Mongo Santamaria

Ramón "Mongo" Santamaría Rodríguez (April 7, 1917 – February 1, 2003) was a Cuban percussionist and bandleader who spent most of his career in the United States. Primarily a conga drummer, Santamaría was a leading figure in the pachanga and boogaloo dance crazes of the 1960s. His biggest hit was his rendition of Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man", which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. From the 1970s, he recorded mainly salsa and Latin jazz, before retiring in the late 1990s.

Mongo learned to play the congas as an amateur rumba musician in the streets of Havana. He then learned the bongos from Clemente "Chicho" Piquero and toured with various successful bands such as the Lecuona Cuban Boys and Sonora Matancera. In 1950, he moved to New York City, where he became Tito Puente's conguero and in 1957 he joined Cal Tjader's band. He then formed his own charanga, while at the same time recording some of the first rumba and Santería music albums. By the end of the decade, he had his first pachanga hit, "Para ti". He then became a pioneer of boogaloo with "Watermelon Man" and later signed record deals with Columbia, Atlantic and Fania. He collaborated with salsa artists and became a member of the Fania All-Stars, often showcasing his conga solos against Ray Barretto. In his later years, Santamaría recorded mostly Latin jazz for Concord Jazz and Chesky Records.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 7, 1917 (Havana), Died February 1, 2003 (Miami)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1951 - 1955

Roles Represented in DAHR: conga, drums, bongos

Notes: Mongo Santamaría also known as Ray Santamaría, Ramon Santamaría (and Santa María), Raymon Santamaría, and Ramón Santamaría Rodríguez.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor E1FB-1345 10-in. 3/5/1951 Dengozo Orquesta Alberto Iznaga Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, conga  
Victor E1FB-1346 10-in. 3/5/1951 Papirimi Orquesta Alberto Iznaga Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, conga  
Victor E1FB-1347 10-in. 3/5/1951 La bomba Orquesta Alberto Iznaga Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, conga  
Victor E1FB-1348 10-in. 3/5/1951 Dos besitos Orquesta Alberto Iznaga Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, conga  
Victor E1FB-1349 10-in. 3/5/1951 Afrorriqueño Orquesta Alberto Iznaga Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, conga  
Victor E1FB-1350 10-in. 3/5/1951 La tolibamba Orquesta Alberto Iznaga Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, conga  
Victor E1FB-1351 10-in. 3/5/1951 Pescando Orquesta Alberto Iznaga Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, conga  
Victor E1FB-1352 10-in. 3/5/1951 Candela Orquesta Alberto Iznaga Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, conga  
Victor F2TB-8074 10-in. 11/28/1955 Everlasting love Tito Puente Orchestra Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, conga  
Victor F2TB-8075 10-in. 11/28/1955 Vibe cha-cha Tito Puente Orchestra Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, conga  
Victor F2TB-8076 10-in. 11/28/1955 Cuban nightmare Tito Puente Orchestra Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, conga  
Victor F2TB-8077 10-in. 11/28/1955 Mambo buda Tito Puente Orchestra Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, conga  
Victor E3FB-1276 10-in. 5/7/1953 Ven lulu Los Mendoza ; Octavio Mendoza Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, conga  
Victor E3FB-1279 10-in. 5/7/1953 Te va a gustar Los Mendoza ; Octavio Mendoza Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, conga  
Victor E4FB-3557 10-in. 2/16/1954 Te ofrezco mi amor Damiron y su Ritmo Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, conga  
Victor E4FB-3558 10-in. 2/16/1954 Latin jam session Damiron y su Ritmo Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, conga  
Decca 86982 10/29/1954 [Unknown title(s)] George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 86983 10/29/1954 Song from Desiree (We meet again) George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 86984 10/29/1954 Tiger rag mambo George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 86985 10/29/1954 [Unknown title(s)] George Williams Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Santamaria, Mongo," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/342225.

Santamaria, Mongo. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/342225.

"Santamaria, Mongo." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/342225

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