Salsa percussion

Manny Oquendo

Manny Oquendo

Manny Oquendo (1931–2009) was one of the most respected timbaleros and bongoseros in the history of Latin music — a master of the old-school tradition whose understated, deeply rooted playing anchored Eddie Palmieri's La Perfecta and his own celebrated band, Conjunto Libre.

Tito Puente

Tito Puente

Tito Puente (1923–2000) was a timbalero, bandleader and composer born in New York to Puerto Rican parents. He brought the timbales to the front of the stage, wrote “Oye Como Va” and won six Grammys.

Johnny "Dandy" Rodríguez

Johnny "Dandy" Rodríguez

Johnny “Dandy” Rodríguez (1945–2024) was a New York bongosero who played with Tito Puente for more than 30 years, co-founded Típica 73 and recorded with Celia Cruz, Ray Barretto, Tito Rodríguez and Machito.

Ray Barretto

Ray Barretto

Ray Barretto (1929–2006) heard “Manteca” as a GI in Germany and went on to play with Charlie Parker and Tito Puente, lead some of the defining bands of the Fania years and come back to jazz as an NEA Jazz Master.

The History of Conga Drums: From Africa to Cuba

Along with learning how to play the conga drums, or any instrument for that matter, it’s important to have a general idea about where those instruments come from, and how they’ve evolved over time.