Cuban bassist Cachao is credited as the man who created mambo music. He spent most of his 76 years living in Cuba, where he was a prominent jazz sideman who specialized in Afro-Cuban dance music. He eventually made it to the U.S. and lived in Miami for almost nine years with little or no recognition, due in part to his extreme modesty. He was... [+] Read More

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Puerto Rican la Sonora Ponceņa, one of the most popular tropical acts ever, was formed in 1954 by local musicians Enrique Lucca Caraballo and Antonio Santaella, who were previously playing in a band formed in 1944, called El Conjunto Internacional. In 1958, la Sonora Ponceņa's first single was released, featuring "No Puede Ser" and "Tan Linda... [+] Read More

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A member of the Fania All Stars since 1973, Roberto Roena is a master of Latin percussion. In addition to performing with his own band, Roberto Roena Y Su Apollo Sound, Roena has played bongos and congas for such top-notch Latin performers as Ruben Blades, Tito Cruz, Papo Sanchez, Adalberto Santiago, Elias Lopes, and Julio "Gunda" Merced. Roena... [+] Read More

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Arriving in New York City from Puerto Rico in 1948, Rosario was moved by Tito Puente's drumming ability at the Palladium Ballroom. He began his percussion studies and made his pro debut with Johnny Sequi's band in 1953. When Sequi moved to Puerto Rico, Rosario took over the band and today it is among the most popular salsa and Latin jazz... [+] Read More

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