Walfredo Reyes Jr. (born Walfredo de los Reyes Palau IV; December 18, 1955) is a Cuban American musician who is an expert in drum set and auxiliary percussion, and a music educator and clinician. He has performed with many jazz, Latin, World music, World fusion, Afro-Cuban, and rock bands as a touring, session recording, and full-time player/performer.
Walfredo Reyes Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Reyes, Jr. in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Walfredo de los Reyes Palau IV |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | December 18, 1955 Havana, Cuba |
| Genres | |
| Occupations | |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Member of | Chicago |
| Formerly of | |
| Website | walfredoreyesjr |
Reyes is known for his fusion of many of the world's percussion techniques, including the ability to play a drum set with his hands in addition to the traditional use of drumsticks; it was said that he can "sound like a drummer and a percussionist at the same time"[1] [2][3] He was a long-term member of Santana. He was also a member of Chicago as the percussionist from 2012 to 2018, at which point he took over the drum seat.[4][5][6] He also performed in the band of former Nazareth guitarist Manny Charlton.
Biography
editWalfredo Reyes Jr. was born on December 18, 1955, in Havana, Cuba. His native name of Walfredo de los Reyes Palau IV is a traditional Cuban combination of his paternal and maternal surnames. He is a third generation musician in a prolific professional musical lineage on both sides of his family, including several globally recognized percussion experts. His father is percussionist Walfredo Reyes, Sr.; one brother is world music percussionist Daniel de los Reyes; another brother is actor Kamar de los Reyes; and his grandfather is trumpeter and Cuban orchestral organizer, Walfredo de los Reyes II.[7][8]
Reyes has had a lifelong interest in the music of the band Chicago, originally known as Chicago Transit Authority. The first album he purchased as a youth was with his own money was Chicago Transit Authority'.[8]
Walfredo Reyes Jr. and his wife Kirsten were married on March 21, 2020, and live in Greater Cincinnati.[9]
Career
editLeading up to his current role with the band Chicago, Reyes had a connection as a lifelong fan of the band, as a long-time friend of and collaborator with former drummer Tris Imboden,[10]: 47 and as brother of Chicago's previous percussionist Daniel de los Reyes.[7][8]
He is the title character of the Phish song "Walfredo".[11]
For the 2021 movie Being the Ricardos, Reyes coached and mentored Javier Bardem in learning the conga drums performed in the film.[12]
Reyes has globally toured and/or recorded with countless international acts, including the following:[4]
| Years | Artist |
|---|---|
| 1983—1984 | Tania Maria |
| 1985—1988 | David Lindley’s El Rayo X |
| 1988 | Jackson Browne |
| 1988 | Jimmy Barnes |
| 1989—1993 | Santana |
| 1992 | Boz Scaggs |
| 1993 | Gloria Estefan |
| 1994 | Traffic |
| 1995 | Robbie Robertson |
| 1997—2004 | Steve Winwood |
| 1998—1999 | Joe Sample |
| 2000 | Johnny Hallyday |
| 2005 | Khaled |
| 2007—2011 | Lindsey Buckingham |
| 2008 | Mickey Hart |
| 2010—2012 | El Chicano[13] |
| 2012—present | Chicago[5][6] |
Discography
edit| Select discography | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Artist | Title | Credits | Source |
| 1986 | Jackson Browne | Lives in the Balance | Conductor, conga, drum set | [14] |
| 1990 | Santana | Spirits Dancing in the Flesh | member | |
| 1992 | Santana | Milagro | member | |
| 1993 | Santana | Sacred Fire: Live in South America | member | [15][16][notes 1] |
| 1995 | Frank Gambale | Thinking Out Loud | Percussion | [17][18] |
| 2000 | Johnny Hallyday | 100% Johnny – Live a la tour Eiffel | Percussion, drums | [19] |
| 2000 | Johnny Hallyday | Olympia 2000 – Live a l'Olympia | Percussion, drums | [20] |
| 2009 | Thomas Lorenzo Quartet | Spanish Breeze | Member | [21] |
| 2012 | Manny Charlton Band | Hellacious | Member | [22] |
| 2014 | Chicago | Chicago XXXVI: Now | Member, percussion | |
| 2020 | Johnny Hallyday | Happy Birthday – Live au Parc de Sceaux | Percussion, drums | |
| Complete Discography | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Artist | Title | Credits | Source |
| 1986 | Jackson Browne | Lives in the Balance | Conductor, conga, drum set | [14] |
| Johnny Hallyday | Tour 2000 – Backstage | |||
| Carl Verheyen | Trading 8s | |||
| Txell Sust | Ciudadana Universal | |||
| Lindsey Buckingham | Gift of Screws | |||
| Martin Verdonk | Old School, New Sound | |||
| Steve Winwood | Junction Seven | |||
| Steve Winwood | About Time | |||
| Robbie Robertson | Classic Masters | |||
| Joe Sample | The Song Lives On | |||
| Santana (band) | Spirits Dancing in the Flesh | |||
| Santana | Milagro | |||
| Santana | Brothers | |||
| Rickie Lee Jones | Pop Pop | [23] | ||
| Dave Samuels | Del Sol | |||
| Frank Gambale | Passages | |||
| Frank Gambale | Thinkin out Loud | |||
| Don Grusin | Laguna Cove | |||
| John Mayall | Sense of Place | |||
| Kazu Matsui | Wheels of the Sun | |||
| Juan Gabriel | Todo esta Bien | |||
| Daniel de los Reyes | Rafael 560 | |||
| Michael Thompson | The World According to MT | |||
| Nestor Torres | Talk to Me | |||
| Kathy Troccoli | Corner of Eden | |||
| Michael O'Neill | Never Too Late | |||
| Freddie Ravel | Soul to Sol | |||
| Jackson Browne | World in Motion | |||
| David Lindley y El Rayo X | Very Greasy | |||
| David Lindley y El Rayo X | Live | |||
| Luis Conte | The Road | |||
| Tania Maria | The Real Tania Maria, Wild! | |||
| Louis Bellson/ Walfredo de los Reyes |
Ecue | |||
| Patti Cabrera | Forever & Forever | |||
| Rose Mary Clooney | Brazil | |||
| Clare Fischer | Crazy Bird | |||
| Clare Fischer | Free Fall | |||
| Clare Fischer | Rockin' in Rhythm | |||
| Clare Fischer | Tjaderama | |||
| Jazz Tribute to Brian Wilson | Wouldn't It be Nice | |||
| 2004 | Willie Lomax Blues Revue | Best Blues Money Can Buy | Drums, percussion | [24] |
| Marcos Loya | Love is the Reason | |||
| Barry Manilow | Showstoppers | |||
| Don Randi | Baked Potato Shuffle | |||
| Juan Carlos Quintero | Through the Winds | |||
| Ricardo Silveira | Storyteller | |||
| Shapes | The Last Farewell | |||
| Willie and Lobo | Siete | |||
| Haakon Graf | License to Chill | |||
| Roma Kanyan | Insight | |||
| 2011 | Carl Verheyen Band | The Road Divides | Drums, percussion | [25] |
| 2014 | Chicago | Chicago XXXVI: Now | Member, percussion | |
Videography
edit| Year | Title | Artist | Credits | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Pippin: His Life and Times | Soundtrack musician, uncredited | [26] | |
| 1993 | Santana: Sacred Fire, Live in Mexico | Santana | member | [27][notes 1] |
| 2000 | 100% Johnny Live a la tour Eiffel | Johnny Hallyday | Percussion, drums | [28] |
| 2000 | Olympia 2000 – Live a l'Olympia | Johnny Hallyday | Percussion, drums | [29] |
| 2003 | The Studio Percussionist, Vol. 1 | Michael McFall; Dave Witham; Walfredo de los Reyes; Larry Klimas; John Peña |
[30] | |
| 2005 | The Last Great Traffic Jam | Traffic | [31] | |
| 2005 | Sound Stage featuring Steve Winwood | Steve Winwood | member | [32] |
| 2005 | Global Beats for Drumset & Percussion | Walfredo Reyes Jr. | author of instructional video | [33] |
| 2011 | Songs from the Small Machine | Lindsey Buckingham | Drums | |
| 2011 | The Road Divides | Carl Verheyen Band | Drums, percussion | [34] |
| 2014 | Killer B3 | Interviewee, drum set | [35] | |
| 2020 | Happy Birthday – Live au Parc de Sceaux | Johnny Hallyday | Percussion, drums |
Equipment
editReyes uses and has used the following equipment:
- DW Drums [36]
- Vic Firth Zildjian [37]
- Beato Bags[38]
- Mapex Drums[2][39]
- Sabian Cymbals[3][40][41]
- Latin Percussion[42]
- Remo Drumheads[43]
- Regal Tip: Walfredo "El Rockero" Reyes Jr. signature series drumsticks. Reyes designed his own signature series of drum sticks, earning him Regal Tip's unique nickname of "El Rockero" (lit. "The Rocker" in English.)[44]
- Audix microphones[45]
- Protection Racket drum cases[46]
See also
edit
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "Walfredo Reyes Jr on Audix". Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ a b "Mapex Artists: Walfredo Reyes Jr". Mapex. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ a b Walfredo Reyes Jr. – Setup Tour (A/V stream). SabianVault at YouTube. Event occurs at 0:02:12. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ a b "Walfredo Reyes Jr". DrumSoloArtist.com. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
- ^ a b "Walfredo Reyes Jr". Walfredo Reyes Jr. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
- ^ a b "Walfredo Reyes Jr". Chicago. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
- ^ a b "Daniel de los Reyes". Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
- ^ a b c "LA Rocks Ep. 104 FULL". LA Rocks. Episode 104. February 17, 2013. YouTube. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ Varias, Chris (September 22, 2020). "Chicago's drummer bought a house in Newport, he's already addicted to Graeter's". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- ^ Imboden, Tris (December 1995). "Chicago's Tris Imboden". Modern Drummer (Interview). Interviewed by Robyn Flans. Clifton, New Jersey: Modern Drummer Publications. ISSN 0194-4533. OCLC 4660723. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
- ^ "Walfredo History - Phish.net". phish.net. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
- ^ "Being The Ricardos - Javier Bardem". December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ "Walfredo Reyes Jr.: Photos". Walfredo Reyes Jr. Archived from the original on May 26, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
- ^ a b Lives in the Balance, credits at AllMusic at AllMusic. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ Carlos Santana, Walfredo Reyes Jr. et al. (1993). Santana: Sacred Fire, Live in South America (music CD audio). New York, N.Y.: Polydor. OCLC 29554116. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
- ^ Sacred Fire: Live in South America, credits at allmusic at AllMusic. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ Thinking Out Loud, credits at AllMusic at AllMusic. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- ^ Gambale, Frank (1995). Thinking Out Loud (audio CD). Los Angeles, CA: JVC Musical Industries. OCLC 36459877. JVC-2045-2. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- ^ Hallyday, Johnny (2000). 100% Johnny Live a la tour Eiffel (CD music audio) (in French). France: Mercury. OCLC 48658620. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ Hallyday, Johnny (2000). Olympia 2000 – Live a l'Olympia (CD music audio) (in French). France: Universal Division Mercury. OCLC 658971947. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ Spanish Breeze, credits at Allmusic at AllMusic. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ Manny Charlton Band. "Hellacious". Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ Pop Pop, credits at Allmusic at AllMusic. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- ^ "The Best Blues Money Can Buy – Willie Lomax – Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
- ^ The Road Divides, credits at Allmusic at AllMusic. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
- ^ actors Ben Vereen and William Katt; musical score including the uncredited Walfredo Reyes Jr. (2000) [originally produced for television and published on VHS in 1981]. Pippin: Life and Times (DVD video). Tulsa, Oklahoma: VCI Home Video. OCLC 45309648. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ Santana: Sacred Fire, Live in Mexico (DVD video). Island Def Jam Music Group. 1993. OCLC 47982489. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
- ^ Hallyday, Johnny; Pullicino, Gerard (2000). 100% Johnny Live a la tour Eiffel (DVD music video) (in French). France: Mercury. OCLC 795968970. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ Hallyday, Johnny (2000). Olympia 2000 – Live a l'Olympia (DVD music video) (in French). France: Mercury. OCLC 729408481. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ McFall, Michael; Witham, Dave; de los Reyes, Walfredo; Klimas, Larry; Peña, John (2003). The Studio Percussionist (DVD video). Vol. 1. Mark Cohen, Wayne Cohen (Executive Producers); Michael McFall (Producer and Director); Luis Conte (featured). Garfield, New Jersey: Latin Percussion Inc. ISBN 9780757915598. OCLC 58037979.
- ^ Traffic (2005). The Last Great Traffic Jam (DVD music video). Sony BMG Music Entertainment. OCLC 315118980. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ Sound Stage featuring Steve Winwood. Koch Vision. 2005 [originally published on DVD in 2003]. ISBN 9781417227563. OCLC 61769330. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ Global Beats for Drumset & Percussion (DVD video). Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation. 2006. ISBN 9780634087288. OCLC 76835644. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
- ^ The Road Divides (DVD video). Topanga, CA: Cranktone Entertainment. 2011. OCLC 809217357.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|people=ignored (help) - ^ "Killer B3: A documentary film about the Hammond Organ: Behind Scenes Gallery Photos". Retrieved May 1, 2013.
Tom Leobold sets up a "drumcam" for Walfredo Reyes Jr.
- ^ "Walfredo Reyes Jr dw drums". Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ "Walfredo Reyes Jr Vic Firth Zildjian". Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ "Walfredo Reyes Jr Drum Bags". Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ Dom Famularo, Chris Pennie, Rashid Williams, Walfredo Reyes Jr. (May 28, 2010). Falcon by Mapex pt.1 of 2 (A/V stream). Mapex. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
- ^ "Sabian Drumset Artists: Walfredo Reyes Jr". Sabian. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ "Sabian Artists: Walfredo Reyes Jr". Sabian. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ "LP Artists: Walfredo Reyes Jr". LP. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
- ^ "Walfredo Reyes Jr". Remo. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
- ^ "Walfredo Reyes: .600" x 16"". Regal Tip. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
- ^ "Artist Info: Audix Microphones: Walfredo Reyes Jr". Audix. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ "Walfredo Reyes Jr". Big Bang Distribution. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
External links
edit- Official website
- Official channel on YouTube
- Official Chicago website Archived May 15, 2013, at the Wayback Machine