As part of our 90th anniversary celebrations, Casita Maria presents a Street Co-Naming Ceremony in honor of Latin Jazz flautist, composer and Casita Maria Alum Dave Valentin on Friday, September 20, 2024, between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. The event will be held in Father Gigante Plaza across the street from 881 Fox Street in the South Bronx, where Dave Valentin grew up.
The event will begin with a series of short speeches from: Gail Heidel, Casita Maria’s Artistic Director and event organizer; Richie Bonilla, Valentin’s Manager; Irene DeRonda, a lifelong friend of Valentin’s and famously known as the woman who taught him how to play the flute; and Rafael Salamanca, Jr., Council Member for the 17th District of the New York City Council, representing the South Bronx. A ceremonial Dave Valentin Way street sign will be presented to Ms. DeRonda prior to the unveiling of the installed street sign on the corner of Fox and Tiffany Streets. Following the unveiling, Casita Maria’s 11 piece Latin Jazz ensemble, Bronx Banda featuring Arturo O’Farrill, will perform a new composition based on an oral history about Valentins’ life and legacy. Special guest Bill O’Connell, Valentin’s Musical Director, will join the ensemble for five songs from Valentin’s repertoire. Valentin’s former flute student, Connie Grossman, will also be performing.
Dave Valentin (1952-2017) was born in the Bronx and grew up in a former tenement building located at 881 Fox Street, apt Apt 22-24. The Valentin’s were the first Puerto Rican family to move into the building located in the Hunts Point / Longwood neighborhood. In 1961, Casita Maria moved from El Barrio to Simpson Street, two blocks from Valentin’s home, and Valentin became one of our first program participants at the age of 9 and later returned as a Teaching Artist.
Valentin was a musical prodigy learning percussion at 5, piano at 9 and by the age of 10 he was playing timbales and conga professionally for $10 a gig with a Latin dance band. He attended John Dwyer JHS133 with Ms. DeRonda who taught him how to play the flute at age 12. He went on to attend the High School of Music & Art, and, from 1976-1979, he was a 7-9th grade music teacher for New York public schools in the South Bronx. Valentin performed with many well-known musicians as well as his own Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, funk, jazz ensemble. He was the first musician signed to GRP Records and served for several years as musical director for Tito Puente, another Casita Maria Alum’s, Golden Latin Jazz All-Stars. In 1985, he received a Grammy Award nomination as best R&B instrumentalist. In 2003, he won a Grammy for Caribbean Jazz Project, an album he created with Dave Samuels.
Funding for the event is provided by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs through the Immigrant Initiative Fund and BronxCare Health System.
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About Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education
Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education is the first and oldest Latino 501(c)(3) charity in NYC, founded in 1934.
The South Bronx-based community arts and educational organization presents diverse, contemporary visual and performing arts and education programming for all ages.
Casita Maria creates a safe and welcoming community, enriching and uplifting youth and families towards success, through shared cultural, art and educational experiences and programs.
Location:
Casita Maria Center For Arts & Education
928 Simpson Street
Bronx, NY 10459
Tel.: 718-589-2230
E–mail: info@casitamaria.org
