Arturo Sandoval (born November 6, 1949) is a Cuban-Americanjazz trumpeter, pianist, timbalero, and composer. While living in his native Cuba, Sandoval was influenced by jazz musicians Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown, and Dizzy Gillespie. In 1977 he met Gillespie, who became his friend and mentor and helped him defect from Cuba while on tour with the United Nations Orchestra. Sandoval became an American naturalized citizen in 1998. His life was the subject of the film For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story (2000) starring Andy García.
Sandoval was born into a poor family in Artemisa, a small village in the province of Havana, Cuba. He started playing music at age 13 in the village band, learning the basics of music theory and percussion. After playing many instruments, he finally settled on the trumpet, playing with street musicians. In 1964, Sandoval enrolled at the Cuban National School of Arts where he took classical trumpet lessons for three years, and earned a place in the country's all-star national band. He helped establish the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna, which became the band Irakere in 1973. He toured worldwide with his own group in 1981. During the following year he toured with Dizzy Gillespie, who became his friend and mentor. From 1982 to 1984, he was voted Cuba's Best Instrumentalist and was a guest artist at the BBC and Leningrad Symphony Orchestras.
In 1989, Gillespie invited Sandoval to be part of the United Nations Orchestra. During a tour with this group, Sandoval visited the American Embassy in Athens, Greece, accompanied by Gillespie, who helped him with his plan to defect from Cuba. Sandoval became an American citizen on December 7, 1998.[3]
Sandoval's score for a film about his life won an Emmy Award.[6] His compositions and performances can be heard on The Mambo Kings, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1992 for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television.[7]
His song "A Mis Abuelos" (To My Grandparents) received Grammy Award nominations for Best Instrumental Composition and Best Arrangement. This composition appeared on his Grammy-winning album Danzon.[7]
In 2015, Arturo Sandoval joined the 14th annual Independent Music Awards judging panel to assist independent musicians' careers.[10] He was also a judge for the 10th,[11] 12th[12] and 13th Independent Music Awards.[13]
↑Shanahan, Mark (28 November 2016). "A Castro critic was playing Scullers when he learned of the former Cuban leader's death". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
↑Clary, Mike (23 April 1997). "Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval Is Denied U.S. Citizenship". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
123Diaz Ayala, Cristóbal; Kernfeld, Barry (2002). Kernfeld, Barry (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Vol.3 (2nded.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries. p.499. ISBN1-56159-284-6.
↑Mullaney, Kelly (October 28, 2014). "Grammy Winner and Cuban Jazz Legend Arturo Sandoval comes to Rochester". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
↑"Guest Artist: Arturo Sandoval". Whitworth University. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
↑"For Love Or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story". Emmys. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
12"Arturo Sandoval". Grammys. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
↑"Arturo Sandoval receives Presidential Medal of Freedom". International Trumpet Guild. January 29, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
↑Fierberg, Ruthie (July 21, 2024). "Kennedy Center Announces 47th Class of Honorees". Broadway News.
↑"The 14th Annual Independent Music Awards Winners Announced". Independent Music Awards. July 16, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
↑"The 10th Annual Independent Music Awards Winners Announced". Independent Music Awards. February 16, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
↑"The 12th Annual Independent Music Awards Winners Announced". Independent Music Awards. March 19, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
↑"The 13th Annual Independent Music Awards Winners Announced". Independent Music Awards. March 17, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
↑"Street Player (Chicago cover) - Leonid & Friends feat. Arturo Sandoval". YouTube. 24 June 2018.
↑Music Hound Jazz ed. Steve Holtje, Music Hound, Nancy Ann Lee: 2001
