Israel "Cachao" López Valdés (September 14, 1918 – March 22, 2008) was a Cuban double bassist, composer, and bandleader, celebrated as a pivotal figure in the development of Cuban music. Born in Havana, Cuba, into a family with a rich musical heritage, Cachao became a master of the double bass, an instrument played by at least 35 members of his family. His early musical education was guided by his father, Pedro López, and his brother, Orestes López, with whom he would later collaborate extensively.

Cachao's career began in childhood; by the age of eight, he was performing as a bongo player in a children's son cubano septet. At thirteen, he joined the Havana Philharmonic, where he played for 31 years. Alongside his brother Orestes, Cachao was instrumental in the evolution of the danzón, a traditional Cuban dance form. In 1937, they co-created the danzón-mambo, laying the groundwork for what would become the internationally renowned genre of mambo.

During the 1950s, Cachao gained fame for his descargas, or improvised jam sessions, which infused Cuban music with jazz-like spontaneity. After leaving Cuba in 1962, he spent time in Spain before settling in the United States, where he worked with prominent Latin and salsa bands in New York. Despite a period of obscurity in the 1970s, Cachao experienced a resurgence in the 1990s, largely due to the efforts of actor Andy García, who produced a documentary and several albums that highlighted Cachao's contributions to music.

Cachao's influence on music was profound, earning him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and several Grammy Awards. He is remembered not only for his musical innovations but also for his role as a cultural ambassador of Afro-Cuban music. His legacy endures in the rhythms of contemporary Latin jazz and salsa, and he is celebrated as one of the greatest bass players of all time.