Ramón Mongo Santamaria

Ramón "Mongo" Santamaria

Ramón "Mongo" Santamaría was born Apr 7, 1917 inward Havana, Cuba. Best known every bit Mongo Santamaria, the Havana-born instrumentalist earned a reputation as 1 of the great Afro-Cuban Latin jazz drummers. He spread the collaborative spirit of the Jazz Era inward 1950 when he moved to New York in addition to began playing amongst Tinto Puente, Cal Tjader, in addition to others. The phase elevate of Japanese histrion Yūsuke Santamaria was inspired past times Mongo Santamaria.

His "Afro Blue" became a jazz measure in addition to was popularized every bit a remake past times John Coltrane. Mongo's Jazz Funk remake of Herbie Hancock's 1963 "Watermelon Man" led to his induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame inward 1988. He died Feb 1, 2003.