Ronald Valentino
Argentine Musician Provides Nightly Dessert to Galeon Patrons

By Rick Stedman

There’s no question that visitors to Galeon Ristorante Italiano will experience a fabulous meal. This iconic restaurant on the hillside overlooking the beautiful Cabo San Lucas marina has another treat awaiting you: the virtuoso piano playing of Ronald Valentino.

Valentino has been entertaining guests here since 1986, the year he started at the restaurant. Luis Bulnes, the restaurant’s owner, saw Valentino and his band playing at a Mexico City nightclub and offered him a job on the spot. For nearly three decades, the Ronald Valentino Tango Band had played throughout South America, including eight years in Mexico City. “I started my 14-member band in 1957,” says the 75-year-old musician.

Playing everything from Cole Porter to Chopin, Valentino has been stroking the piano keys since his eighth birthday. “This is the only job I’ve ever known,” says Valentino, who’s originally from Santa Fe, Argentina. As a young musician, Valentino found inspiration from Carmen Cavallaro, a New York City musician who was hailed as “the poet of the piano.” “He was a fabulous musician who played with Rudy Vallee’s big band orchestra in the 1930s,” Valentino recalls.

Likewise, patrons who visit Galeon Ristorante will be impressed with the magic fingers of Cavallaro’s protégé. Valentino has an astonishing musical range and can easily move from Gershwin, Liszt, Mozart and Schubert, to more contemporary melodies like “My Way” and “Bésame mucho.” “I also try and adapt to the audience,” adds the musician, who plays every night of the week except Wednesdays. For the last 24 years in Los Cabos, Valentino has played roughly 45 songs a night for 300 days a year. For those doing the math, that’s 324,000 songs — and counting.

When not performing at the Galeon, Valentino usually can be found fishing at one of the local beaches. “I love fishing for yellowtail,” he says while demonstrating a sample casting motion. “They are very tasty.” He also spends time with his daughter, Graziella Valentino, who lives and works in Los Cabos as well.

Playing the piano or organ, the Argentine transplant has made himself indispensable as accompanist and arranger of musical themes authored and composed by Cabo’s own celebrated Conchita Bulnes.  “She is a fabulous musician, and we’ve collaborated on numerous pieces,” says Valentino.

So, what music inspires Ronald Valentino? “My three favorite songs to play are ‘Baja California Sur,’ ‘Back to Sorrento,’ and of course, ‘Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina.’”

With Ronald Valentino on piano nightly, and Raffaele Di’Maio in charge of the cooking, there’s a winning combination to be experienced at Galeon. The harmony between the seductive aromas and majestic piano music will surely make Galeon Ristorante Italiano one of your new best dining options in Los Cabos.

Click here for a quick list of bars and restaurants in Los Cabos to help you plan where to eat, dine, party and drink.