Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros was born on April 4, 1928, in Santa Clara, Las Villas Province, Cuba and died on January 6, 2016.

He was a Cuban trumpeter.

Alfredo has played with artists such as Arsenio Rodríguez, Generoso Jiménez, Chico O’Farrill, Orchestra Harlow, Eddie Palmieri and Cachao.

Because his characteristic approach to Afro-Cuban trumpet playing as well as his extensive recording career, several monographs have been written on his music.

Alfredo Armenteros performed at the Café Havana, Cartagena de Indias.

Alfredo first started playing in a band led by the sonero/composer René Álvarez called Conjunto Los Astros and soon after with Arsenio Rodríguez.

His nickname “Chocolate” was given to him owing to a case of mistaken identity, when someone took him for Kid Chocolate, the champion boxer.

As the Cuban Revolution passed, Armenteros moved to New York, where he lived until his death.

He went on to proform with José Fajardo, Beny Moré, Tito Puente, César Concepción, Machito, Wynton Marsalis, Eddie Palmieri, Marcelino Guerra, Charlie Palmieri, John Santos, Israel “Cachao” López, Noro Morales, Johnny Pacheco, and many others.

He was a member of La Sonora Matancera from 1977 to 1980. He died of prostate cancer on 6 January 2016.