By Ritchie (62.254.0.8) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 09:35 am:

Latin bandleader and percussionist Ramon (Mongo) Santamaria passed away on February 1st in Miami. He was born in Havana on April 7th 1922, and leaves two sons and four daughters.

Mongo Santamaria was responsible for bringing Cuban music to the world stage, blending Latin rhythms with jazz, R&B and Soul. His best known recording was his million-selling hit of 1963, "Watermelon Man", the subject of many cover versions over the years.

By Eli (151.197.40.177) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 10:55 am:

When I played with bands back in the day we always played played Watermelon Man and had fun playing it.
R.I.P. Mongo

By David Meikle (80.5.115.23) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 11:08 am:

Thank you Ritchie

I had one of his 45's on Direction which was very popular at the time. Was it "Cloud 9"?

RIP Mongo

By DF (208.27.111.121) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 11:12 am:

My favorite renditions of Afro Blue:
1) Dianne Reeves
2) Cal Tjader

RIP Mongo

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 11:29 am:

His hit version of "Watermelon Man" helped bridge the gap between Latin, pop, jazz & R&B. It was no wonder the record hit the Top 10 on the Battle label and helped him earn a big recording contract with Columbia Records. Mongo & Willie Bobo are two of my favorite percussionists. The heavens are now having one hell of a jam session with Mongo, Willie & Tito Puente in God's house.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Larry (12.141.160.25) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 11:41 am:

I'm a newbie Latin Jazz fan thanks to my father's excitement. Mongo Santamaria, Cal Tjader, Poncho Sanchez, Tito Puente, Willie Rosario, Perez Prado et al.. Just great stuff.

R.I.P. Mongo

By STUBASS (64.12.101.159) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 11:48 am:

MONGO SANTAMARIA WAS A HUGE INFLUENCE TO ANY ASPIRING DETROIT, JAZZ-R&B MUSICIAN OF OUR ERA (60'S)!!!...AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED..."WATERMELON MAN" WAS A MUST PLAY FOR ANY INSTRUMENTAL GROUP DURING THAT PERIOD...MUCH LIKE CANNONBALLS "MERCY, MERCY ME"!!!...STU

By Chancellor of Soul (63.78.189.114) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 12:23 pm:

Mongo's LP's on Columbia, " El Pussy Cat",
" Soul Bag", and " Stone Soul", are my favorite
albums. Even his work with Cal Tjader with the
hit, "Soul Sauce", on Fantasy is truly a
masterpiece. Those pearly gates of soul heaven
was sure busy this month..............

Peaceful Journey, Mongo
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)

By Lynn Bruce (65.60.200.153) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 12:37 pm:

Thanks Mongo for"Water Melon Man".As StuBass said,if you were in a band in the 60,s you probably played that song.It was one of those songs that you could get a real nice groove going. I never tired of playing that song. GOD BLESS YOU!!
Lynn

By FrankM (81.152.61.0) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 03:34 pm:

Cloud 9 is still very popular on the Mod front, david. Along with mongo's version of Yeah Yeah. i quite liked the follow up to watermelon man which I think was called "fatback".

Ill try and play some of his stuff on radiomagnetic.com on Saturday

By Joe Moorehouse (152.163.206.193) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 07:45 pm:

Watermelon Man was probably one of the first 25 records I ever owned, when I was little in the early '60s. I loved the song, the name "Mongo Santamaria" and the label (Battle--which I didn't see another record on until I bought Rosie Grier's 45 many years later). I was probably in my late teens or 20s before I found out that Mongo was no one-hit has-been, but an institution. Sorry to hear this news, though I confess I had no idea he was still alive.

By Mark Speck (65.57.17.222) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 03:59 am:

"Watermelon Man", "Yeh Yeh", and so many others...quite a legacy.

RIP Mongo...you will be dearly missed.

Best,

Mark

By Edgar (200.46.134.240) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 10:05 am:

Sorry to hear the news. Just two days ago I was making a list of favorite world music and included his fantastic 1963 album "Mongo Santamaría Introduces La Lupe". He not only did introduce La Lupe to the world but shared credits with Marty Sheller, Chocolate Armenteras, Rodgers Grant and Pat Patrick, among others. A remarkable Latin jazz album, fortunately reissued on CD by Fantasy.

By MotownForever (152.163.213.59) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 11:42 am:

Edgar:

He sure did introduce La Lupe to the world. God bless him for that! May he R.I.P.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.85) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 01:39 pm:

What about the classic inst of Sherry.
still sounds good today.
mel.
R.I.P.Mongo Santamaria.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.48) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 01:53 pm:

Apologies all around.
Hugo Montenegro did Sherry and not Mongo Santamaria.
I am sorry.
mel.