Bebo Valdés, born Dionisio Ramón Emilio Valdés Amaro on October 9, 1918, in Quivicán, Cuba, was a renowned Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer, and arranger. Valdés was a pivotal figure in the golden age of Cuban music, contributing significantly to genres such as Afro-Cuban jazz, mambo, and son cubano. He was instrumental in the development of the batanga rhythm in 1952 and played a key role in adapting the mambo for big band arrangements.

Valdés began his career in Havana's nightclubs during the 1940s, working with notable orchestras, including those of Julio Cueva and the Tropicana Club. He became the director of the Radio Mil Diez house band and the Tropicana Club orchestra before forming his own big band, Orquesta Sabor de Cuba, in 1957. His collaborations with artists like Rita Montaner, Benny Moré, and Nat King Cole marked significant milestones in his career.

In 1960, Valdés left Cuba for Mexico, eventually settling in Stockholm, Sweden, where he lived until 2007. His career experienced a revival in 1994 when he collaborated with Paquito D'Rivera, leading to several new albums and multiple Grammy Awards. Valdés's contributions to music continued until his death on March 22, 2013, in Stockholm. His legacy endures through his recordings and his son, Chucho Valdés, a successful pianist and bandleader in his own right.