Valentino is one of the true up and coming Bay Area artists who has his sown his roots in a multitude of styles making him one of the most versatile Musician, Producer, Songwriter, Vocalists to surface in a long time. Gravitating toward and growing up with Hip-Hop culture created a strong foundation from which he branched out and has always fed from.
With the support of his Mother, He began music lessons at the age of six.
Piano, followed by the Violin and then Guitar, finally finding his true love. the Drum Set. Playing Jazz, Funk, Rock & Roll, Soul, and Latin Music all helped develop this young man but Hip-Hop was the sound of the day.
At the age of 14 came the hand-me-down Ensoniq ESQ-1 keyboard, a Midi cable and a Roland Tr-505 drum machine. Music production came naturally to a kid who beat boxed himself to sleep every night. Drumming has taken Valentino around the world and given him an identity in the Bay Area music scene but now the time has come to recognize this man for his 360 degrees of musical potential. What you hear now is the result of a creative mind driven to succeed through his ever broadening musical palatte.
Experience brings the knowledge of practice and perseverence helps to unravel the keys to mastery of ones art. Valentino works and has worked with AguaLibre (formerly O-Maya), Femi, Ambrose Akinmusire, Jonathan Finlayson, Michael " Mike Tiger " Aaburg, Destani Wolf, Terry Disley, Daniel Lucca Parenti, Boon, Dynamic, Andrew Jon Thomson, Kirby Dominant, Zion-I, Crown City Rockers, Bicasso, Malik Ameer, Prophets of Rage, John Santos, Pete Escovido, Greg Landau, Joowan Kim, J. Mage, Dream Dance Company, the late Bay Area Jazz Greats Ed Kelly and Robert Porter, The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and the Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble just to name a few.
Don't Sleep on this brotha'. Valentino is on his way to making a lasting, Positive impression on music lovers everywhere.
