En Casa: Shangó Dely

Colombian multi-instrumentalist Shangó Dely was born into a family of musicians. His parents are singer Leonor Dely and Istvan Dely, the first Eastern European conga player and Shangó's teacher in the art of the drum. At the age of six, Shangó won awards from national folk music festivals throughout Latin America. He studied classical percussion Conservatorio Pedro Biava in Barranquilla and continued his studies at Universidad del Atlántico and at Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá. 

He has recorded and worked with Grammy Award-winners Carlos Santana, Emilio Estefan, Carlos Vives (with whom he won three Latin Grammys), DMX, KC Porter, John Barnes, JB Eckl, Andy Vargas, Brian Culbertson, Joe Arroyo, and Chelito de Castro. He's also played with the legendary Jerry González, Caramelo de Cuba, and Alain Pérez. He has been teaching percussion over the world for over 30 years and is planning to open his own school, called Tabalá. 

Dely says about his work: "Personally, my greatest happiness has always consisted in this: Inspiring others, making them happy, making them want to live, love, and laugh. I try to do this through the drums." 

From his home in Gran Canaria, he sent us two pieces, in which he plays all the instruments. Today, we share "Zamba Timbiquireña," a traditional Afro-Colombian piece from the country's Pacific coast, in which he sings and plays recorders and traditional percussion instruments, including the tambora, conuno, guasá, and shekere.

Funders

The MetLife Foundation Music of the Americas concert series is made possible by the generous support of Presenting Sponsor MetLife Foundation, with additional support from the Howard Gilman Foundation, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and the Fan Fox and Leslie Samuels Foundation.