List of conga players
Conga players perform on a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum of African origin called the Tumbadora, or the Conga as it is internationally known. It is probably derived from the Congolese Makuta drums or Sikulu drums commonly played in Mbanza Ngungu, Congo.
Originally a person who plays tumbadoras is called a "tumbador" but ever since they began using the name "conga", a man who plays conga is called a "conguero" and a woman who plays conga is called "conguera". Other common terms are "timbero" and "timbera", or "rumbero" and "rumbera" if one plays congas in rumba setting.
Although ultimately derived from African drums made from hollowed logs, the Cuban conga can be staved like a barrel, shaped as one solid piece as from a hollowed log. Some are now made from fiberglass or other synthetic materials. Congas were originally made from salvaged barrels.
They were used both in Afro-Caribbean religious music and as the principal instrument in Rumba. Congas are now very common in Latin American music, including salsa music, as well as many other forms of American popular music.
Originally it was played only using one drum; now it is common to see two, three, or four drums. Some congueros such as Giovanni Hidalgo play up to six or seven drums.
Cuban
- Chano Pozo
- Carlos Vidal Bolado
- Miguelito Valdés
- Jack Costanzo
- Carlos "Patato" Valdes
- Tata Güines
- Armando Peraza
- Candido Camero
- Julito Collazo
- Luis Abreu
- Los Muñequitos de Matanzas
- Mongo Santamaría
- Francisco Aguabella
- Pancho Quinto
- José Luis "Changuito" Quintana
- Miguel "Angá" Díaz
- Jesús Díaz
- Luis Conte
- Eliel Lazo
- Roberto Vizcaíno
- Mauricio Herrera
- Pepe Espinosa
Cuban American
- Desi Arnaz
- Fermin Goytisolo
- Walfredo Reyes, Jr.
- Daniel de los Reyes
- Ernie Becquer
Puerto Rican
• William "Kachiro" Thompson
- Erik Keki Piza
- Ray Barretto
- Joe Cuba
- Milton Cardona
- Jerry Gonzalez.
- Ray Mantilla
- Marc Quiñones
- Orlando Vega
- Lenny Castro
- Michael Carabello
- Frank Colón
- Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez
- Jimmy Morales
- Cristian Rivera
- Eladio Perez
- Roger Dawson
- John Santos
- Sammy Figueroa
- Giovanni Hidalgo
- Eric Velez
- Jose "Juicy" Jusino
African American
Mexican-Chicano American
- Poncho Sanchez
- Pete Escovedo
- Sheila E
- Marcos Reyes
- Roland Mendoza
American
Peruvian
Brazilian
Costa Rican
Haitian
Danish
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Conga players. |
- Percussion Instruments.
- Introduction to the Conga Drum at the Drum Dojo.
- online community for conga and other world percussion
- Hand Drumming at Wikiot.com - A wiki devoted to music. Contains some Conga lessons and videos.
- http://www.nolanwarden.com/Conga_Drum_History(Warden).pdf - Information on the Origin of Congas and other facts.