Fidel Morales

Gretsch Artist Since: 2012

Country: CU

Band or Affiliations: Drummer, Composer, Educator

Current Kit Setup:
Renown in Silver Oyster Pearl
14x18 BD, 8x12 TT, 14x14 FT, 14x16 FT, 5x14 SD
Sometimes a 16x20 BD

Influences:
Steve Gadd, Tony Williams, Billy Cobham, Elvin Jones, Roy Hanes, Jack DeJohnette, Changuito, Ignacio Berroa, Enrique Plá

We asked...Why Gretsch?:
"Gretsch Drums sound goes from tradition to contemporary. It is the dream of the versatile drummer. "

Advice to aspiring musicians?:
"For me, it is fundamental to have your own voice, finding your voice in your instrument and in your art in general."

Bio:
Born in Havana, Cuba, Fidel Morales is celebrated as one of the most prominent and versatile drummers and educators of his generation. His career spans multiple disciplines: percussionist, arranger, composer, and author of educational methods widely adopted by prestigious institutions worldwide.

From an early age, Fidel displayed exceptional talent. He began his formal music studies at the age of 12, having already studied music theory and solfège under the guidance of renowned Cuban clarinetist Amado Valdés. In 1981, he graduated with honors from the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory as an instrumentalist and percussion teacher. By 15, he was writing arrangements for the National School of Arts’ Big Band, and at 16, he served as musical advisor for Cuba’s youth television program Buenas Tardes, collaborating with prominent figures in Cuban popular music.

With a broad and diverse career, Fidel has collaborated with internationally renowned musicians in jazz, Latin jazz, and popular music. He has performed with luminaries such as Eddie Gómez, Danilo Pérez, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Giovanni Hidalgo, John Faddis, Elena Burke, Omara Portuondo, Celeste Mendoza, and Gilberto Santa Rosa, among others. In the 1990s, he directed the popular Orquesta Layé, contributing to the rise of salsa and Cuban timba. His composition La expresiva is a classic considered a milestone in the birth of the Cuban timba genre. As a composer, Fidel’s repertoire includes Cuban dance music hits like Mamina, La Expresiva and Se subió el voltaje. Many of his works have been recorded by top artists from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Panama, and the United States. His contributions to the album Bajando Gervasio by legendary timbalero Amadito Valdés earned a Latin Grammy nomination in 2004.

Among his most acclaimed projects are the albums Salsa, Son, Timba (2005) and Omío (2016). The latter, a collaboration with Latin jazz stars, garnered a Cubadisco Award nomination in 2017 and was recognized as one of Puerto Rico’s Top 20 Albums of 2016.

Education is one of Fidel Morales’ greatest passions. He has conducted masterclasses and served as visiting professor at prestigious conservatories and universities such as Berklee College of Music, the University of Miami, and the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, where he has led the Jazz Drumming Chair since 2006. He has trained dozens of talented drummers from Puerto Rico, the United States, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Panama. Fidel is the author of Afro-Cuban Techniques for Drumset and Percussion, Volumes 1 and 2, essential texts in numerous music education programs globally. . Fidel directs the Encuentro de Bateristas Afrocaribeños, a prestigious event that brings together top Caribbean musicians annually in San Juan, Puerto Rico, since 2018. He also leads his own groups, the Fidel Morales Quartet/Quintet and Fidel Morales & Afrocubano, performing regularly at international jazz festivals and community spaces. Additionally, he serves as Senior Creative Assistant at ROL Marketing Studio.

Fidel is endorsed by Gretsch Drums, Latin Percussion (LP), Gibraltar, Paiste, and Vic Firth, globally renowned brands in the music industry.