19 Facts About Mongo Santamaria

Ramon "Mongo" Santamaria Rodriguez was a Cuban percussionist and bandleader who spent most of his career in the United States.

Primarily a conga drummer, Santamaria was a leading figure in the pachanga and boogaloo dance crazes of the 1960s.

Mongo Santamaria's biggest hit was his rendition of Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man", which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.

Mongo Santamaria learned to play the congas as an amateur rumba musician in the streets of Havana.

Mongo Santamaria then learned the bongos from Clemente "Chicho" Piquero and toured with various successful bands such as the Lecuona Cuban Boys and Sonora Matancera.

Mongo Santamaria then formed his own charanga, while at the same time recording some of the first rumba and Santeria music albums.

Mongo Santamaria then became a pioneer of boogaloo with "Watermelon Man" and later signed record deals with Columbia, Atlantic and Fania.

Mongo Santamaria collaborated with salsa artists and became a member of the Fania All-Stars, often showcasing his conga solos against Ray Barretto.

Mongo Santamaria learned rumba as a kid in the streets of Havana's Jesus Maria neighborhood.

Mongo Santamaria was mentored on bongos and congas by Clemente "Chicho" Piquero, who played in Beny More's band.

Mongo Santamaria recorded some of the very first recorded folkloric rumbas.

Mongo Santamaria's albums tended to list the personnel and their instruments; so record buyers came to know other Cuban rumberos, such as Armando Peraza, Francisco Aguabella, Julito Collazo, Carlos Vidal Bolado, Modesto Duran and Pablo Mozo.

In 1957 Mongo Santamaria joined Cal Tjader's Latin jazz combo.

In 1959 Mongo Santamaria recorded "Afro Blue," the first jazz standard built upon a typical African 3:2 cross-rhythm, or hemiola.

In late 1962 Chick Corea had given notice and Mongo Santamaria needed a pianist to fill in for the upcoming weekend gigs.

Hancock recalls what happened the night that Mongo Santamaria discovered "Watermelon Man", the only tune of Mongo Santamaria's to reach the top of the pop charts:.

Mongo Santamaria was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame and the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame the following year.

On February 1,2003 Mongo Santamaria died in Miami, Florida, after suffering a stroke, at the age of 85.

Mongo Santamaria is buried in Woodlawn Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in Miami, Florida.