empty cell Mongo Santamaria
Mongo Santamaria was a Cuban jazz and Latin jazz percussionist born on April 7, 1917, in Havana. He moved to the United States and over his career collaborated with many well-known artists, including Dizzy Gillespie and Cal Tjader. Santamaria is best known for his rendition of Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man," which became a major hit in 1963. His musical style blended elements of jazz, Latin music, and Afro-Cuban rhythms, significantly influencing the development of Latin music in the United States. He passed away in 2003, but his legacy remains influential in the music world.
