Pedro Pablo “Pedrito” Martinez was born in Havana, Cuba, on September 12, 1973, in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood of Old Havana, and began his musical career at the age of11. Since settling in New York City in the fall of 1998, Pedrito has recorded and/or performed with Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Paquito D’Rivera, Chucho Valdez, Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Palmieri, Dave Matthews, Jackson Browne, Elton John, James Taylor, and Sting, and has contributed to well over 100 albums. A consummate master of Afro-Cuban folkloric music and the batá drum he is also the world’s first-call rumbero—playing, singing, and dancing with dozens of Cuban rumba groups and contributing to, or appearing in, several important films, including Calle 54 (2000) and Chico and Rita (2010).

This event is presented in partnership with Spoleto Festival USA