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Jimmy Delgado’s professional career began in 1974, including work with Orchestra Cimarron, Tipica Novel, Pupi Legarreta, Chino y su Conjunto Melao, Ismael Quintana, and Ray Barretto’s Big Band with which he performed for 9 months in 1976. In 1983, Jimmy rejoined Barretto’s band, a stint that lasted for 5 1/2 years.
In 1977, Jimmy played bongos for Willie Colon. The following year he became Willie’s timbale player, while he would also sub for Nicky Marrero in the group Tipica 73.
Jimmy’s early influences were Nicky Marrero, Andy and Jerry Gonzalez and Little Ray Romero. Jimmy found working with the former singer with the Eddie Palmieri band, Ismael Quintana, was especially rewarding as Ismael coached Jimmy a great deal in interpreting songs and gave him greater confidence in playing timbales.
Jimmy has traveled all over the world, having been to Japan twice with Eddie Palmieri. Yet, the one place that Jimmy says he has never been and would love to go to is Italy.
While he is best known for his timbale playing, he is well versed in all elements of Latin percussion. When performing on bongo and conga, Jimmy has an exceptionally crisp and loud slap. During Tito Puente’s March 1999 engagement at New York City’s Blue Note jazz club, Delgado had the opportunity to sub on bongos for Johnny Rodriguez, Jr.
In Jimmy’s own words, his gig with Harry Belafonte is his best. He gets to play, for the first time, all of the percussion instruments he has mastered. Also, because he doesn’t have to carry or set up his gear as there is a professional roadie to handle this work, he finds the Belafonte gig very rewarding.
Jimmy stepped out as a bandleader for the first time September 25, 1995, with a group called Master Timbaleros. Because of the group’s success in performing in New York, the concept was taken to Puerto Rico in February of the following year for another successful performance. The intent was to showcase the timbale, and he assembled some of the finest players of this instrument to perform in New York City and in Puerto Rico. The group consisted of Endel Dueño, Orestes Vilato, Nicky Marrero, and, of course Jimmy.
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