Michel Camilo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michel Camilo
Michel Camilo in concert (2015)
Background information
Born	(1954-04-04) April 4, 1954 (age 71) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Genres	Jazz, Latin, classical
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Piano
Years active	1970s–present

Michel Camilo (born April 4, 1954) is an amazing pianist and composer from the Dominican Republic. He is famous for playing jazz, Latin, and classical piano music. He blends these styles to create his unique sound.

Michel Camilo: A Piano Star

Early Life and Musical Journey

Michel Camilo was born into a family that loved music. When he was a young child, his parents gave him an accordion. He really enjoyed playing it! But it was his grandparents' piano that truly captured his heart.

At just nine years old, he asked his parents for a piano. First, they sent him to the Elementary Music School. This school was part of the National Conservatory. A year later, his wish came true, and he got his own piano.

The music school taught Michel to play in the classical style. By the time he was 16, he was already performing with the National Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic.

Michel first heard jazz music when he was about 14. He heard the famous pianist Art Tatum playing "Tea for Two" on the radio. He immediately loved the sound and wanted to learn that style. That's how he discovered jazz!

He studied for 13 years at the National Conservatory. While he became very skilled in classical music, he was also inspired by jazz legends. These included Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, and Art Tatum. He also loved the ragtime music of Scott Joplin.

Becoming a Jazz Sensation

In 1979, Michel Camilo moved to New York City. He went to study at Mannes College and The Juilliard School. His big break came in 1983 at the Montreal Jazz Festival. The regular pianist for Tito Puente couldn't make it.

Someone recommended Michel, and Tito Puente asked him to play without even hearing him first. Paquito D'Rivera, a Cuban musician, was in the audience. He was so impressed that he invited Michel to join his band. Michel toured the world with D'Rivera for four years and recorded two albums.

Michel started to become a star on his own around 1985. That year, his trio performed for the first time at Carnegie Hall. He also toured Europe and recorded his first album, Why Not?.

In 1988, he released Michel Camilo with Sony. This album became a bestseller and stayed at the top of the jazz charts for ten weeks! He later won a Grammy Award and an Emmy Award for his music. His 2000 album Spain with guitarist Tomatito won "Best Latin Jazz Album" at the first Latin Grammy Awards.

A Talented Composer and Teacher

Besides being an amazing performer, Michel Camilo is also a talented composer. He has written music for several Spanish movies. These include Los peores años de nuestra vida and the award-winning Amo tu cama rica.

Michel travels a lot, performing and giving talks. He teaches in Europe, the US, and at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. He has received special honors, including a Visiting Professorship and a Doctorate from Berklee College of Music. In his home country, he was named a Knight of the Heraldic Order of Christopher Columbus. He also received the Silver Cross of the Order of Duarte, Sanchez & Mella.

Playing with Other Musicians

Michel Camilo has played with many famous musicians over the years. For a long time, his regular trio included his friends Anthony Jackson on bass and Cliff Almond on drums. Later, Charles Flores played bass in his trio, including on their Grammy-winning album Live at the Blue Note. More recently, Dafnis Prieto has been his drummer. This new trio released the album Spirit of the Moment in 2007.

Some other musicians he has played with include:

• Tito Puente
• Paquito D'Rivera
• Dizzy Gillespie
• Herbie Hancock
• Tomatito
• Wynton Marsalis
• Chucho Valdés
• Hiromi Uehara
• Steve Gadd
• Arturo Sandoval

Michel Camilo is also an ambassador for Music Traveler GmbH. He works with other famous artists like Billy Joel and Hans Zimmer to support music.

Notable Albums

Michel Camilo has released many albums as a leader or co-leader. Here are some of his important works:

• Why Not? (1985)
• Michel Camilo (1988)
• On Fire (1989)
• One More Once (1994) - This album featured a big band.
• Spain (2000) - A duo album with guitarist Tomatito.
• Live at the Blue Note (2003) - A live concert recording.
• Solo (2004) - A solo piano album.
• Rhapsody in Blue (2006) - Featured the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra.
• Spain Again (2006) - Another duo album with Tomatito.
• What's Up? (2013) - Another solo piano album.
• Spain Forever (2016) - The third duo album with Tomatito.
• Essence (2019) - A big band studio recording.

See also

In Spanish: Michel Camilo para niños