Ramon Vald?s, internationally known as Bebo, was born on October 19, 1918 in Quivican, Cuba. His family has Spanish and African roots.

Bebo graduated from the Conservatorio Municipal in Havana in the 1940s. He worked as an arranger with legendary composer Ernesto Lecuona.

Bebo started his career as a pianist in night clubs of Havana during the 1950s. From June 1952, he performed at the RHC Cadena Azul, (radio station with 11 subsidiaries all over Cuba, second in the national rating, then owned by Amado Trinidad Velasco), where the world debut of a new rhythm, Batanga, took place. After the first show Sunday June 14, at 1.30 p.m., the following Sundays in June he performed at similar times, promoting the new rhythm. From July on and during the months he performed the show, along with his 22-piece band, the program was broadcast daily from 8.00 to 8.30 p.m.

Bebo was the director of the famous Tropicana Club in Havana in the pre-Castro years. He explains that in 1963 he had to "decide between love and art" and chose the first, getting married in Stockholm. He stayed in Sweden to live, which is why he spent more than 30 years in anonymity until Spanish film director Fernando Trueba rescued him, featuring Bebo on his film Calle 54 in 2001, after 30 years out of recording studios.

It was Trueba who had the idea of putting Bebo Vald?s (85 at the time), and Flamenco singer El Cigala? (who was 35), together to record L?grimas Negras, an all-time classic album that recreates songs such as "L?grimas Negras", "Corazon Loco", "Se me olvid? que te olvid?" and "La bien pag?".

L?grimas Negras has become Bebo's best known collaboration. Bebo and  Diego ?El Cigala? used boleros as their medium, Spanish as their language, and together they created Afro-Cuban influenced boleros with a distinct flamenco personality.

L?grimas Negras has become an international best seller, with over 700.000 copies sold all over the world, 300.000 in Spain.

In 2003 Bebo Vald?s received the Donostia Award at the 38 edition of San Sebastian Jazz Festival (Spain), classified by him as the "best in the world." Vald?s received the award from San Sebastian city mayor Od?n Elorza, at the City Hall of the Basque city, with the presence of ?El Cigala?, with whom Vald?s performed in the Festival.

Bebo does not miss the chance to praise his son Chucho Vald?s' qualities, whom he calls superior to him concerning musical taste and "absolute ear", although Chucho only modestly replies that he is nothing but "his follower, his sequel."

Bebo's CD Bebo De Cuba (Calle 54 Records) won a 2006 Latin Grammy for Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album.

20 A?os

Cuban Dance Party

El Arte del Sabor

Bebo Rides Again

El Manisero

Guapacha con Bebo Valdes y sus Amigos

Mayajigua

Descargas del Bebo

Todo Ritmo

Bebo

Recuerdos de Habana (Town Crier, 2000)

L?grimas Negras (RCA, 2003)

Bebo de Cuba (BMG, 2005)