Israel "Cachao" Lopez
Born in Old Havana, Cuba on September 14, 1918, Israel López Valdés – better
known by his nickname Cachao – was a double bassist and composer and is known as
the co-creator of the mambo. He is also credited as a master of the descarga,
which are loose and improvised jam sessions. Playing music since the age of 8
years old, he began his professional career with his brother Orestes (nicknamed
Macho) in Arcaño y sus Maravillas, a Cuban charanga formed in 1937 and fronted
by flautist Antonio Arcaño. Cachao and Orestes then went on to pioneer the
danzón-mambo (later known as the mambo...
