Eddie Montalvo

USA / New York / New York 

Eddie Montalvo, Was a personal friend of the singer and legend of Afro-Caribeña music Héctor Lavoe

Eddie Montalvo, two time Grammy award winner, born and raised in the South Bronx of New York City, descendent of Puerto Rican roots, found his passion for music at very early age.

His parents Leonardo and Carmen instilled in Eddie the richness of Latin music and the heritage of their Puerto Rican culture.

During his high school years, he ventured in the school band and decided to become a conga player.

In 1970 at the age of 17, Eddie’s first professional show was with Joey Pastrana which led to another show with Tony Pabon & La Protesta and Ernie Agosto y La Conspiracion.

Then immediately after studio recordings commenced with La Conquistadora de Martin Galagarza, Tony Pabon y La Protesta.

Then in 1976 Eddie joined the band Los Kimbos of Orestes Vilato as the band’ conga player.

Montalvo’s distinctive and unique conga playing was spreading like wild fire among his peers and in the music industry which consequently led his endorsement in 1976 by the instrument company Latin Percussion and recordings with Luis Perico Ortiz, Nicky Marrero, Jose Fajardo, Pupi Lagaretta, Luigui Texidor, Los Kimbos, Hector Casanova, Santiago Ceron and renown artists such as Celia Cruz, Hector Lavoe, Fania All Stars and Juan Luis Guerra and with Johnny Pacheco where Eddie was a member of his band for two years.

Eddie has had the privilege to record in over 200 productions for renown artists, as well as up and coming artists.

In 1977 Eddie had the honor of joining the band of one of salsa’ greatest artists, Hector Lavoe. Not only did Eddie successfully embraced the roll of conga player with Hector Lavoe’s band, but also did back up chorus for him as well.

While his time with Lavoe, Montalvo was hired to record on the album “Siembra” with renown artists, Willie Colon and Ruben Blades which sold over 25 million copies worldwide and became one of the most prestigious Salsa productions of all times.

In 1979 Eddie proceeded to audition and became the youngest member of the renown Salsa band, Fania All-Stars.

After numerous accolades, worldwide notoriety and sold out concerts, today Fania continues bringing to the world the very best of Salsa of which Eddie continues being a member and is about to embark on Fania All Stars 2013-2014 World Tour.

During this time it’s when the opportunity of a lifetime presented itself. Ruben Blades approached Eddie in 1983 to join his world renown group, Seis del Solar.

After a series of successful tours around the world, Eddie recorded on the 1986 Grammy award winning album “Escenas” with Seis del Solar.

Then in June 2009, Ruben Blades reunited the Seis del Solar for the 25th Anniversary of Buscando America in an ambitious tour of the Americas.

Culminating  with the world tour of  Todos Vuelven in 2010 which earned Eddie a Latin Grammy win in 2011 for the live recording of Todos Vuelven Live Vol 1 & 2.

Eddie Montalvo also had the privilege of performing with Ruben Blades and Sting at the Amnesty International in Santiago, Chile.

Eddie Montalvo has achieved many goals and one of them was to record his first production titled On My Own in 1995.

He also had the privilege of participating in a supporting roll in the 2006 movie “El Cantante” based on the life of his personal friend and Salsa legend, Hector Lavoe, and also recorded in the sound track of the Broadway play The Capeman with Paul Simon.

In August 2012, Eddie Montalvo finally launches his new recording project titled “Desde Nueva York a Puerto Rico”.

This amazing production is a master piece in the making which was brilliantly produced by Eddie Montalvo and Jose Lugo, which has gathered some of Salsa’ greatest like: Ruben Blades, Cheo Feliciano, Willie Rosario, Papo Lucca, Domingo Quiñones, Rico Walker, Issac Delgado, Wichy Camacho, Pichie Perez and Tito Gonzalez.

Since Nueva York a Puerto Rico took the music industry by storm and earned Eddie an American Grammy nomination on February 2013 for Best Tropical Latin Album.

The first single of the album titled El Hijo del Ricachon featuring Ruben Blades received airplay in the Northeast and Puerto Rico.

The following singles Caonabo featuring Cheo Feliciano and Abicu featuring Tito Gonzalez are currently receiving airplay in Puerto Rico and throughout the Northeast of the U.S with much success.

This is one production all hardcore Salsa lovers cannot miss. Eddie is also presently showcasing and featuring his talent with Jazz artists like Lou Caputo, Dave Chamberlin, Joe Battaglia and Pucho & Latin Soul Brothers.

As one of the most sought after conga players, Eddie will continue to build his legend as a skilled clinician who shares his limitless knowledge of music to congueros and percussionists around the world.