Mongo Santamaría

About

Ramón “Mongo” Santamaría Rodríguez was a Cuban percussionist and bandleader who spent most of his career in the United States. Primarily a conga drummer, Santamaría was a leading figure in the pachanga and boogaloo dance crazes of the 1960s. His biggest hit was his rendition of Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man”, which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. From the 1970s, he recorded mainly salsa and Latin jazz, before retiring in the late 1990s.

Albums/Songs:

• Sabroso!
• Mighty Mongo
• Go, Mongo!
• Mongo’s Way
• Fuego
• Mongo ’70
• Ubane
• Workin’ on a Groovy Thing
• Soul Bag
• Mongomania
• Feelin’ Alright
• El Pussy Cat
• Stone Soul
• Sofrito
• Afro-Indio
• Drums and Chants
• La Bamba
• Mongo
• Mongo Santamaria Explodes At The Village Gate
• Up From the Roots
• Mongo Explodes
• Arriba – La Pachanga
• Hey! Let’s Party
• Dawn (Amanecer)
• Watermelon Man!

Call to Action:

What’s your favorite Mongo Santamaría song? Share your thoughts in the comments below!