Michel Camilo was born April 4, 1954 in Santo Domingo. He is a composer and pianist. He is a jazz, latin, and classical pianist who has recorded and performed with many famous musicians. Michel lists Chick Corea as one of his major influences. Other notables include Bill Evans, Bill Peterson, Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans. Michel was raised in a musical family. He showed great talent for the accordion his parents gave him as a child. He loved the accordion but it was the piano of his grandparents that attracted his attention the most. At age 9, he asked his parents for one. They first sent him to the Elementary Music School of the National Conservatory. Then, a year later, they granted his wish. Michel learned classical music through the formal system of the music school. He was already playing in the National Symphony Orchestra of Dominican Republic by age 16. Michel shares his experience with jazz in an interview with All About Jazz. I was listening to Art Tatum’s solo piano version of “Tea for Two” on the radio. This immediately caught my attention. It was all I wanted to do, to get to know that style. It was jazz. Michel studied at the National Conservatory for 13 years. While he was developing his classical skills, he was heavily influenced both by the bop tradition and contemporary jazz such as Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett. He was also influenced by Erroll Garner and Horace Silver. The Harvard University Jazz Band saw Michel at a jam session and encouraged him to go to the States. Michel, who had been studying at Mannes College in New York and The Juilliard School in 1979, made his debut on the international stage when Tito Puente’s pianist couldn’t make it to a concert at The Montreal Jazz Festival. Tito recommended Michel and asked him to perform. Paquito D’Rivera, a Cuban reedman, was there and offered Michel a spot in his band. Michel toured with Paquito for four years and recorded two albums together. Michel was a star by his own admission in 1985, when he performed at Carnegie Hall with his trio. He also toured Europe in 1985 with Paquito D’Rivera’s quintet and recorded Why Not? for Japan’s King record label. With the release of Michel Camilo, Michel made his debut on Sony’s major record label. It became a huge success and remained at the top of jazz albums for ten weeks. The accolades continued with other bestselling albums, including an Emmy and a Grammy. Michel’s 2000 collaboration with flamenco guitarist Tomatito of Spain won the Best Latin Jazz Album award at the first Latin Grammy Awards. Michel is an exceptional performer and a talented composer. He has composed scores for many Spanish-language films, including Los Peores Anos de Nuestra Vida (awarded) and Amo Tu Cama Rica (awarded). Michel is an avid traveler and gives lectures throughout Europe, the US, and at the Puerto Rico Conservatory. Michel holds many honorary degrees, including a Berklee College of Music Visiting Professorship. He has been named Knight of the Heraldic Order of Christopher Columbus and the Silver Cross of Order of Duarte, Sanchez.
