José Angel Valdes (born August 4, 1957) is a Jazz, Latin jazz and classical pianist, organist and bandleader.His father, José Valdes, was born in San Carlos, Tamaulipas, Mexico and was his first musical influence. His late mother, Elena Valdes, was from Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. His father's uncles were Norteño (music) musicians that played accordion and guitar. The oldest of three children, Valdes grew up on the south side of Chicago. The musical influence from his father was from his like for jazz and be-bop along with Mexican music. His mother preferred classical music, in particular, waltzes by Johann Strauss II and music of classic Mexican trios such as Los Tres Reyes.