Dave Valentin

David Peter Valentin (April 29, 1952 – March 8, 2017) was an American Latin jazz flautist of Puerto Rican descent. He learned percussion at an early age, and by 10 was playing conga and timbales professionally. When he was 12, he began to practice the flute so he could get to know a girl in school who played the flute, Irene Cathcart. He borrowed a flute, bought a Herbie Mann record, and started to teach himself. Years later, he recorded an album with Mann called Two Amigos.

For seven years in a row, he was chosen best jazz flautist by readers of Jazziz magazine. In 1985, he received a Grammy Award nomination as best R&B instrumentalist.

In March 2012, Valentin had a stroke which left him partially paralyzed and unable to perform. In 2015, he suffered a second stroke, and worked to overcome his disabilities in an extended-care facility.

On March 8, 2017, Valentin died from complications of a stroke and Parkinson's disease in the Bronx at the age of 64. His lifelong "special friend", Irene, for whom he learned to play the flute, was at his side when he passed.

Discography Legends (GRP, 1978) The Hawk (GRP, 1979) Land of the Third Eye (GRP, 1980) I Got It Right This Time (Arista, 1981) Pied Piper (GRP, 1981) In Love's Time (Arista/GRP, 1982) Flute Juice (GRP, 1983) Kalahari (GRP, 1984) Jungle Garden (GRP, 1985) Light Struck (GRP, 1986) Mind Time (GRP, 1987) Live at the Blue Note (GRP, 1988) Two Amigos (GRP, 1990) Musical Portraits (GRP, 1992) Red Sun (GRP, 1993) Tropic Heat (GRP, 1994) Sunshower (Concord Jazz, 1999) Primitive Passions (RMM, 2005) World on a String (Highnote, 2005) Come Fly With Me (Highnote, 2006) Pure Imagination (Highnote, 2011) With Steve Turre The Spirits Up Above (HighNote, 2004)

With the GRP All-Star Big Band GRP All-Star Big Band (GRP, 1992)

With Scott Cossu Islands (Windham Hill, 1984) Switchback (Windham Hill, 1989) Stained Glass Memories (Windham Hill, 1992) With Karimata

Dave Valentin (Aquarius Musikindo, 1990)