Fidel Morales is a Cuban drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger, author, and educator who has toured extensively around the world. As a drummer, he has played with musicians such as Giovanni Hidalgo, Eddie Gómez, Danilo Pérez, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Nicolás Reynoso, John Faddis, Mark Kramer, Mike Orta, Gary Campbell, Gary Keller, Vic Juris, Luis “Perico” Ortiz, Eddie “Guagua” Rivera, Carlos Garnett, and Charlie Sepúlveda, among others. He has also accompanied soloists such as Omara Portuondo, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Elena Burke, Celeste Mendoza, Bárbara Wilson, Roberto Roena, Albita, María Martha Serra Lima, Basilio, Chichí Peralta, and Noriko.
Morales is the composer of Cuban dance classics “La Expresiva” and “Mamina,” among others. Artists from Cuba, the United States, and Puerto Rico have recorded his compositions. He contributed as well to the CD Bajando Gervasio by Amadito Valdés, nominated for 2004 GRAMMY Awards. The documentary Seguir a través de los años (To Follow Through the Years) by Daniel Diez, is inspired in his music. Morales is also is the author of the books Afro-Cuban Techniques for Drum Set & Percussion, Volumes 1 & 2.
His album Salsa Son Timba was released in 2005, and his most recent production Omío in August 2016. Fidel has worked as Lecturer of Percussion in Panama’s National Conservatory. Morales has taught drum clinics and workshops in Europe, Panama, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Chile, and the United States, for students from the Berklee College of Music, the New England Conservatory, the Drummers Collective, the University of Miami, the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, and the University of Puerto Rico, among many others.
Morales is former director of the Jazz and Caribbean Music Department of the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, where he has been the Head of Jazz Drums since 2006. He offers private lessons and is an active clinician as well as director of his own bands: Fidel Morales Trio and Fidel Morales Afro-Cuban Jazz Group.