Luis Conte

Luis Conte (born 16 November 1954) is a Cuban percussionist best-known for his performances in the bands of artists including James Taylor, Madonna, Pat Metheny Group, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart and Shakira. He began his music career as a studio musician for Latin Jazz acts like Caldera. Conte's live performance and touring career took off when he joined Madonna's touring band in the 1980s. Neil Strauss of The New York Times describes Conte's playing as "grazing Latin-style percussion".
Conte immigrated to Los Angeles in 1967, where he attended Los Angeles City College studying music, and entrenched himself in the music community. Conte's career includes composing and playing in ABC TV's Dancing with the Stars band, along with many TV and film projects.
Early years
Conte was born in Santiago de Cuba. As a child, Conte began his musical odyssey playing the guitar. However, he soon switched to percussion, and that has remained his primary instrument ever since.
He was sent to Los Angeles by his parents in 1967, in order to prevent him from being forced to serve in the Cuban military. This was a turning point in Conte's life, as the musical community in Los Angeles during this period was quite vibrant. It was during this period that he studied at Los Angeles City College.
Musical career
Conte proved himself versatile musically, and by 1973, he was playing regularly in local clubs. He quickly became a busy studio musician, and throughout the 1970s, he played in the Latin Jazz band Caldera.
In the 1980s, Conte toured with several different musicians, including Madonna, guitarist Al Di Meola, and Andy Narell. His debut as a bandleader came in 1987, when he released La Cocina Caliente, which included a Latinized version of Chopin's "Susarasa". Conte also played percussion on the Pat Metheny Group release 'We Live Here', in 1995, on the Pat Metheny 'From This Place', in 2020 as well as I Mother Earth's first two albums Dig (1993) and Scenery and Fish (1996).
Conte has toured as part of James Taylor's "Band of Legends." He has also played alongside musicians including Alex Acuña, Jaguares, Larry Klimas, and David Garfield, both as a bandleader and a sideman.
Luis Conte was part of Phil Collins 1997 "Dance into the Light" tour and 2004 "First Farewell Tour", performing in both of them Afro-Cuban percussion and adding more depth into the concert songs. He also performed during The Phil Collins Big Band tours in 1996 and 1998 and again during the Phil Collins Not Dead Yet tours 2017/2018.
In 1999 Conte collaborated in Maná MTV Unplugged project.
In 2009 worked together with Sergio Vallín in his Bendito Entre Las Mujeres album.
Discography
As leader/co-leader
La Cocina Caliente (Denon, 1987)
Black Forest (Denon, 1989)
The Road (Weber Works, 1995)
Cuban Dreams (Unitone Recording, 2000)
En Casa De Luis (BFM Jazz, 2011)
As sideman (in alphabetical order)
With Peter Allen
Making Every Moment Count (RCA Records, 1990)
With Anastacia
Not That Kind (Epic Records, 2000)
With Angelica
Angelica (Arista Records, 1997)
With Paul Anka
Rock Swings (Verve, 2005)
With Patti Austin
On the Way to Love (Warner Bros. Records, 2001)
Sound Advice (Shanachie Records, 2011)
With George Benson
Absolute Benson (Verve, 2000)
With Michelle Branch
Hotel Paper (Maverick Records, 2003)
With Jackson Browne
I'm Alive (Elektra Records, 1993)
Looking East (Elektra Records, 1996)
The Naked Ride Home (Elektra Records, 2002)
Standing in the Breach (Inside Recordings, 2014)
With George Cables
Shared Secrets (MuseFX, 2001)
With Glen Campbell
Meet Glen Campbell (Capitol Records, 2008)
With Belinda Carlisle
Runaway Horses (MCA Records, 1989)
Live Your Life Be Free (MCA Records, 1991)
With Steven Curtis Chapman
All About Love (Sparrow Records, 2003)
With Cher
Love Hurts (Geffen, 1991)
With Chicago
Night & Day: Big Band (Giant, 1995)
With Toni Childs
House of Hope (A&M Records, 1991)
With Joe Cocker
Across from Midnight (CMC International, 1997)
With Natalie Cole
Good to Be Back (Elektra Records, 1989)
Take a Look (Elektra Records, 1993)
With Phil Collins and The Phil Collins Big Band
A Hot Night in Paris (Atlantic Records, 1999)
Phil Collins Live At Montreux, (DVD, 2010)
With Rita Coolidge
Behind the Memories (Pony Canyon Records, 1995)
With David Crosby
Thousand Roads (Atlantic Records, 1993)
With Gavin DeGraw
Gavin DeGraw (J Records, 2008)
With Céline Dion
Falling into You (Columbia Records, 1996)
A New Day Has Come (Columbia Records, 2002)
One Heart (Columbia Records, 2003)
With Lara Fabian
Lara Fabian (Columbia Records, 1999)
With Clare Fischer
2+2 (Pausa Records, 1981)
And Sometimes Voices (Pausa Records, 1982)
With John Fogerty
Blue Moon Swamp (Warner Bros. Records, 1997)
With Aretha Franklin
This Christmas, Aretha (DMI Records, 2008)
With Nelly Furtado
Loose (Interscope Records, 2006)
With Charlotte Gainsbourg
IRM (Elektra Records, 2009)
With Josh Groban
All That Echoes (Reprise Records, 2013)
Bridges (Reprise Records, 2018)
With Thelma Houston
Throw You Down (Reprise Records, 1990)
A Woman's Touch (Shout Factory, 2007)
With Al Jarreau
Tomorrow Today (GRP, 2000)
Accentuate the Positive (GRP Records, 2004)
With Jewel
Spirit (Atlantic Records, 1998)
Goodbye Alice in Wonderland (Atlantic Records, 2006)
With Elton John
Duets (Rocket, 1993)
With Gregg Karukas
Sound Of Emotion (Positive Music Records, 1991)
Summerhouse (101 South Records, 1994)
You'll Know It's Me (Fahreheit Records, 1995)
Blue Touch (i.e. music, 1998)
Nightshift (N-Coded Music, 2000)
Heatwave (N-Coded Music, 2002)
GK (Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records, 2009)
With Chaka Khan
Funk This (Burgundy Records, 2007)
With Patti LaBelle
Miss Patti's Christmas (Def Soul Classics, 2007)
With David Lasley
Soldiers on the Moon (Pony Canyon Records, 1989)
With Julian Lennon
Mr. Jordan (Virgin Records, 1989)
With Kenny Loggins
Back to Avalon (Columbia Records, 1988)
Leap of Faith (Columbia Records, 1991)
With Madonna
Like a Prayer (Warner Bros. Records, 1989)
With Ziggy Marley
Dragonfly (Private Music, 2003)
Love Is My Religion (Tuff Gong Worldwide, 2006)
With Richard Marx
Paid Vacation (Capitol Records, 1994)
With Christine McVie
In the Meantime (Sanctuary Records, 2004)
With Bette Midler
It's the Girls! (Warner Bros. Records, 2014)
With Kylie Minogue
Rhythm of Love (Mushroom Records, 1990)
With Michael Nesmith
Tropical Campfires (Pacific Art Corporation, 1992)
Rays (Pacific Arts Corporation, 2005)
With Jennifer Paige
Jennifer Paige (Hollywood Records, 1998)
With Bonnie Raitt
Slipstream (Redwing Records, 2012)
With Emily Remler
This Is Me (Justice Records, 1990)
With LeAnn Rimes
Twisted Angel (Curb Records, 2002)
With Linda Ronstadt
Frenesí (Elektra Records, 1992)
With Brenda Russell
Kiss Me with the Wind (A&M Records, 1990)
Soul Talkin (EMI, 1993)
Between the Sun and the Moon (Dome Records, 2004)With Boz Scaggs Fade Into Light (MVP Japan, 1996)With Selena Dreaming of You (EMI, 1995)With Shakira Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 (Epic Records, 2005)
Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (Epic Records, 2005)With Vonda Shepard Vonda Shepard (Reprise Records, 1989)With Lisa Stansfield Lisa Stansfield (Arista Records, 1997)With Rod Stewart Vagabond Heart (Warner Bros. Records, 1991)With Curtis Stigers Brighter Days (Columbia Records, 1999)With Barbra Streisand Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway (Columbia Records, 2016)With James Taylor October Roads (Columbia Records, 2002)
A Christmas Album (Hallmark Cards, 2004)
James Taylor at Christmas (Columbia Records, 2006)
Covers (Hear Music, 2008)
Other Covers (Hear Music, 2009)
Before This World (Concord Records, 2015)
American Standard (Fantasy Records, 2020)With Terence Trent D'Arby Vibrator (Columbia Records, 1995)With Julieta Venegas Bueninvento (RCA International, 2000)With Roger Waters Amused to Death (Columbia Records, 1992)With Tony Joe White Lake Placid Blues (Remark Records, 1995)
One Hot July (Mercury Records, 1998)With Deniece Williams Special Love (MCA Records, 1989)With Paul Young The Crossing (Columbia Records, 1993)
With Carlos Santana
(Supernatural) BMG 2000With Warren Zevon'''
The Wind'' (Artemis Records, 2003)
References
Notes
External links
Official website
BFM Jazz
Luis Conte School of Percussion
1954 births
Living people
Los Angeles City College alumni
Cuban percussionists
Pat Metheny Group members
American rock percussionists
Cuban emigrants to the United States
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band members
The Phil Collins Big Band members