Mongo Santamaria Watermelon Man!

Cornbread Records present a reissue of "Watermelon Man!", a 1963 album from the Cuban conguero Mongo Santamaria. Featuring his brilliant cover version of Herbie Hancock's classic title track, along with numerous compositions of his own, this is one of Santamaria's most famous and coveted albums. From the iconic cover to the brilliant grooves contained within, this album has the whole package. Excellent Latin jazz and Latin-soul groovers from a Cuban hero, and one of the most famous performers, full stop, of the middle 20th century. 180 gram vinyl.

Ramón "Mongo" Santamaría Rodríguez (April 7, 1917 – February 1, 2003) was a rumba quinto master and an Afro-Cuban Latin jazz percussionist. In 1950 he moved to New York City where he played with Perez Prado, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, and the Fania All Stars. 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" (recorded on December 17, 1962) was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.

Santamaría was one of a group of Cuban congueros ("conga players") who came to the United States in the 1940s and 1950s with Armando Peraza, Chano Pozo, Francisco Aguabella, Julito Collazo, Carlos Vidal Bolado, and Modesto Durán.

Congas, Bongos – Mongo Santamaria
Percussion – Osvaldo Martinez
Drums – Ray Lucas
Bass – Victor Venegas
Flute – Mauricio Smith
Piano – Rodgers Grant
Saxophone – Bobby Capers, Pat Patrick
Trumpet – Marty Sheller

Producer – Larry Maxwell, Orrin Keepnews
Recorded By – Ray Fowler
Photography By – Steve Schapiro
Design – Ken Deardoff