Alfredo de la Fe

by Craig Harris
The violin has been transformed into an important sound of Salsa and Latin music by Cuba-born and Colombia-based violinist Alfredo De La Fe. The first solo violinist to perform with a Salsa orchestra, De La Fe has toured the world more than thirty times, appearing in concert and participating in more than one hundred albums by such top-ranked Latin artists Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Jose Alberto El Canario, Cheo Feliciano, The Fania All Stars and Santana. His second solo album, Alfredo, released in 1979, received a Grammy nomination as Best Latin album. A child prodigy, De La Fe began studying violin at the Amadio Roldan Conservatory in Havana in 1962. Two years later, he received a scholarship to attend the Warsaw Conservatory in Poland. In 1965, he performed compositions by Mendelsson and Tchaikovsky with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in Carnegie Hall . A scholarship to Julliard Arts enabled him to further his studies. De La Fes launched his professional career, at the age of twelve, when he switched from classical music to Salsa and accepted an invitation to join charanga legend Jose Fajardos Orchestra. In 1972, he joined Eddie Palmieris Orchestra. He remained with the group for a very short period, moving temporarily to San Francisco where he joined Santana. Returning to New York, De La Fe joined La Topica 73 in 1977. Two years later, he released his debut solo album, Alfredo. In 1980, De La Fe signed with Sars All Stars, and produced thirty two albums for the Latin record label. His second solo album, Charanga 80, was released the same year. In 1981, De La Fe became musical director of Tito Puentes Latin Percussion Jazz Ensemble. The following year, he resumed his solo career, signing with Taboga, for whom he recorded the album, Triunfo. Relocating to Colombia in 1983, De La Fe signed with Phillips and released three albums - Made In Colombia, Dancing In The Tropics and Alfredo De La Fe Vallenato - by the end of the 1980s. In 1989, De La Fe switched to the Fuentes label. Although he joined the Fania All Stars in 1995, De La Fe continued to pursue a solo career. He signed with Sony Music in 1997. Two years later, he toured with his own band, appearing at festivals in Denmark, Holland, France, Turkey and Belgium, and reunited with Eddie Palmieris Orchestra for a European tour. Latitudes was released in fall 2000.