Mongo Santamaría

Ramón "Mongo" Santamaría (April 7, 1922 in Havanna, Cuba – February 1, 2003) was an Afro-Cuban drummer. He is most famous for being the composer of the jazz standard "Afro Blue", as performed by John Coltrane among others. His 1963 hit rendition of Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. In 1950 he moved to New York where he played with Perez Prado, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Fania All Stars, etc.

Discography

"Tambores y Cantos" (1955)

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"Mongo" (1959) - with the theme "Afro Blue"

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"Mongo en La Habana" (1960) with Carlos Embale and Merceditas Valdés

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"Sabroso" (1960) - with tresero and composician Andrés Echeverría

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"Amanecer" (1977) - won a Grammy

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"Mambo Mongo" (1993)

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"Mongo Returns" (1995)

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"Conga Blue" (1995)

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"Come on Home" (1997)

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