Artist Bio:
Mongo Santamaria was a Cuban percussionist and band leader known for his pioneering work in Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban music. Born in Havana in 1922, he moved to the United States in the 1950s, where he became a key figure in the development of Latin jazz. Santamaria was a skilled conga player and is credited with popularizing the use of the congas in jazz music.
Santamaria recorded over 50 albums as a bandleader and collaborated with renowned musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, and Cal Tjader. His 1963 hit single "Watermelon Man" became a jazz standard and introduced Latin rhythms to a wider audience. Throughout his career, Santamaria received multiple Grammy nominations and awards for his contributions to music. He passed away in 2003, leaving behind a lasting legacy as a trailblazer in the fusion of jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms.
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