Ramón «Mongo» Santamaría Rodríguez fue un percusionista y director de orquesta cubano, una de las principales figuras del jazz latino. Introducido desde pequeño en el mundo de los ritmos africanos y cubanos, se convierte, en la década de 1940, en uno de los grandes especialistas de las congas y los bongos, en Cuba. En 1948 se traslada a Nueva York, en compañía de Armando Peraza. Trabaja después con diversas orquestas, entre ellas la de Pérez Prado, aunque tuvo un accidente y una larga estancia en el hospitalizado
Una vez repuesto, trabajo con Tito Puente, hasta 1958, grabando una docena de discos en este periodo. Tras dejar a Puente, trabaja con Willie Bobo y Cal Tjader, en California,… More
Starting in 1961, he began leading his own groups, incorporating musicians such as Joao Donato and Chick Korea, even making sales hits, such as ′′ Watermelon Man «, version of Herbie Hancock’s theme (album incorporated in Grammy Hall) Of Fame, in 1998). Then he played with Dizzy Gillespie and Jack McDuff, although he no longer led his own bands. Discography Chango: Afro Cuban Drums (Tico, 1952) – compiled some tracks on the album Mongo Santamar aríaa and his Afro-Cuban drum beaters
Drums and chants (1955) – compiled in the Mongo Santamaria and his Afro-Cuban drum beaters
Yamboo (Fantasy, 1958) – compiled on Afro-Roots album
Tasty! (Fantasy / Original Jazz Classics, 1959) – with three-man and composer Andrés Echeverria
More Tasty (Fantasy, 1959)
Mongo (Fantasy, 1959) – featuring the track ′′ Afro Blue «, later recorded by John Coltrane and compiled on the Afro-Roots album
Long live Mongo! (Fantasy, 1959)
Mongo in Havana (1960) with Carlos Embale and Merceditas Valdes
Beautiful Guajira (Fantasy, 1961)
Watermelon Man (Milestone, 1962)
At the Black Hawk (Fantasy, 1962) – en vivo
Country Song (Riverside, 1962)
Go, Mongo! (Riverside, 1962) – compiled on Skins album
Mongo at the Village Gate (Riverside/OJC, 1963) – en directo
Mongo Introduces La Lupe (Milestone, 1963) – with La Lupe
The bravo! (CBS, 1964)
The Bamba (Columbia, 1964)
Mongo explodes! (Riverside, 1964) – compiled on Skins album
Mighty Mongo (Fantasy, 1964) – compiled on At the Blawk Hawk album
Together (CBS, 1964)
The Pussy Cat (Columbia, 1965)
Mongomania (Columbia, 1967)
Explodes at the Village Gate (Columbia, 1967) – en vivo
Hey! Let’s Party (Columbia, 1967)
All Strung Out (Columbia, 1969)
Stone Soul (Columbia, 1969)
Afro-American Latin (Columbia/Legacy, 1969)
Soul Bag (Columbia, 1969)
Workin’ on a Groovy Thing (Columbia, 1969)
Mongo’s Way (Atlantic, 1970)
Feelin’ Alright (Atlantic, 1970)
Mongo ’70 (Atlantic, 1970)
Mongo at Montreux (Atlantic, 1971) – Live
Fire (Wow, 1972)
Up from the Roots (Atlantic, 1972)
Live at Yankee Stadium (Wow, 1974) – Live
Afro-Indian (Wow, 1975)
Sofrito (Wow, 1976)
Ubane (Sound, 1976) – with Justo Betancourt
Sunrise (Wow, 1977) – Grammy winner for Best Latino Recording in 1978
Bomboro, Asiha, Guajiro, Nothing Else (Wow, 1978)
A-la-Carte (Wow 1978)
Red Hot (Columbia, 1979) – includes the single ′′ You Better Believe It ′′
You Better Believe It (CBS, 1979)
Summertime (OJC, 1980) – Live with Dizzy Gillespie and Toots Thielemans
Images (Wow, 1980)
Mongo Magic (Roulette, 1983)
Free Spirit (Espíritu libre) (Buddah, 1985)
Salazar, Mayeya, Smooth Operator (Concord Jazz, 1987)
It’s Me (Concord Spicy, 1987)
Soca Me Nice (Concord Picante, 1988) – compiled on the album Mucho Mongo
Olé Ola (Concord Picante, 1989) – compiled on the album Mucho Mongo
Live at Jazz Alley (Concord Spicy, 1990) – Live
Things Mongo (Chesky, 1992) n
Mambo Mongo (Fania, 1993) – Collects Sunrise Album
Mongo Returns (Milestone, 1995)
Brazilian Sunset (Candid, 1996) – Live
Conga Blue (1995)
Come on Home (1997)
Mongo Santamaria – And His Orchestra (Greetings Friends, 1998) – Collects almost every theme of Tasty!
Montreux Heat (Paul, 2003) – Live with Dizzy Gillespie and Toots Thielemans
Fat Back (Columbia) Listen Here https://youtu.be/uHyjj16xVo4 ·