Ulpiano Díaz (1900–1990) was a Cuban timbalero. He is considered an innovator of the timbales, being the first to add a small cowbell to the setup, and popularizing the abanico. He started his career playing güiro in Félix González's
orquesta típica
Orquesta típica, or simply a típica, is a Latin American term for a band which plays popular music. The details vary from country to country. The term tends to be used for groups of medium size (about 8 to 12 musicians) in some well-defined in ...
, and rose to prominence as the timbales player of three important charangas: Orquesta de Tata Alfonso,
Arcaño y sus Maravillas
Arcaño y sus Maravillas was a Cuban charanga founded in 1937 by flautist Antonio Arcaño. Until its dissolution in 1958, it was one of the most popular and prolific danzón orchestras in Cuba, particularly due to the development of the danzón- ...
Pinar del Río
Pinar del Río is the capital city of Pinar del Río Province, Cuba. With a population of 191,081 (2022), it is the List of cities in Cuba, 10th-largest city in Cuba. Inhabitants of the area are called ''Pinareños''.
History
Pinar del Río was ...
in the year 1900. He learned to play several percussion instruments by himself before joining the Septeto Cuba, based in
Havana
Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center. He later became the güirist in Orquesta de Félix González. He then joined Tata Alfonso's charanga as the timbalero. He would become a master of the instrument, joining Fernando Collazo's La Maravilla del Siglo in 1936. Along with
Antonio Arcaño
Antonio Arcaño Betancourt (Atarés, Havana 29 December 1911 – 1994) was a Cuban flautist, bandleader and founder of Arcaño y sus Maravillas, one of Cuba's most successful charangas. He retired from playing in 1945, but continued as director ...
and other members of this band, Díaz founded La Maravilla de Arcaño in 1937. La Maravilla de Arcaño, later renamed Arcaño y sus Maravillas, would become Cuba's most prolific charanga. Díaz later joined José Fajardo's charanga during the 1950s, and after Fajardo's exile, continued to play in the group, which was renamed Orquesta Estrellas Cubanas and directed by violinist
Félix Reina
Félix Rafael Herrera Altuna (May 21, 1921 – February 10, 1998), better known as Félix Reina, was a Cuban violinist, arranger, music director and composer. Since the mid-1940s, he was a member of many popular charangas, including Arcaño y sus ...
.
Díaz died in 1990 in Havana.
Innovations
Díaz is generally credited with the addition of the cowbell to the modern timbales setup, an innovation that expanded the sound of the instrument. Famous timbaleros such as Amadito Valdés credit him with this invention, although others have cited Antonio Orta Ferrol "Mañengue" with introducing the cowbell in 1912. According to Changuito, it was Guillermo García.