Armando Peraza

Armando Peraza (ca. May 30, 1924 – April 14, 2014) was a latin jazz percussionist. Through his long associations with jazz pianist George Shearing, vibraphonist Cal Tjader and guitarist Carlos Santana, he has been internationally known from the 1950s through to the 1990s. Although primarily known as a bongocero and conguero, Peraza also served as timbalero when he played timbales, congas and bongos in 1979 with Santana on the band's recording and live tour in support of the album "Marathon". In addition to his world wide fame as a highly revered percussionist, Peraza was also an innovative and accomplished dancer and composer.

Biography

Early life

Born in Lawton Batista, Havana, Cuba in 1924 (although the birth year is uncertain), he was orphaned by age 7 and lived on the streets, making a living selling vegetables. Peraza gained a reputation as a sportsman, and became proficient at baseball and boxing. At one time he was a boxing coach. A natural musician, a chance encounter at a baseball game led to his first professional gig with famous local bandleader Alberto Ruiz. He then made his reputation as drummer and dancer playing with the cream of Havana's small bands or "conjuntos", the most famous being Ruiz's Conjunto Kubavana.