Luis Conte


Luis Conte is a Cuban percussionist best known for his performances in the bands of artists including James Taylor, Madonna, Pat Metheny Group, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart and Shakira. He began his music career as a studio musician for Latin Jazz acts like Caldera. Conte's live performance and touring career took off when he joined Madonna's touring band in the 1980s. Neil Strauss of The New York Times describes Conte's playing as "grazing Latin-style percussion".
Conte immigrated to Los Angeles in 1967, where he attended Los Angeles City College studying music, and entrenched himself in the music community. Conte's career includes composing and playing in ABC TV's Dancing with the Stars band, along with many TV and film projects.
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Early years

Conte was born in Santiago de Cuba. As a child, Conte began his musical odyssey playing the guitar. However, he soon switched to percussion, and that has remained his primary instrument ever since.
He was sent to Los Angeles by his parents in 1967, in order to prevent him from being forced to serve in the Cuban military. This was a turning point in Conte's life, as the musical community in Los Angeles during this period was quite vibrant. It was during this period that he studied at Los Angeles City College.

Musical career

Conte proved himself versatile musically, and by 1973 he was playing regularly in local clubs. He quickly became a busy studio musician, and throughout the 1970s he played in the Latin jazz band Caldera.
In the 1980s, Conte toured with several different musicians including Madonna, guitarist Al Di Meola, and Andy Narell. His debut as a bandleader came in 1987 when he released La Cocina Caliente, which included a Latinized version of Chopin's "Susarasa". Conte also played percussion on the Pat Metheny Group release 'We Live Here' in 1995, on the Pat Metheny album 'From This Place' in 2020, as well as I Mother Earth's first two albums Dig and Scenery and Fish.
Conte has toured as part of James Taylor's "Band of Legends." He has also played alongside musicians including Alex Acuña, Jaguares, Larry Klimas, and David Garfield, both as a bandleader and a sideman.
Luis Conte was part of Phil Collins' 1997 "Dance into the Light" tour and 2004 "First Farewell Tour", performing Afro-Cuban percussion in both of them and adding more depth into the concert songs. He also performed during The Phil Collins Big Band tours in 1996 and 1998, and again during the Phil Collins Not Dead Yet tours in 2017–2018.
In 1999 Conte collaborated in the Maná MTV Unplugged project.
In 2009, Conte worked together with Sergio Vallín in his Bendito Entre Las Mujeres album.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

  • La Cocina Caliente
  • Black Forest
  • The Road
  • Cuban Dreams
  • ''En Casa De Luis''

As sideman (in alphabetical order)

With Peter AllenMaking Every Moment Count
With AnastaciaNot That Kind
With AngelicaAngelica
With Paul AnkaRock Swings
With Patti AustinOn the Way to Love Sound Advice
With George BensonAbsolute Benson
With Michelle BranchHotel Paper
With Michel Jonasz
With Jackson BrowneI'm Alive Looking East The Naked Ride Home Standing in the Breach
With George CablesShared Secrets
With Glen CampbellMeet Glen Campbell
With Belinda CarlisleRunaway Horses Live Your Life Be Free
With Steven Curtis ChapmanAll About Love
With CherLove Hurts
With ChicagoNight & Day: Big Band
With Toni ChildsHouse of Hope
With Joe CockerAcross from Midnight
With Natalie ColeGood to Be Back Take a Look
With Phil Collins and The Phil Collins Big BandA Hot Night in Paris Phil Collins Live At Montreux,
With Rita CoolidgeBehind the Memories
With David CrosbyThousand Roads
With Gavin DeGrawGavin DeGraw
With Céline DionFalling into You A New Day Has Come One Heart
With Lara FabianLara Fabian
With Clare Fischer2+2 And Sometimes Voices
With John FogertyBlue Moon Swamp
With Aretha FranklinThis Christmas, Aretha
With Nelly FurtadoLoose
With Charlotte GainsbourgIRM
With Josh GrobanAll That Echoes Bridges
With Thelma HoustonThrow You Down A Woman's Touch
With Al JarreauTomorrow Today Accentuate the Positive
With JewelSpirit Goodbye Alice in Wonderland
With Elton JohnDuets
With Gregg KarukasSound Of Emotion Summerhouse You'll Know It's Me Blue Touch Nightshift Heatwave GK
With Chaka KhanFunk This
With Patti LaBelleMiss Patti's Christmas
With David LasleySoldiers on the Moon
With Julian LennonMr. Jordan
With Kenny LogginsBack to Avalon Leap of Faith
With MadonnaLike a Prayer
With Ziggy MarleyDragonfly Love Is My Religion
With Richard MarxPaid Vacation
With Christine McVieIn the Meantime
With Bette MidlerIt's the Girls!
With Kylie MinogueRhythm of Love
With Michael NesmithTropical Campfires Rays
With Jennifer PaigeJennifer Paige
With Bonnie RaittSlipstream
With Emily RemlerThis Is Me
With LeAnn RimesTwisted Angel
With Linda RonstadtFrenesí
With Brenda RussellKiss Me with the Wind Soul Talkin Between the Sun and the Moon
With Boz ScaggsFade Into Light
With SelenaDreaming of You
With ShakiraFijación Oral, Vol. 1 Oral Fixation, Vol. 2
With Vonda ShepardVonda Shepard
With Lisa StansfieldLisa Stansfield
With Rod StewartVagabond Heart
With Curtis StigersBrighter Days
With Barbra StreisandEncore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway
With James TaylorOctober Roads A Christmas Album James Taylor at Christmas Covers Other Covers Before This World American Standard
With Terence Trent D'ArbyVibrator
With Julieta VenegasBueninvento
With Roger WatersAmused to Death
With Tony Joe WhiteLake Placid Blues One Hot July
With Deniece WilliamsSpecial Love
With Paul YoungThe Crossing
With Carlos Santana
BMG 2000
With Warren Zevon'