When Ruben Angel “Cachete” Maldonado died Friday, January 11 (2020), Puerto Rico lost a giant. The visionary, master drummer, educator, and co-founder of the groundbreaking groups, Batacumbele, and Los Majaderos was 67.

According to his widow, Carmín Colón, “The teacher of teachers continues in our hearts. He was a person well given to music, culture, people and liked to teach. He left a very large legacy for this country.” Also, she revealed Maldonado died in peace with a characteristic smile on his face.

Maldonado was born on October 16, 1951, in Barrio Obrero in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He grew up in the street called Calle Cortijo (named after Rafael Cortijo). His father, (Ruben), was a bassist in several bands, and his sister and aunt were vocalists.  

Initially, Maldonado studied the bass and the piano, but he naturally gravitated to percussion. He studied under Julio César “Maco” Rivera, a master drummer well versed in the art of Afro-Cuban drumming, who taught Maldonado the rudiments of the congas, bongos, timbales, and other hand drums. Also, he introduced him to the batá drums and the Yoruba sacred ceremonial rituals of Orisha.

According to an interview with Maldonado in the newspaper, El Nuevo Dia, the nickname “Cachete” is a reference to Maldonado’s prominent cheeks!

In Puerto Rico, he performed with Johnny El Bravo and Danny Gonzalez. In the 1970s, he relocated to New York, where he studied with Carlos “Patato’ Valdés, Julito Collazo, and performed with the group,  La Conspiración. This led to a collaboration with the pianist Larry Harlow and the highly acclaimed record “Hommy.” Also, tours of North and South America. 

In 1973 he traveled to Cuba with the group, Tipica ’73, as part of a cultural exchange program. There, he immersed himself in Afro-Cuban percussion. Shortly after that, he joined Gato Barbieri’s band and played with “El Gato” for four years. The experience opened doors for “Cachete” in the jazz community.