A child prodigy, De La Fe began studying violin at the Amadio Roldan Conservatory in Havana in 1962 and launched his professional career at the age of twelve, when he switched from classical music to Salsa and joined Eddie Palmieri’s Orchestra.
Two years later, he received a scholarship to attend the Warsaw Conservatory in Poland. In 1965, he performed compositions by Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in Carnegie Hall. A scholarship to Juilliard Arts enabled him to further his studies. De La Fé launched his professional career, at the age of twelve, when he switched from classical music to Salsa and accepted an invitation to join charanga legend José Fajardo's Orchestra. In 1972, he joined Eddie Palmieri's Orchestra. He remained with the group for a very short period, moving temporarily to San Francisco where he joined Santana. Returning to New York, De La Fé joined Tipica '73 in 1977. Two years later, he released his debut solo album, Alfredo.
In 1980, De La Fé signed with Sars All Stars, and produced thirty-two albums for the Latin record label. His second solo album, Charanga '80, was released the same year. In 1981, De La Fé became musical director of Tito Puente's Latin Percussion Jazz Ensemble. The following year, he resumed his solo career, signing with Taboga, for whom he recorded the album Triunfo. Alfredo relocated to Colombia in 1983 and became a citizen of the country he fell in love with. There, De La Fé signed with Philips and released three albums - Made in Colombia, Dancing in the Tropics and Alfredo De La Fé Vallenato - by the end of the 1980s. In 1989, De La Fé switched to the Fuentes label and recorded two albums: "Salsa "and ""Los Violines de Alfredo De La Fé," an instrumental album with some of the best songs of the vast Cuban repertoire.
In 1991 he toured with his own group and played in Geneva, Paris and Rome where he rejoined with Eddie Palmieri.
He recorded "Salsa y Charanga "with hit songs like: "Tendras que llorar" y "America Cantemos "song that was made to commemorate the 500 years of the arrival of Europeans to America. That same year he participated as a musician and actor in the most popular TV soap opera in South America: "Azucar".
In 1992 he obtained Colombian citizenship and was selected by President César Gaviria to represent Colombia at the World Expo 92 in Seville, Spain. He recorded Volume 2 of "The Violins of Alfredo De La Fé "titled "Sentir de Cuba ".
Alfredo recorded "Con Toda la Salsa "in 1993, considered his best musical work to date. This album includes: "Excelente Amante "and Historia de Dos salseros in tribute to salsa's greatest, Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz. That same year he traveled to Ecuador to represent Colombia in the Telethon for Homeless Children.
The international tours continued throughout the following years. In 1995 he wrote the music and worked as an actor in the series Mambo.
In 1996 Ralph Mercado and Jerry Massucci signed
Alfredo to form part of the Fania All Stars. He received offers to record with the Fania, RMM, and MP labels. During that time he composed the music for the Colombian TV Series "Otra en Mi. "
Alfredo recorded with Fania All Stars and Papo Lucca and The Cuban Jazz All Stars in 1997 in Havana, Cuba. He also coproduced The National Symphonic Band of Colombia next to maestro Francisco Zumaqué. Alfredo toured with El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Larry Harlow, Ismael Miranda and Junior González in April. He signed with Sony Music that same year.
In 1998 he continued playing with his group and simultaneously became part of Larry Harlow and The Latin Legends.
An album titled Latitudes came out in 2000 under the Ryko Latino label.
In 2001 he played at the Pavarotti and Friends event for the children of Afghanistan and directed the orchestra for that event as Celia Cruz's musical director. That same year he formed the "New York Salsa All Stars" together with musicians like Giovanni Hidalgo, Dave Valentin, José Alberto "El Canario", and Jimmy Bosch.
In 2002 Record he toured yet again as Celia Cruz's musical director and with the New York Salsa All Stars.
He currently resides in New York and is considered one of the biggest stars in the salsa world and continues perfomring all over hte world.
Discography:
Para Africa con amor (Sacodis Records, 1978)
Alfredo (1979)
Charanga (Sacodis Records, 1980)
Triunfo (Toboga Records, 1982)
Made in Colombia (Phillips Records 1984)
Alfredo De La Fé Vallenato (Phillips Records, 1985)
Dancing in the Tropics (Phillips Records, 1988)
Salsa (Fuentes Records, 1990)
Los Violines de Alfredo De La Fé (Fuentes Records, 1990)
Salsa y Charanga (Fuentes, 1993)
The Violins of Alfredo De La Fé - Sentir de Cuba (Fuentes, 1992)
Con Toda la Salsa (Fuentes, 1993)
Bailando en el Trópico
Salsa Passion
La Salsa de los Dioses (Fuentes, 1995)
De La Fé y aché (Sony Music, 1997)
Latitudes (Ryko Latino, 2000)
La Llave De Oro (2006)
www.alfredodelafe.com
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