Mongo Santamaría

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Mongo Santamaría
Birth name	Ramón Santamaría
Born	April 7, 1922(1922-04-07)
Died	February 1, 2003 (aged 80)
Genre(s)	Latin jazz

Ramón "Mongo" Santamaría (April 7, 1922 in Havana, Cuba – February 1, 2003) was an Afro-Cuban Latin jazz percussionist. He is most famous for being the composer of the jazz standard "Afro Blue," recorded by John Coltrane among others. In 1950 he moved to New York where he played with Perez Prado, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Fania All Stars, etc. He was an integral figure in the fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms with R&B and soul, paving the way for the boogaloo era of the late 1960s. His 1963 hit rendition of Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.

Santamaria inspired the stage name of Japanese actor Yusuke Santamaria. Additionally, his name is used as a pun in the film Blazing Saddles. When the character of Mongo entered a scene, a character cried, "Mongo! Santa Maria!".

He is buried in Woodlawn Park Cemetery and Mausoleum (now Caballero Rivero Woodlawn Park North Cemetery and Mausoleum).

[edit] Album discography

• Tambores y Cantos ()
• Afro-Roots (1)
• Yambu: Mongo Santamaria y Sus Ritmos Afro Cubano ()
• Mongo (1959) - with the theme "Afro Blue"
• Our Man in Havana (1959)
• Mongo en La Habana (1960) with Carlos Embale and Merceditas Valdés
• Sabroso! (1960) - with tresero and composician Andrés Echeverría
• Go, Mongo! (1962)

• Pussy Cat (1965)
• "Hey! Let's Party" (1967)
• Afro-American Latin (1969)
• Mongo´70 (1970)
• Mongo's Way (1971)
• Up From the Roots (1972)
• Amanecer (1977) - won a Grammy
• Soy Yo (1987)
• You Better Believe It (1979)
• Mambo Mongo (1993)
• Mongo Returns (1995)
• Conga Blue (1995)
• Come on Home (1997)
• Mongo Santamaria (1998)