Eddie Montalvo was born and raised in the Bronx near the streets of Trinity and 158th. Eddie started by going to the parks as a young kid seeing and visiting the music life and playing with small salsa teenager bands as a kid. Every chance he got, Eddie would play in the park without holding back. Eddie started out with a pair of beat up bongos at the age of five. Soon, he began to play the congas when his friend played the bongos in the same band. Eddie first played with a man named Julio Romero and the Latin Jazz all Stars. From there he played with two or three bands a night professionally. He played with famous artists such as The Great Hector Lavoe, Willie Colon, Johnny Pacheco, Los Kimbos, Celia Cruz and many other famous artists. He later became a member of the Fania All Stars in 1979, one of the youngest members to be apart of the Fania. In 1995 he hit a new stage in his life. Eddie made his first new CD Titled Own My Own. He wrote songs like Se busca un Amor, Amarrado A Tu falda, Vamos adejarlo, and he had a hit on the radio station called Enamorado. Eddie has traveled the world such as Cuba, Europe, and Central America with Hector Lavoe. He received a proclamation from the city of New York. Eddie received this award for giving an outstanding contribution to the culture life of our Community. Eddie has known many musicians in the Latin scene such as Ray Barretto, Willie Colon, Cheo Feliciano, Bobby Valentin, Papo lucca, Roberto Roena, Gilberto Santa-rosa, Nicky Marrero, Gilbert Colon, Ismael Miranda, Johnny Pacheco and many other famous musicians. This is Eddie with Hector Lavoe’s band in Venezuela. Eddie started to play with Hector Lavoe in 1978. He played in many countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, and Puerto Rico where Hector was born. Eddie played with Hector for six years. One year later the Fania All Stars called Eddie Montalvo to become a member. This was in 1979, Eddie performed first time with the Fania in Venezuela. He took over the job of his idol, Ray Barretto. He soon became known as the “Timekeeper”. He played with Ruben Blades band for Twelve years. Eddie traveled with Ruben Blades to Europe, Panama and many other countries. Eddie is on many albums such as Ruben Blades y Son Del Solar Live, Buscando America, Amor y Control, y Esecenas y Siembra. Eddie has played in many songs such as Pedro Navaja,Cuentas Del Alma, Silencios, Buscando America, Desapariciones, Decisiones, and Todos Vuelven. Eddie soon became apart of Tito Nieves Band. Eddie played with the Tito Nieves band for three years. Eddie played in many functions with Tito Nieves and soon after he played with the Frankie Morales orchestra. He has been playing for five years with the Frankie Morales Band and is still with them today. This is Eddie playing with the Frankie Morales orchestra performing at the blue note jazz club in New York City. Today, Eddie Montalvo is a great musician. His style of playing has influenced many others throughout his life and throughout the world in the music industry. Eddie is also playing with the Big 3 Palladium Orchestra which consist of the sons of the legendary masters Machito, Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez. they are carrying out the sounds of there fathers. Eddie also participated in an album called The Big 3 Palladium live at the blue note in New York City. He was also called for the movie El Cantante starring Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez. He was a big influence in the movie and called upon many a times to do a few scenes which the movie will be coming out at the end of the 2006. He also recorded in the sound track with Paul Simon for the musical called Cape Man.