For more than a decade Miami has counted among its children one of the most famous musicians of our times, the incomparable Cuban virtuouso, Arturo Sandoval, who since age thirteen in his native city of Artemisa, has received well deserved applause for his great achievements as a composer, trumpet player, pianist... as a musician in all the extension of the word.

Arturo is a prodigy who each day improves his technique more. His dedicationn, his hard work and his love for music, put him in a special place among the most applauded interpreters of our times. His energy helps him to reach goals and to surpass his dreams of youth. His life, as well as his long chain of successes, have far exceeded his dreams, his love story and defiance against the state of Castro was even carried to the movies. "For Love or Country", masterfully interpreted Sandoval’s story and was played out by Cuban American Andy García.

Before founding Irakere, Arturo Sandoval was part of The Modern Music Cuban Orchestra , and had been invited to play with the BBC Symphony of London and the Leningrad Symphony in Russia, as well as many other orchestras worldwide.
At the end of 1999, before I moved to Miami, I had the opportunity of enjoy one of his better performances at Bally' s Casino in New Orleans, LA. There I was able to appreciate the total control of his music, his well achieved interpretations. In a couple of hours Sandoval delighted everyone with variety and adversity, moving around the stage, playing piano, trumpet, percussion... entertaining and demonstrating his incredible talent and his great passion for music.

Arturo has been nominated twelve times for a Grammy of which he has received four, and has been awarded three Billboard prizes, besides many other recognitions for his music. One of the most important awards in his career is an Emmy for the music in the movie about his life, 'For Love or Country'.

Arturo Sandoval has performed in the most outstanding places in front of the most important dignitaries. He has shared the stage with many of the most applauded interpreters including Maurice Andre and Adolph Herseth, two of the most famoust trumpet players of the world. He has published several books about his musical method, the first one in 1991 through Birn Publishing in Swiss, 'Brass Concepts', and in 1995 three books for exercises and methodology that include Arban, his own method of teaching. As a teacher, Sandoval has formed part of the Conservatory of Paris, the Conservatory of Tchaikovsky in the Soviet Union and currently teaches at Florida International University (FIU).

Three scholarships carry the name of Arturo Sandoval, "Arturo Sandoval's Dizzy Gillespie Trumpet Scholar Award" of the University of Idaho, "Sandoval Trumpet Scholarship" of the Central University of Oklahoma and the Sandoval Trumpet Scholarship of FIU. His commitment to the community in humanitarian efforts are many. Arturo Sandoval recently did two presentations in the Yamaha Concert Hall benefitting children with problems caused by negligence, abuse or illnesses, as in the case of the handicap children. His music has crossed over reaching the White House where he performed ‘America the Beautiful, as well as being part of the group of musicians who interpreted 'The Last Good-bye", after the terrorist acts of September 11 in the White House.

Sandoval’s music has been a part of many movies such as "The Mambo Kings", for which he received a Grammy nomination for his composition "Mambo Hot"; and other movies as 'Havana"; “The Perez Family" and lately, “Random Hearts.”
His latest discographic work, 'My passion by the Piano', is the first one produced by Crescent Moon /Columbia Records, produced by Cuban American Emilio Estefan, Jr.

We asked Arturo a few questions about his life and his career during a recent interview.

IA- ¿What was Dizzy Gillespie to you and, what role has he played in your life as a musician?

AS- "Gillespie was my idol, my hero, an extraordinary musician that invented a style of music, the 'Be-Bop', one of my favorite styles. In 1977 he went to a Festival of Jazz, and he had to stop in Havana. I had the opportunity to show him the city. Thanks to him I am here, he helped me with my political asylum and always offered me great support, affection and respect. I will be always be grateful to him.".

IA- Your musical career goes back many years.. Please tell us a little about your beginnings...

AS- "My career began in 1961 in Artemisa, where I played with local groups. I used to play 'son'.. I was the only young guy among many old folks. In 1964 I went to Havana to the National School of Art where I studied music. I began playing at night clubs, including Tropicana, National Hotel, Capri. In 1967 I began to play with the Modern Music Orchestra until 1971 when I was sent to Military Service. Those were the worst years of my life, and more than military service that was 'a humiliation'. I did not feel at anytime that I was trained to defend my country. When I came out of the military service I founded Irakere (1974-1980). In 1980 I did my own group and ten years when Castro made the mistake to let my wife and child leave the country, I defected. I have been in this country for the past 12 years."

IA- Do you think that successes and achievements have made you lose perspective at any point in your life? How is your relationship with your family?

AS- " I have never lost the perspective. Life is not only fame, prizes and success, it is comprised of many other emotions, solid things, and most important is the love forfamily, for country. I have lots of family in Cuba, 32 first cousins and eight aunts and uncles. I have to work very hard to maintain my family. So fame and success has not affected me in that aspect whatsoever".

IA- The first time that I saw you in New Orleans, when you were King of the latin american Carnival in 1991. With New Orleans being the cradle of Jazz, ¿how did you feel to share part of your history with that legendary city?

AS- "I do not keep very good memories of that presentation since the musicians were not familiarized with my music. But New Orleans is a beautiful city, with a great deal of history, a great deal of music. I have been in presentations of distinct events and I have been very happy to be part of that. I have participated twice in the Jazz Festival and not long ago I had a performance at “Hauling Wolf"... that was a magic night, with a first class audience".

IA- ¿What did you feel about the movie concerning your life?

AS- "It is an unique experience. I value, appreciate, and thank the idea to carry my life to the big screen.. I believe that everyone has their own history to tell, and I am very thankful for the honor, and the great performance of Andy García. This is the first time I could write the score for a movie, and for which I earned an Emmy Award."

IA-¿In forty years as a musician you must have had many goals?

AS- "In truth I do not have goals. I work hard, with dedication and discipline. I leave the goals in the hands of God, anyway I feel that what is going to happen in the future I do not have control of".

IA- ¿Was it easy to achieve the success?

AS- "Whenever one is dedicated totally to what pleases him, one obtains what he wants. My passion is music, I love what I do. I have discipline and whenever one promises to offer the best of himself, one has the endorsement of the public. I respect my career, my vocation, and the public a great deal. I believe that God gives us a talent, and it is up to us to do something with that talent. Success is obtained with a great deal of work and discipline".

IA- ¿What 'pregón' would you like to send our readers, and mainly to those that feel a passion for music, fame and fortune but have not yet been able to reach it?

AS- "First of all, to forget about fame and fortune and worry more about discipline and dedication. There is a great deal of people that have fame and fortune and do not have talent, or many with lots of talent that do not have fame and fortune. The most important thing is the dedication and the determination to work hard".