|
 Legendary
Cuban percussionist, Jose Luis "Changuito"
Quintana, whose nickname means "little
fighter", was born in Casablanca, Cuba,
in 1948. At the age of eight, Changuito
became a professional musician with the
Havana Jazz Band. He also played with his
father, a musical maestro, and at the age
of eleven joined the band Cuba Mambo. By
the age of twelve, Changuito was appearing
regularly at the Morocco Nightclub in Havana,
and at thirteen he played in various army
bands, including Estrellas de Occidente,
after volunteering for military service.
When Changuito left the military in 1964,
he joined Los Harmonicas, a group that gained
considerable fame in Cuba. He was also a
member of Sonorama 6 for a year, and, in
1968, Changuito played drums for both Souvinir
and La Orchestra de Musica Moderna in the
province of Pinar del Rio. Upon returning
to Havana in 1970, he joined Los Van Van,
which soon became one of the most popular
Cuban orchestras in the world. It was at
this time that Changuito introduced the
"songo", where the original combination
of percussion instruments (timbales, cowbells,
woodblocks, electronic drums and cymbals)
and the technical displacement of hands
sealed a distinctive and highly original
touch.
His first solo album, which was recorded
in 1992, led to global recognition for the
artist, and he won a Grammy in 1996 for
the album Ritmo y Candela.
Changuito's extraordinary innovations
on tumbadoras, timbales, and drum set have
influenced countless drummers around the
world including Giovanni
Hidalgo and Karl
Perazzo of Santana. His enigmatic personality
and musical genius continue to make him
a major influence among today's musicians.
To
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Quintana, CLICK
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