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{{Short description|Cuban double bassist and composer (1918–2008)}}
{{Family name hatnote|López|Valdés|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Cachao
| image           = Cachao, 1960.jpg
|image_upright=1.2
| caption         = Cachao in Havana, 1960
| birth_name      = Israel López Valdés<ref>{{cite book |last1=Davis |first1=John S. |title=Historical Dictionary of Jazz |date=2020 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-5381-2815-2 |page=61 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S_r1DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA61 |language=en |chapter=Cachao}}</ref>
| birth_date      = {{birth date|1918|9|14|mf=y}}
| birth_place     = [[Old Havana|Habana Vieja]], [[La Habana]], Cuba
| death_date      = {{death date and age|2008|3|22|1918|9|14|mf=y}}
| death_place     = [[Coral Gables, Florida|Coral Gables]], Florida, U.S.
| genre           = {{flatlist|
*[[Danzón]]
*[[Mambo (music)|mambo]]
*[[descarga]]
}}
| occupation      = {{flatlist|
*Musician
*composer
*bandleader
}}
| instrument      = [[Double bass]]
| years_active    = 1926–2008
| label           = {{flatlist|
*[[Panart Records|Panart]]
*Kubaney
*Maype
*Salsoul
*[[EMI]]
}}
| past_member_of = {{flatlist|
*[[Orestes López]]
*[[Arcaño y sus Maravillas]]
*[[Andy García]]
}}
| website         = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20120418105441/http://www.israelcachaolopez.com/|www.israelcachaolopez.com}}
}}

'''Israel López Valdés''' (September 14, 1918 &ndash; March 22, 2008), better known as '''Cachao''' ({{IPAc-en|k|ə|ˈ|tʃ|aʊ}} {{respell|kə|CHOW|'}}), was a Cuban double bassist and composer. Cachao is widely known as the co-creator of the [[mambo (music)|mambo]] and a master of the [[descarga]] (improvised jam sessions).<ref name="AMG">{{cite web |last1=Ankeny |first1=Jason |title=Cachao - Biography & History |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cachao-mn0000639697/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=14 September 2020 |language=en-us}}</ref> Throughout his career he also performed and recorded in a variety of music styles ranging from [[classical music]] to [[salsa music|salsa]]. An exile in the United States since the 1960s, he only achieved international fame following a career revival in the 1990s.

Born into a family of musicians in [[Havana]], Cachao and his older brother [[Orestes López|Orestes]] were the driving force behind one of Cuba's most prolific [[Charanga (Cuba)|charanga]]s, [[Arcaño y sus Maravillas]]. As members of the Maravillas, Cachao and Orestes pioneered a new form of ballroom music derived from the [[danzón]], the [[danzón-mambo]], which subsequently developed into an international genre, [[mambo (music)|mambo]]. In the 1950s, Cachao became famous for popularizing improvised jam sessions known as [[descarga]]s. He emigrated to Spain in 1962, and moved to the United States in 1963, starting a career as a session and live musician for a variety of bands in [[New York City|New York]] during the rise of [[boogaloo]], and later, [[salsa music|salsa]].

In the 1970s, Cachao fell into obscurity after moving to [[Las Vegas]] and later [[Miami]], releasing albums sporadically as a leader. In the 1990s, he was re-discovered by actor [[Andy García]], who brought him back to the forefront of the [[Latin music (genre)|Latin music]] scene with the release of a documentary and several albums. Before his death in 2008, Cachao had earned a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] and several [[Grammy Award]]s. He is ranked number 24 on ''Bass Player'' magazine's list of "The 100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time".<ref name="The 100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time">{{cite web|title=The 100 Greatest Bass Players|url=http://www.bassplayer.com/artists/1171/the-100-greatest-bass-players-of-all-time/61989|website=bassplayer.com|publisher=NewBay Media|access-date=March 16, 2017}}</ref>

==Biography==
[[File:Arcaño CMQ.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Arcaño y sus Maravillas at [[CMQ (Cuba)|Radio CMQ]], c. 1945: Arcaño on flute, Orestes López on cello, Cachao on bass (right)]]

===Early life and career===
Cachao was born on September 14, 1918, in Belén, a neighbourhood in [[Old Havana]], into a family of musicians, many of them bassists—around 40 or more in his extended family.<ref name="NYTOBIT">Pareles, Jon, [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/24/arts/music/24López.html?ref=obituaries New York Times: "Cachao, Mambo’s Inventor, Dies at 89"], ''The New York Times'', March 24, 2008.</ref><ref>Orovio, Helio, [https://archive.org/details/cubanmusicfromto00orovi "Cuban Music from A to Z"], Duke University Press, 2003. Cf. pp 125-126 for article on Israel López.</ref> He was born and raised in the same house in which [[José Martí]] was born.<ref name=Herencia>{{cite web|last1=Pagano|first1=César|title=¡Cómo Cachao no hay dos!|url=http://www.herencialatina.com/Cachao/CACHAO.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430173042/http://www.herencialatina.com/Cachao/CACHAO.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-04-30|access-date=17 October 2017|language=es|date=February–March 2007}}</ref><ref name="Entrevista">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf3FOAgRs6I Entrevista con Israel López "Cachao"]. 2003.</ref> His nickname and stage name ''Cachao'' was given to him by his grandfather Aurelio López,<ref name=Herencia /><ref name="LBM">{{cite news|last1=Tamargo|first1=Luis|title=Cachao: a conversation with the godfather of the Cuban bass|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-121135109.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018014706/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-121135109.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 18, 2017|work=[[Latin Beat Magazine]]|date=August 1, 2004}}</ref> from the Spanish word "''cachondeo''" ([[banter]]).<ref name="Entrevista" /><ref name="EntrevistaEloy2">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiXteP3k8Dc Entrevista a Cachao por Eloy Cepero (II)]. February 28, 2008.</ref>

Cachao began his musical career in 1926, taught by his father, Pedro López, and his older brother, multi-instrumentalist [[Orestes López]], nicknamed "Macho".<ref name=Herencia /> As an 8-year-old [[bongo drum|bongo]] player, he joined a children's [[son cubano]] septet directed by a 14-year old [[Roberto Faz]].<ref name=Herencia /> A year later, already on [[double bass]], he provided music for [[silent movie]]s in his neighborhood theater, in the company of a pianist who would become a true superstar, cabaret performer Ignacio Villa, known as [[Bola de Nieve]].<ref name="LST2008">[https://archive.today/20100524070826/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3612380.ece "Israel ‘Cachao’ López: Cuban double-bassist and composer who, with his brother, invented the Cuban dance style of mambo in the late 1930s"], ''[[The Times]]'' (London), March 24, 2008.</ref> Work at the cinema ended in 1930 when [[talkies]] began to be shown in Cuba.<ref name="EntrevistaEloy1">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKFoPFdHZo4 Entrevista a Cachao por Eloy Cepero (I)]. February 28, 2008.</ref>

His parents made sure he was classically trained, first at home and then at a conservatory. In his early teens he was already playing contrabass with the [[Orquesta Filarmónica de La Habana]] (of which Orestes was a founding member), under the baton of guest conductors such as [[Herbert von Karajan]], [[Igor Stravinsky]] and [[Heitor Villa-Lobos]].<ref name="EntrevistaEloy2" /> He played with the orchestra from 1930 to 1960.<ref name="NYTOBIT"/>

===Las Maravillas and the origin of mambo===
Cachao's and Orestes' rise to fame came with the charanga [[Arcaño y sus Maravillas]], founded by flautist [[Antonio Arcaño]]. As members of the group they composed literally thousands of danzones together and were a major influence on [[Music of Cuba|Cuban music]] from the 1930s to the 1950s. They introduced the [[Danzón-mambo|nuevo ritmo]] ("new rhythm") in the late 1930s, which transformed the [[danzón]] by introducing a syncopated final section open to the improvisation of the players and dancers. This section, known as the ''mambo'', was named after the danzón "Mambo", co-written by Cachao and Orestes, which—according to Cachao—referred to the word for "story or tale" used by [[Kongo people|Kongo]]s and [[Lucumí people|Lucumís]] in Cuba.<ref name="Entrevista" /><ref name="EntrevistaEloy2" /> In the words of Cuban writer [[Guillermo Cabrera Infante]], it was the "mother of all [[Mambo (music)|mambo]]s".<ref>Cahill, Greg. "[http://www.stringsmagazine.com/News/Interviews-Profiles/Bassist-Israel-Cachao-López-the-Original-Mambo-King Interview with Cachao]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}", ''String Magazine'', March 2005.</ref> In their vast repertoire were also compositions by other songwriters such as "Isora Club", written by their sister [[Coralia López]], as well as arrangements of standards such as "[[Somewhere Over the Rainbow]]" and songs by [[George Gershwin]] and [[Jelly Roll Morton]].<ref name=Herencia /> The Maravillas, or ''La Radiofónica'' as they were popularly known, became a radio sensation in the mid-1940s, having their own program and expanding their lineup to 14 musicians in 1944.<ref name="larrea">{{cite book|last1=Fernández-Larrea|first1=Ramón|title=Kabiosiles: los músicos de Cuba|date=2007|publisher=Linkgua|location=Barcelona, Spain|page=53|isbn=9788498166194|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ggFrS37pld4C|language=es}}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The need to constantly write music sheets for each member of the band was one of the reasons why Cachao left the group in 1949.<ref name="Padura">{{cite web |last1=Padura Fuentes |first1=Leonardo |title=Cachao: Mi idioma es un contrabajo |url=http://epoca2.lajiribilla.cu/2001/n9_junio/223_9.html |website=La Gaceta de Cuba, no. 5 |publisher=La Jiribilla |access-date=6 October 2018 |language=es |date=1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006075620/http://epoca2.lajiribilla.cu/2001/n9_junio/223_9.html |archive-date=6 October 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He then joined [[Blanquita Theater]] orchestra, whose fifty members played in Broadway-style revues. The Maravillas went on for another ten years.<ref name="Padura" /> Their [[swan song]], released in 1957, was "[[Chanchullo]]", composed by Cachao himself, who organized the session. The song became a hit in the United States as the basis for [[Tito Puente]]'s "[[Oye Como Va|Oye cómo va]]", although Puente denied copying Cachao's composition.

===Descargas at Panart studios===
[[File:Cachao y su Combo.jpg|350px|thumbnail|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''.]]
One day in 1957, Cachao gathered a group of musicians in the early hours of the morning (from 4 to 9 AM), energized from playing gigs at Havana's popular nightclubs, to jam in front of the mics of a [[recording studio]].<ref name=Herencia /> The resulting [[descarga]]s, known to music aficionados worldwide as Cuban [[jam session]]s, revolutionized Afro-Cuban popular music. Under Cachao's direction, these masters improvised freely in the manner of [[jazz]], but their vocabulary was Cuba's popular music. These descargas were released in 1957 by the [[Panart Records|Panart]] label under the title ''[[Cuban Jam Sessions in Miniature]]'',<ref>''1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die''. Tom Moon, 2008, {{ISBN|978-0-7611-3963-8}}]</ref> which followed the longer descargas by [[Julio Gutiérrez (musician)|Julio Gutiérrez]] (''Cuban Jam Sessions Vol. 1'' and ''2''), released also by Panart. They have been named by many critics as one of the most essential Cuban records of the 1950s, including being cited by the book ''1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die''. Between 1957 and 1959 he recorded many more descargas at Panart studios. These recordings were released in the following years by Kubaney and Maype, and re-released by [[EGREM]]. He also recorded descargas with [[Generoso Jiménez|Tojo]]'s orchestra and [[Chico O'Farrill]]'s All-Stars Cubano amongst other ensembles. He worked alongside [[Peruchín]], [[Tata Güines]] and Alejandro "El Negro" Vivar.

===Exile===
In 1958, at the height of the [[Cuban Revolution]], Cachao's wife left Cuba for [[New Jersey]], and in 1962, three years into [[Fidel Castro]]'s communist regime, Cachao crossed the Atlantic on a ship along with 13 other musicians.<ref name="Entrevista" /><ref name="EntrevistaEloy1" /> After 21 days, they reached the Canary Islands. Cachao settled in [[Madrid]], where he joined [[Ernesto Duarte]] as a member of his orchestra, Orquesta Sabor Cubano.<ref name="Entrevista" /><ref name="EntrevistaEloy1" /> In Madrid, Cachao also performed with other artists such as [[Dámaso Pérez Prado|Pérez Prado]].<ref name="Entrevista" /><ref name="EntrevistaEloy2" /> One year later, in 1963, Cachao reunited with his wife in [[New York City|New York]], where he played with [[Charlie Palmieri]], [[José Fajardo (musician)|José Fajardo]], [[Tito Rodríguez]], [[Tito Puente]] and [[Machito]], among others.<ref name="Entrevista" /> Cachao was one of the most in-demand bassists in New York, along with [[Alfonso Joseph|Alfonso "El Panameño" Joseph]] and Bobby "Big Daddy" Rodríguez. Joseph and Cachao substituted for each other over a span of five years, performing at nightclubs and venues such as the Palladium Ballroom, the Roseland, the Birdland, Havana San Juan and Havana Madrid. While Cachao was performing with [[Machito]]'s orchestra in New York, Joseph was recording and performing with Cuban conga player [[Candido Camero|Cándido Camero]]. When Joseph left Cándido's band to work with Charlie Rodríguez and [[Johnny Pacheco]], it was Cachao who took his place in Cándido's band.

After a decade in New York, Cachao moved to [[Las Vegas]], where he played in [[Pupi Campo]]'s band at the casinos and as a pianist at a [[piano bar]].<ref name="Entrevista" /> In 1977, Cachao recorded with drummers [[Louis Bellson]] and [[Walfredo de los Reyes]] the experimental album ''Ecué'', where he played piano on the title track. Most significantly, he was brought back into the recording studio by musicologist René López to record two albums as a leader (''[[Cachao y su Descarga 77]]'' and ''Dos''), his first in 15 years. These LPs constituted a sort of "rediscovery" of Cachao for the incipient [[salsa music|salsa]] scene in New York. In 1978, Cachao moved to [[Miami]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martín |first1=Lydia |title=The life of the legendary Cachao |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article1929094.html |access-date=30 April 2022 |work=Miami Herald |date=22 March 2008}}</ref> where he played at events such as baptisms, ''[[First Communion|comuniones]]'', ''[[quinceañera]]s'' and weddings. Despite his lower profile, Cachao recorded several albums with pianist [[Paquito Hechevarría]] for the Tania record label, including one as a leader in 1986, ''Maestro de Maestros: Cachao y su Descarga '86''.

===Late career===
[[File:Cachao at the White House, 2007.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Cachao playing at the [[White House]] during [[National Hispanic Heritage Month]] on October 10, 2007]]
In 1989, actor [[Andy García]] contacted Cachao at the [[San Francisco Jazz Festival]], where he was playing with [[John Santos]] and [[Carlos Santana]].<ref name="RM" /> García asked him if he would be interested in a tribute concert and [[documentary film]] being made in his honor, which Cachao proudly accepted.<ref name="Entrevista" /><ref name="EntrevistaEloy1" /> The concert took place in Miami on July 31, 1992, and it was the centerpiece of the four-day [[16 mm]] shoot that yielded ''Cachao... como su ritmo no hay dos'', García's film, released the following year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Kevin |title='Cachao' an Infectious, Graceful Concert Film |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-09-15-ca-35283-story.html |access-date=18 November 2020 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=15 September 1993}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gómez |first1=Lourdes |title=Andy Garcia alivia sus penas con la música |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1993/11/21/cultura/753836404_850215.html |access-date=18 November 2020 |work=El País |date=21 November 1993 |language=es}}</ref> The success of the concert and film spurred the recording of two new albums, ''Master Sessions Vol. 1'' (1994) and ''Vol. 2'' (1995), as well as international tours.<ref name="AMG" /> This led to a second "rediscovery" of Cachao, as well as numerous accolades, including several [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]] and Hall of Fame awards.

As a leader, Cachao recorded two more albums to critical acclaim, ''Cuba linda'' (2000) and ''Ahora sí'' (2004). In 2000, he recorded with [[Bebo Valdés]] for [[Fernando Trueba]]'s concert film ''Calle 54'' and for the album ''[[El Arte del Sabor|El arte del sabor]]''. He made his last studio recordings as a sideman for [[Gloria Estefan]] on ''[[90 Millas]]'' (2007).<ref name="EP08">{{cite news |title=Fallece Cachao, legendario contrabajista cubano |url=https://elpais.com/cultura/2008/03/22/actualidad/1206140403_850215.html |access-date=18 November 2020 |work=El País |date=22 March 2008 |language=es}}</ref> His last concert took place in Miami in September 2007 and was released as a posthumous live album, ''The Last Mambo'', by [[Sony Music]] in 2011. In February 2008, Cachao signed a contract with [[Penguin Books]] to write a book about his life,<ref name="EntrevistaEloy1" /> which never materialized due to his passing one month later. At the time, Cachao was preparing to record another album<ref name="EntrevistaEloy1" /> and had eight concerts in Europe scheduled for 2008.<ref name="Ex">{{cite news |title=Con música darán el último adiós a Israel López "Cachao" en Miami. |url=https://www.excelsiorcalifornia.com/2008/03/25/con-msica-darn-el-ltimo-adis-a-israel-lpez-cachao-en-miami/ |access-date=18 November 2020 |work=Excelsior California |date=March 25, 2008 |language=es-MX}}</ref>

===Death===
Cachao died on the morning of March 22, 2008, in [[Coral Gables, Florida|Coral Gables]], [[Florida]], at the age of 89.<ref name="EP08" /> He died from complications resulting from [[renal failure|kidney failure]]. On March 26 and 27, a public open-casket [[funeral]], led by [[Alberto Cutié]], was held at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in [[Miami]].<ref name="Ex" /><ref name="PD">{{cite news |title=Mis pastelitos de Guayaba con el creador del Mambo |url=https://proceso.hn/mis-pastelitos-de-guayaba-con-el-creador-del-mambo/ |access-date=18 November 2020 |work=Proceso Digital |date=October 14, 2017 |language=es}}</ref> On March 27, he was buried at Vista Memorial Gardens in [[Miami Lakes, Florida|Miami Lakes]].<ref name="Ex" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Clary |first1=Mike |title=Goodbye, mambo king |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2008-03-28-0803270769-story.html |access-date=18 November 2020 |work=Sun Sentinel |date=March 28, 2008}}</ref>

==Family==
Cachao was part of a large musical family which at one time had "35 bassists" across multiple generations, although many played other instruments as well.<ref name="Entrevista" /><ref name="EntrevistaEloy1" /> Cachao's older brother, Orestes, played 12 instruments, including bass, cello, harp and piano, and Cachao himself played bass, piano, bongos, tres and trumpet.<ref name="Entrevista" /><ref name="EntrevistaEloy1" /> His sister Coralia was also a bassist and bandleader, but is perhaps best known as a songwriter for her danzón "Isora Club", a standard of the genre. Orestes' son, Orlando, was nicknamed [[Orlando "Cachaíto" López|Cachaíto]] after his uncle Cachao. He was a prolific bassist as well and one of the mainstays of the famed [[Buena Vista Social Club]] group, named after one of Cachao's danzones, "[[Social Club Buenavista (composition)|Social Club Buenavista]]". In 2001, Cachaíto recorded his only album as a leader, featuring two songs composed by Cachao.

Cachao was married to Ester Buenaventura from 1946 until her death in May 2005.<ref name="RM">{{cite news |last1=Mauleón |first1=Rebecca |title=Cachao! |url=http://www.bassplayer.com/article/cachao/mar-08/33745 |access-date=18 November 2020 |work=Bass Player |date=March 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307192148/http://www.bassplayer.com/article/cachao/mar-08/33745 |archive-date=March 7, 2008}}</ref> They were survived by their only daughter, María Elena.<ref name="PD" />

==Awards and recognition==
[[File:Cachao (2).jpg|thumb|Cachao in the 2000s]]

===Honors===
In 1994, Cachao was inducted into [[Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame|''Billboard'''s Latin Music Hall of Fame]].<ref name="lmba1994">{{cite magazine| last = Lannert| first = John| date = May 21, 1994| title = First Latin Music Awards Recognize Range of Talent| magazine = Billboard| publisher = Nielsen Business Media, Inc.| volume = 106| issue = 32| page = LM-52| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=TAgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52| access-date = June 3, 2010}}</ref> He was a recipient of a 1995 [[National Heritage Fellowship]] awarded by the [[National Endowment for the Arts]], which is the highest honor in the folk and traditional arts in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/year/1995|title=NEA National Heritage Fellowships 1995 |author=<!--Not stated-->  |website=www.arts.gov |publisher=National Endowment for the Arts |access-date=December 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804030924/https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/year/1995 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1999, Cachao was inducted into the [[International Latin Music Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=de Fontenay|first1=Sounni|title=International Latin Music Hall of Fame|journal=Latin American Rhythm Magazine|date=7 December 1998|url=http://laritmo.com/mag/index.php3?id=253|access-date=18 October 2014|archive-date=18 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018225223/http://laritmo.com/mag/index.php3?id=253|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award a year later.<ref>{{cite news|title=International Latin Music Hall of Fame Announces Year 2000 Inductees|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/international-latin-music-hall-of-fame-announces-year-2000-inductees-72842402.html|access-date=31 October 2015|date=1 March 2000}}</ref> In 2003, Cachao was awarded the 2,219th star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<ref name="RM" /> On June 11, 2006, he was honored by [[Union City, New Jersey]] with a star on the Walk of Fame at Union City's [[Celia Cruz]] Park.<ref name=CeliaCruzStar>Rosero, Jessica. [http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/2408953/article-Viva-la-comunidad-Cubano-North-Hudson-celebrates-at-the-annual-Cuban-Day-Parade? "Viva la comunidad Cubano North Hudson celebrates at the annual Cuban Day Parade"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018013046/http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/2408953/article-Viva-la-comunidad-Cubano-North-Hudson-celebrates-at-the-annual-Cuban-Day-Parade |date=2017-10-18 }} ''[[Hudson Reporter]]'' June 18, 2006</ref> On November 7, 2006, Cachao received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from [[Berklee College of Music]] during Berklee's Latin Culture Celebration.<ref name="LBM2">{{cite news|last1=Dorbu|first1=Mitzi|title=Mambo maestro "Cachao" receives honorary doctorate during Berklee's Latin Culture Celebration|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-156651349.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419100651/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-156651349.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 19, 2017|work=[[Latin Beat Magazine]]|date=December 1, 2006}}</ref> At the time of his death, the [[University of New Haven]] had also decided to award an Honorary Doctorate to Cachao.<ref name="Ex" />

===Grammy Awards===
Cachao has won several [[Grammy Award]]s for both his own work and his contributions on albums by Latin music stars, including [[Gloria Estefan]]. In 1994, he won a Grammy for ''Master Sessions Volume 1''. In 2003, he won a [[Latin Grammy]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album|Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album]] together with [[Bebo Valdés]] and [[Carlos "Patato" Valdés]] for ''El arte del sabor''. Cachao won a further Grammy in 2005 for his album ''¡Ahora Sí!''. In 2012, his posthumous live album ''The Last Mambo'' won the Grammy Award in the [[Best Tropical Latin album]] category.

===Tributes===
Cachao has received numerous tributes in the form of dedicated concerts, compositions and recordings from other musicians. The first notable tribute concert to Cachao was organized by musicologist René López and held at [[Avery Fisher Hall]] in New York City in 1976.<ref name=Herencia /><ref name="Fernández">{{cite book|last1=Fernández|first1=Raúl A.|title=From Afro-Cuban Rhythms to Latin Jazz|date=2006|publisher=University of California Press|location=Los Angeles, CA|page=80|isbn=9780520939448|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6WO7YevK_18C}}</ref> Although the event gathered many of the major exponents of Afro-Cuban music in the country, it received little attention from the press.<ref name=Herencia /><ref name="Fernández" />

In 1987, a tribute concert was held at the [[Hunter College]] auditorium in New York City in honor of Cachao. The ensemble was directed by pianist [[Charlie Palmieri]] and featured [[Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros]], [[Orlando "Puntilla" Ríos]], [[Pupi Legarreta]], [[Tito Puente]], as well as Cachao himself.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Palmer |first1=Robert |title=Jazz: Tribute to Lopez |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/26/arts/jazz-tribute-to-lopez.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=2 May 2019 |date=26 November 1987}}</ref>

In 1993, the Puerto Rican salsa [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]] Descarga Boricua recorded the track "Homenaje a Cachao" for the album ''¡Esta sí va!'', while pianist [[Hilario Durán]] recorded a different piece with the same name for his 2001 album ''Havana Remembered''. Bebo Valdés composed and recorded the piece "Cachao, creador del mambo" in 2004, and re-recorded a segment of the song for the film ''[[Chico & Rita]]'' in 2010.

In November 2005, a tribute performance dedicated to Cachao took place during the [[6th Annual Latin Grammy Awards]]. It was presented by [[Andy García]] and featured [[Bebo Valdés]], [[Generoso Jiménez]], [[Arturo Sandoval]], [[Johnny Pacheco]], as well Cachao himself.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tribute to Cachao - Latin Grammys |url=https://archive.org/details/NationalAcademyofRecordingArtsandSciencesTributetoCachao-LatinGrammys |website=Archive.org |publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |access-date=2 May 2019 |date=3 November 2005}}</ref>

In February 2008, [[Paquito D'Rivera]] premiered ''Conversaciones con Cachao'', a symphonic suite dedicated to Cachao, during the ''Festival de Música de Canarias'' (Canary Islands Music Festival). The orchestra was directed by [[Pablo Zinger]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=García Saleh |first1=Alberto |title=Paquito D'Rivera: "Se ha perdido espontaneidad" |url=https://www.laprovincia.es/portada/1701/paquito-drivera-quotse-perdido-espontaneidadquot/131564.html |website=La Provincia |access-date=3 May 2019 |language=es |date=18 February 2008 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

A month after Cachao's death, a second documentary film by Andy García was released; ''Cachao: Uno más'' premiered in April 2008 at the [[San Francisco International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rose |first1=Roger |title=Cuban Maestro: Sizzles at SF Film Fest |url=http://cinesourcemagazine.com/index.php?/site/comments/cuban_maestro/ |website=CineSource Magazine |access-date=18 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313070650/http://cinesourcemagazine.com/index.php?%2Fsite%2Fcomments%2Fcuban_maestro%2F |archive-date=March 13, 2016 |date=June 3, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> The inspiration for ''Cachao: Uno más'', made by San Francisco State University's [[DOC Film Institute]], came largely from a concert Cachao played at [[Bimbo's 365 Club]] in San Francisco in 2005. The film's premiere was followed by a tribute concert with the John Santos Band at [[Yoshi's (jazz club)|Yoshi's]] Jazz Club SF.

After Cachao's death, his backing band continued to perform as Cachao's Mambo All-Stars and they recorded an album in his honour, ''Como siempre''.<ref>[http://www.tempestentertainment.com/artist/cachaos-mambo-all-stars/ Cachao's Mambo All Stars] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040119/http://www.tempestentertainment.com/artist/cachaos-mambo-all-stars/ |date=2016-03-04 }}, ''Tempest Entertainment''.</ref>

On March 15, 2019, a concert titled ''Mambo: 100 Years of the Master - Cachao'' was held in Miami, 100 years after Cachao's birth. It featured 97-year-old [[Cándido Camero]] and 89-year-old [[Juanito Márquez]], among others. The latter arranged some of the songs Cachao was preparing to record in 2008 at the time of his passing, which were performed for the first time 11 years later at the concert.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Cantor-Navas |first1=Judy |title=Seven New Compositions by Cachao to be Performed at Miami Tribute Concert: Exclusive |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/8496592/new-cachao-compositions-performed-miami-tribute-concert |magazine=Billboard |access-date=2 May 2019 |date=5 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Cantor-Navas |first1=Judy |title=Nonagenarian Cándido Camero Takes Center Stage at Cachao Tribute Concert |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/8503175/candido-camero-takes-center-stage-at-cachao-tribute |magazine=Billboard |access-date=2 May 2019 |date=19 March 2019}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===As leader===

*1957: ''[[Cuban Jam Sessions in Miniature|Cuban Jam Sessions in Miniature "Descargas"]]'' ([[Panart]])
*1958: ''Con el ritmo de Cachao'' (Duarte/Kubaney), reissued as ''Camina Juan Pescao'' (Duher, 1974)
*1959: ''El gran Cachao'' (Duarte/Kubaney), reissued as ''Cachao y su Típica Vol. 2'' (Duher, 1974)
*1962: ''[[Jam Session with Feeling]]'' (Maype, recorded in 1958)
*1963: ''Descarga'' (Maype, recorded in 1961)
*1966: ''Cuban Music in Jam Session'' (Bonita, recorded in 1961)
*1974: ''Descargas con el ritmo de Cachao'' (Modiner, recorded in 1961)
*1977: ''[[Cachao y su Descarga 77]]'' ([[Salsoul Records|Salsoul]])
*1977: ''Dos'' (Salsoul)
*1986: ''Maestro de Maestros: Cachao y su Descarga '86'' (Tania)
*1994: ''Master Sessions, Volume 1'' (Crescent Moon)
*1995: ''Master Sessions, Volume 2'' (Crescent Moon)
*1997: ''Superdanzones'' (EGREM, recorded in 1961), reissued as part of ''Jazzcuba, Volumen 2'' ([[Warner Music]], 2007)
*2000: ''Cuba linda'' (EMI)
*2004: ''Ahora sí'' (Univisión)
*2011: ''The Last Mambo'' (Sony)

;Collaborations with Paquito Hechevarría & Tany Gil
*1981: ''Walpataca'' (Tania), reissued as ''Latin Jazz Descarga Part 1'' (1994)
*1981: ''Típica Pata'' (Tania)
*1985: ''Walpataca II'' (Tania), reissued as ''Latin Jazz Descarga Part 2'' (1994)

====Singles====
*1957: Descarga cubana / Goza mi trompeta (Panart)
*1957: A gozar timbero / Sorpresa de flauta (Panart)
*1957: Pamparana / Cógele el golpe (Panart)
*1957: Trombón criollo / Oye mi tres montuno (Panart)
*1958: La cayuga / Cuarenta que son uno (Duarte)
*1958: Camina Juan Pescao / Jóvenes de la defensa (Duarte)
*1961: Descarga general / El manicero (Discos Latino)
*1962: Cachao en España Pt. 1 / Cachao en España Pt. 2 (Duque)
{{col-2}}

===As sideman===

'''With All-Stars Cubano'''
*Descarga número uno / Descarga número dos (Gema, 1957)

'''With Arcaño y sus Maravillas'''
*El que sabe, sabe / [[Chanchullo]] (Gema, 1957)

'''With Joe Cain'''
*''Latin Explosion'' (Time, 1964)

'''With Charanga Caribe'''
*''Vol. II'' (Caney, 1980)

'''With Conjunto Yumurí'''
*''La paella'' (Caney, 1980)
*''Estampas de mi tierra'' (Caney, 1981)

'''With [[Kako (musician)|Kako]]'''
*''Tributo a Noro'' (Alegre, 1964)

'''With Chano Montes y su Conjunto'''
*''Recuerdan a Chappottín'' (Caney, 1982)

'''With Carlos Montiel'''
*''Distinto y diferente'' (Discos Suyo)

'''With Orquesta Oriental'''
*''Con sasón!'' (Caney, 1980)

'''With [[Carlos "Patato" Valdés|Patato]] & Totico'''
*''Patato y Totico'' (Verve, 1967)

'''With [[Eddie Palmieri]]'''
*''Champagne'' (Tico, 1968)

'''With [[Tito Rodríguez]]'''
*''Tito Tito Tito'' (Westside, 1964)

'''With The Salsa All Stars'''
*''The Salsa All Stars'' (Salsa, 1968)

'''With [[Bebo Valdés]]'''
*''[[El Arte del Sabor|El arte del sabor]]'' (Blue Note, 2001)
{{col-end}}

==Filmography==
*''Cachao... como su ritmo no hay dos'' (1993)
*''[[DOC Film Institute#Cachao: Uno mas (2010)|Cachao: Uno más]]'' (2008)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography|Cuba|Latin music|Music}}
{{commons category}}
*{{cite Grove |last=Moore |first=Robin |title=Cachao |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.A2092907}}
*{{cite web |title=Cachao |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cachao |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=18 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503032825/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cachao |archive-date=May 3, 2020 |language=en |date=March 18, 2020 |url-status=dead }}
*[https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/cachao Cachao], ''Rate Your Music''.
*[http://www.discogs.com/artist/139655-Cachao Cachao], ''Discogs''.
*{{IMDb name|id=0127996|name=Cachao}}
*[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/a/2004/10/24/PKGMU9AQQG1.DTL Cuba's Cachao is king of Tumbao]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030412191501/http://www.blogcritics.org/archives/2003/03/16/181012.php Cachao gets star on Walk of Fame]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080705083145/http://docfilm.sfsu.edu/cachao/film/ "Cachao: Uno Más"]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cachao}}
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:Cuban double-bassists]]
[[Category:Cuban composers]]
[[Category:Cuban male composers]]
[[Category:Cuban bandleaders]]
[[Category:Cuban charanga musicians]]
[[Category:Danzón musicians]]
[[Category:Danzón composers]]
[[Category:Mambo musicians]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Latin Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Deaths from kidney failure]]
[[Category:Musicians from Havana]]
[[Category:Cuban emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Musicians from Miami]]
[[Category:20th-century American musicians]]
[[Category:Latin music composers]]
[[Category:National Heritage Fellowship winners]]
[[Category:Cuban male musicians]]