José Luis “Changuito” Quintana (1948–2025) played timbales and drums with Los Van Van for more than twenty years, helped develop songo and taught generations of percussionists.
Willie Bobo (1934–1983) started out as a band boy in Spanish Harlem, learned from Mongo Santamaría, played with Tito Puente and Cal Tjader, and recorded “Evil Ways” before Santana.
