Mongo Santamaría

Born 7 April 1917 in Havana, Cuba

Died 1 February 2003 (aged 85)

Ramón 'Mongo' Santamaría Rodríguez was a Cuban percussionist and bandleader who spent most of his career in the United States. Primarily a conga drummer, he was a leading figure in the pachanga and boogaloo dance crazes of the 1960s.