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On this morning March 22, 2008, the legendary musician, composer, arranger and cultural icon Israel Lopez better known to all of his admirers as CACHAO! passed away. He leaves with us a legacy of extroardinary trendsetting music, and an unequaled example of humanity, that was a gift to all of us who had the good fortune and honor to experience it.

He had a religious dedication to his art form that began at the age of twelve debuting with the Havana Philharmonic playing acoustic Contra Bass while standing on a wooden box. He created the Mambo in 1939 along with his closest collaborator, his brother Orestes. That composition entitled Danzon Mambo laid the foundation for the Mambo craze that swept the world. Later in the 1950's he brought together the greatest musicians from the Havana music scene and again revolutionized Cuban music with his now legendary Descargas, Jam Sessions.

Cachao is "La Mata", "The Tree", from this tree rooted in the deepest traditions of Cuban music everything in modern Cuban music, music known to many as Salsa stems. His passing marks the end of an era. An era that brought to us some of the most genial talents in Cuban music history, music that has influenced music for nearly a century. Talents such as, Ernesto Lecouna, Beny More, Ignacio Pinero, to name a few. And the magnificent Bebo Valdes, one of Cachao's compatriots and collaborators. Who is still spreading the traditions of our music around the world with great influence and popularity.

I had the great privilege of collaborating with Cachao as his producer and band member since 1990. Together we recorded four records. Master Sessions Vol. I and II, which earned Cachao his first Grammy, and Cuba Linda, which again brought him Grammy and Latin Grammy Nominations. Also directing a documentary on his life entitled Cachao, Como Su Ritmo No Hay Dos, set around the now legendary concert in 1990. And the film Cachao, Ahora Si, which chronicles his creative process during our last Grammy and Latin Grammy award winning CD/DVD. And most recently another tribute documentary entitled Cachao, Uno Mas documenting an honor bestowed upon him from San Francisco State University and concert that followed.

After a lifetime of listening to Cachao's music and eighteen years of concerts and records together I consider our collaboration and friendship one of my most important accomplishments of my life. Cachao is our musical father. He is revered by all who have come in contact with him and his music and is referred to simply as EL MAESTRO! He has been honored around the world and has his rightful place in the Smithsonian Institute.

What is one to do now? How does one move forward in the face of such a monumental loss? In the only way that Cachao would want us to. To honor him with the maximum effort to carry out what was most important to him, which is to continue and never abandon the traditions of our music and culture. This is what Cachao was all about and the example that he set for us will continue to inspire generations to come.

Maestro, your music has accompanied me all my life and will continue to do so until we meet again. You have been my teacher, and you took me in like a son. So I will continue to rejoice with your music and carry our traditions wherever I go, in your honor.

Andy Garcia

Actor/Director/Producer

And proud member of the Cachao Orchestra