Walfredo Reyes Jr.


Walfredo Reyes Jr. is a Cuban American musician who is an expert in drum set and auxiliary percussion, and a music educator and clinician. He has performed with many jazz, Latin, World music, World fusion, Afro-Cuban, and rock bands as a touring, session recording, and full-time player/performer.
Reyes is known for his fusion of many of the world's percussion techniques, including the ability to play a drum set with his hands in addition to the traditional use of drumsticks; it was said that he can "sound like a drummer and a percussionist at the same time" He was a member of Santana and joined Chicago as the percussionist from 2012 to 2018, at which point he took over the drum seat. He also performed in the band of former Nazareth guitarist Manny Charlton. Reyes is the title character of the Phish song "Walfredo".
WWW walfredoreyesjr.com

Biography

Walfredo Reyes Jr. was born on December 18, 1955, in Havana, Cuba. His native name of Walfredo de los Reyes Palau IV is a traditional Cuban combination of his paternal and maternal surnames. He is a third generation musician in a prolific professional musical lineage on both sides of his family, including several globally recognized percussion experts. His father is percussionist Walfredo Reyes, Sr.; one brother is world music percussionist Daniel de los Reyes; another brother is actor Kamar de los Reyes; and his grandfather is trumpeter and Cuban orchestral organizer, Walfredo de los Reyes II.
Leading up to his current role with the band Chicago, Reyes had a connection as a lifelong fan of the band, as a long-time friend of and collaborator with former drummer Tris Imboden, and as brother of Chicago's previous percussionist Daniel de los Reyes. The first album Reyes purchased as a youth was with his own money was Chicago Transit Authority
Walfredo Reyes Jr. and his wife Kirsten were married on March 21, 2020, and live in Greater Cincinnati. For the 2021 movie Being the Ricardos, Reyes coached and mentored Javier Bardem in learning the conga drums performed in the film.
Reyes has globally toured and/or recorded with countless international acts, including the following:
YearsArtist
1983—1984Tania Maria
1985—1988David Lindley’s El Rayo X
1988Jackson Browne
1988Jimmy Barnes
1989—1993Santana
1992Boz Scaggs
1993Gloria Estefan
1994Traffic
1995Robbie Robertson
1997—2004Steve Winwood
1998—1999Joe Sample
2000Johnny Hallyday
2005Khaled
2007—2011Lindsey Buckingham
2008Mickey Hart
2010—2012El Chicano
2012—presentChicago

Equipment

Reyes uses and has used the following equipment: