Orlando “Maraca” Valle was a Cuban-born musician who was born in Havana in September 1966. Born in Havana, Cuba in September 1966, Orlando “Maraca” Valle was raised in a musical family and began to learn the flute when he was ten years old. Maraca was invited to join his first professional band, Irakere, in 1988. Irakere is a very well-known group in Cuba and Latin America. It was established in 1973 by Chucho Valdes, and Paquito De’Rivera. As a pianist, flutist, and keyboard player, he joined Irakere. He was also an arranger, and was then introduced to many internationally renowned Latin and jazz musicians such as Chick Corea, Paquito DiRivera, Dizzie Gillespie and Paquito D’Rivera. Maraca was his home for six years, during which he enjoyed international fame. He left in 1994 to pursue a solo career. His first solo album, El Pasaporte was his collaboration with the Cuban percussionists Tata Guiines and Anga Miguel Diz. His solo career was launched by this collaboration, which earned him a national reputation as a writer and arranger as well as an exceptional solo artist. Through the ’90s, he continued to release solo records and formed Maraca in 1999.
