14 Facts About Francisco Aguabella

Francisco Aguabella was an Afro-Cuban percussionist whose career spanned folk, jazz, and dance bands.

Francisco Aguabella was a prolific session musician and recorded seven albums as a leader.

Francisco Aguabella demonstrated a special aptitude for drumming at an early age, and was initiated into several Afro-Cuban drumming traditions, including bata, iyesa, arara, olokun, and abakua.

Francisco Aguabella immigrated to the United States in 1953 and performed and toured with Peggy Lee for the next seven years.

Francisco Aguabella is one of a handful of Cuban percussionists who came to the United States in the 1940s and 50s.

Francisco Aguabella enjoyed an extensive music performing and recording career and delighted many audiences with his masterful and powerful rhythms.

Francisco Aguabella performed with many great jazz artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Eddie Palmieri, Cachao, Lalo Schifrin, Cal Tjader, Nancy Wilson, Poncho Sanchez, Bebo Valdes, Carlos Santana, and numerous others.

Francisco Aguabella has appeared with his ensemble on television programs including the Orlando Jones Show on FX.

Francisco Aguabella was a widely recognized master conguero and bata artist, a caring and knowledgeable instructor.

Francisco Aguabella was a faculty member at the annual Explorations in Afro-Cuban Dance and Drum workshop hosted by the Humboldt State University Office of Extended Education in Arcata, California.

Francisco Aguabella lived in Los Angeles, California, where he taught Afro-Cuban drumming to undergraduate and graduate students at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Francisco Aguabella died in Los Angeles on May 7,2010, of a cancer-related illness.

Francisco Aguabella played congas, bata, quinto, coro, shekere, drums, claves, bongos, timbales, cajon and other assorted percussion instruments.

Francisco Aguabella received numerous awards including a 1992 National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Durfee Foundation's Master Musicians' Fellowship, and recognition by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.