Michel Camilo
b. 4 April 1954, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Composing his first song at the age of five, Camilo was heavily influenced by Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson and McCoy Tyner, as well as great classical composers for piano, and the Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona. He attended the National Conservatory of the Dominican Republic for 13 years and earned a professorship in music. At 16 he also became a member of the country's National Symphony Orchestra, but wishing to continue his musical education, in 1979 he moved to New York to study at Mannes and the Juilliard School of Music. A pianist of tremendous technique and agility, Camilo's mixture of his native Caribbean rhythms with traditional jazz harmony began to attract notice, and he began playing with the New York group French Toast and saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera, with whom he first recorded his popular composition, "Why Not!". A vocal version of the song was recorded by Manhattan Transfer, for which Camilo won a Grammy Award in 1983. In 1985, he made his debut at Carnegie Hall as the opening act for Tania Maria. The Michel Camilo Trio was soon appearing regularly in the USA, Caribbean, Japan and Europe.
Listen to Michel Camilo
at Finetune.
Albums
- (2006) Spain Again
- (2000) Spain
- (1997) Thru My Eyes
- (1994) One More Once
- (1993) Rendezvous
- (1989) On Fire
- (1988) Michel Camilo
Top Tracks
- Spain
- Caribe
- Libertango
- From Within
- Tropical Jam
Related Artists
Fans