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 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.

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.

He quickly became a busy studio musician, and throughout the 1970s, he played in the Latin Jazz band Caldera.

Conte proved himself versatile musically, and by 1973, he was playing regularly in local clubs.

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".

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.

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.

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.

In 1999 Conte collaborated in Maná MTV Unplugged project.

In 2009 worked together with Sergio Vallín in his Bendito Entre Las Mujeres album.

With Peter Allen

With Anastacia

With Angelica

With Paul Anka

With Patti Austin

With George Benson

With Michelle Branch

With Jackson Browne

With George Cables

With Glen Campbell

With Belinda Carlisle

With Steven Curtis Chapman

With Cher

With Chicago

With Toni Childs

With Joe Cocker

With Natalie Cole