Cachao
Cuban double bassist and composer (1918-2008) · Cuba · On the map · Musicians · Died at 89
Israel López Valdés, better known as Cachao, was a Cuban double bassist and composer. Cachao is widely known as the co-creator of the mambo and a master of the descarga. Throughout his career he also performed and recorded in a variety of music styles ranging from classical music to salsa.
Cachao is read about 49 times a day, in 17 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 15 June 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 60 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?A life in dates
2013Latin Grammy Hall of FameAward2012Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin AlbumAward2011Latin Grammy Award for Best Traditional Tropical AlbumAward2008Died22 March 20082005Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin AlbumAwardLatin Grammy Award for Best Traditional Tropical AlbumAward2003Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin AlbumAward2002Latin Grammy Award for Best Traditional Tropical AlbumAward1999International Latin Music Hall of FameAward1995Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin AlbumAward1994Billboard Latin Music Hall of FameAward1918Born14 September 1918
Media & music
Photos 5
Arcaño y sus Maravillas at Radio CMQ, c. 1945: Arcaño on flute, Orestes López on cello, Cachao on bass (right)
Cachao and his band, as depicted on the March 1961 edition of the Cuban Show magazine. Left to right: Cachao (bass), Gustavo Tamayo (güiro), Tata Güines (tumbadora), Alejandro "El Negro" Vivar (trumpet), Rogelio "Yeyo" Iglesias (bongos) and Guillermo Barreto (timbales). This picture was taken during the same photo shoot that yielded the cover of Cuban Jam Sessions in Miniature.
Cachao playing at the White House during National Hispanic Heritage Month on October 10, 2007
Cachao in the 2000sAwards
About this person
An exile in the United States since the 1960s, he only achieved international fame following a career revival in the 1990s.
Country
Cuba
Category
Musicians
Type
Singer / Musician
Status
Deceased
Dates
Lived 1918 to 2008 · aged 89
Where to find them
The same award as Cachao
Ray BarrettoBoth received Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album
Mongo SantamaríaBoth received Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame
Lucho GaticaBoth received Latin Grammy Hall of Fame
Gonzalo RubalcabaBoth received Latin Grammy Award for Best Traditional Tropical Album
Johnny VenturaBoth received International Latin Music Hall of Fame
Gilberto Santa RosaBoth received Latin Grammy Award for Best Traditional Tropical Album