Mongo Santamaría Death
Mongo passed away on February 1, 2003 at the age of 80.
When did Mongo Santamaría die?
February 1, 2003How old was Mongo Santamaría when died?
80
Mongo Santamaría Birthday and Date of Death
Mongo Santamaría was born on April 7, 1922 and died on February 1, 2003. Mongo was 80 years old at the time of death.
Birthday: April 7, 1922
Date of Death: February 1, 2003
Age at Death: 80
Mongo Santamaría - Biography
Ramón "Mongo" Santamaría Rodríguez (April 7, 1917 – February 1, 2003) was a rumba quinto master and 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.
