He was born on Cuba on February 6, 1954, to a family of musicians. De La Fé began studying violin at the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory in Havana in 1962. In 1964 he received a scholarship to attend the Warsaw Conservatory in Poland. In 1965, he performed compositions by Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in Carnegie Hall. A scholarship to Juilliard Arts enabled him to further his studies. De La Fé launched his professional career, at the age of twelve, when he switched from classical music to Salsa and accepted an invitation to join charanga legend José Fajardo’s orchestra in 1966.

In 1972, he joined Eddie Palmieri’s orchestra. He remained with the group for a very short period, moving temporarily to San Francisco where he joined Santana in 1976. Returning to New York, De La Fé joined Típica ’73 in 1977. Two years later, he released his debut solo album, Alfredo and was nominated for three Grammy awards. His song, “Hot to trot”, appeared in the first 50 in the USA.

In 1980, De La Fé signed with Sars All Stars, and produced thirty-two albums for the Latin record label. His second solo album, Charanga ’80, was released the same year. In 1981, De La Fé became musical director of Tito Puente’s Latin Percussion Jazz Ensemble. In 1981 he resumed his solo career, signing with Taboga, for whom he recorded the album Triunfo. Relocating to Colombia in 1983, De La Fé signed with Philips and released three albums – Made in Colombia, Dancing in the Tropics and Alfredo De La Fé Vallenato – by the end of the 1980s. In 1989, De La Fé switched to the Fuentes label. In 1991 he toured Europe playing in Geneva, Paris and Rome and met Eddie Palmieri. In 1991 he also participated in a Colombian soap opera “AZUCAR”. Although he joined the Fania All-Stars in 1995, De La Fé continued to pursue a solo career. He signed with Sony Music in 1997. Two years later, he toured with his own band, appearing at festivals in Denmark, Holland, France, Turkey and Belgium, and reunited with Eddie Palmieri’s Orchestra for a European tour.

In 2002, after several years in Europe, Alfredo moved back to New York and toured the US with his New York band, led by pianist Israel Tanenbaum. Other musicians included bass player Maximo Rodriguez, percussionists Tony Escapa and Little Johnny Rivero, flute player Andrea Brachfeld.