his father playing and singing with Casino de la Playa, which formed in 1937. The band rehearsed in his grandfather's dentistry office, but kept the instruments at his house. As a kid he tried many out but it was the big bass drum that Miguelito Valdés played that got his undivided attention.

"I started banging on the congas, bass drum and frying pans. I knew I wanted to be a set drummer at fours years old when I made a set out of boxes and trash cans, after playing Miguelito's drums."

In 1939-40, his father relocated the family to NYC, where he joined Anselmo Sacassas, whose rumba show band performed at Le Martinique, Havana-Madrid and Copacabana nightclubs. Young Walfredo attended the Music and Arts High School and began studying with teachers William Kessler, Cozy Cole and others.

He saw his hero Gene Krupa in action, and experienced the emerging sounds of bebop. Walfredo was 18 when the family returned to Cuba in 1951. By then, he was a well-studied player, ready for anything.

"When I returned (to Cuba), I brought a 20" x 14" bass drum that was being used by bebop players. In Cuba, there was nothing like it and it amazed the drummers who used the big 26". When Guillermo Barretto saw it, he went to Paquito D'Rivera's dad, who sold instruments, and got a bass drum just like mine."

On Memorial Day weekend, Walfredo de los Reyes was honored by Modern Drummer Magazine with a Lifetime Achievement Award. I spoke with Walfredo on his birthday (June 16) about this prestigious recognition and event. "Amazing!" he responded. "Sheila [Escovedo], Raúl Rekow, and Karl Perazzo performed before they gave me the award. I received a beautiful plaque that is up on my wall now. It meant a lot to me, not only because I'm in great company, but also because I'm the first Latino to get it."

¡Hasta la próxima! chuyvarela@aol.com