Born William Correa on February 28, 1934 in New York City to Puerto Rican parents, young Willie Bobo was fascinated by percussion and began to play bongos, congas, timbales and trap drums at an early age. In 1947, he worked as a band boy for Machito’s Afro-Cubans, one of the most popular Latin music ensembles of the era. Late at night, during the last set, he was sometimes allowed to sit in on bongos, getting his first taste of performing on a bandstand in the company of world class musicians. Good fortune led him to the side of Cuban conga legend Ramon “Mongo” Santamaria, a recent arrival in the Big Apple from Havana. In exchange for his services as Mongo’s much needed translator, the fledgling percussionist received lessons in Afro-Cuban techniques from the master.
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5/7/11
willie bobo
Born William Correa on February 28, 1934 in New York City to Puerto Rican parents, young Willie Bobo was fascinated by percussion and began to play bongos, congas, timbales and trap drums at an early age. In 1947, he worked as a band boy for Machito’s Afro-Cubans, one of the most popular Latin music ensembles of the era. Late at night, during the last set, he was sometimes allowed to sit in on bongos, getting his first taste of performing on a bandstand in the company of world class musicians. Good fortune led him to the side of Cuban conga legend Ramon “Mongo” Santamaria, a recent arrival in the Big Apple from Havana. In exchange for his services as Mongo’s much needed translator, the fledgling percussionist received lessons in Afro-Cuban techniques from the master.
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