[Deathwatch] Ramon "Mongo" Santamaria, musician, 85

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

This came from a list subscriber some time ago but I have been too busy
to read most of my mail. - Ed.

Jazz Musician Mongo Santamaria Dies in Miami
Posted on: Feb 04, 2003 - 06:01 AM by editor

Latin jazz musician Ramon "Mongo" Santamaria, a Cuban-born
percussionist and bandleader known for his conga rhythms, has died in
Miami at age 85, hospital and funeral home officials said on Sunday.

Santamaria died on Saturday at Baptist Hospital.

He was best known for his 1963 recording of Herbie Hancock's song
"Watermelon Man," which became his first Top 10 hit. In 1959,
Santamaria penned "Afro Blue," which quickly became a jazz standard
covered by stars such as Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie.

Born in Havana, Santamaria performed at Havana's famed Tropicana Club
before moving to New York City in the early 1950s, touring with the
Mambo Kings and performing with Tito Puente and Cal Tjader.

Santamaria recorded scores of albums in a career that spanned nearly 40
years, mixing rhythm and blues with jazz and hip-swaying conga. In 1977
he was awarded a Grammy for Best Latin Recording for his album
"Amancer."

In recent years, he divided his time between Manhattan and Miami. He
was to be buried on Monday at Woodlawn Park South Cemetery near Miami,
a spokesman at the Caballero Rivero Woodlawn Funeral Home said.