Valentin was born to Puerto Rican parents in The Bronx in New York City. He attended The High School of Music & Art.[2] He learned percussion at an early age, and by 10 was playing conga and timbales professionally.[3][1] 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. [4] Years later, he recorded an album with Mann called Two Amigos.[2] He took lessons from Hubert Laws, who became his mentor.
For several years Valentin served as musical director for Tito Puente's Golden Latin Jazz All-Stars, and also toured with Manny Oquendo's Conjunto Libre. In 2000, he appeared in the documentary Calle 54 performing with Tito Puente's Orchestra.[5][6][7]
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.[2][1] In 2003, he won a Grammy for Caribbean Jazz Project, an album he did with Dave Samuels.[8]
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.[9]
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.[10]
^ abcRye, Howard (2002). Kernfeld, Barry (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Vol. 3 (2nd ed.). Grove's Dictionaries Inc. Location=New York. p. 172. ISBN1-56159-284-6.
