Armando Peraza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Armando Peraza
|
|
|---|---|
Armando Peraza playing a bongo in London, 1999
|
|
| Background information | |
| Born | May 30, 1924 Lawton Batista, Havana, Cuba |
| Died | April 14, 2014 (aged 89) San Francisco, California |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments |
|
| Associated acts |
|
Armando Peraza (born May 30, 1924 – died April 14, 2014) was a famous Latin jazz percussionist. He was also a member of the well-known rock band Santana. Peraza was known for playing instruments like the congas, bongos, and timbales.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Music Start
Armando Peraza was born in Lawton Batista, Havana, Cuba, in 1924. He had a tough start, becoming an orphan by age seven and living on the streets. When he was twelve, he worked hard to support himself. He sold vegetables, coached boxing, and played semi-pro baseball.
His music journey began when he was seventeen. He heard that a bandleader named Alberto Ruiz was looking for a conga player. Even though Armando had no music experience, he practiced a lot and won the audition!
Moving to New York and Early Career
In 1948, Armando left Cuba for Mexico to help his sick friend, conga drummer Mongo Santamaría. They both arrived in New York City in 1949. Armando played in Machito's big band and even recorded music with famous jazz musicians like Charlie Parker and Buddy Rich. He also toured the U.S. with Slim Gaillard's band.
After spending some time in Mexico, where he recorded with Perez Prado, Armando returned to the U.S. and settled in San Francisco. On the West Coast, he played with jazz legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, and Dexter Gordon. He also performed for Mexican farm workers with actor Tony Martinez.
Working with George Shearing and Cal Tjader
In 1954, Armando met Cal Tjader, a jazz musician. A music critic suggested Armando record an album with Tjader. This led to Ritmo Caliente, an album that mixed Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz.
Armando then joined British pianist George Shearing's band in 1954. He played with Shearing for twelve years. This partnership made Armando a very important figure in Afro-Cuban music. He also started writing songs, creating twenty-one pieces for Shearing. These included popular songs like "Mambo in Chimes" and "Ritmo Africano." His powerful drumming became a key part of Shearing's performances.
Armando toured the world with Shearing. However, in America, he faced unfair treatment because of his race. In 1959, in Miami, Armando and other Black band members were not allowed to stay in the same hotel as the white musicians. Shearing and singer Peggy Lee stood up for them, threatening to quit if everyone couldn't stay together. Shearing's band was one of the first jazz groups to have musicians of different races.
In 1959, Armando also joined Mongo Santamaría for the Mongo album. One song from this album, "Afro-Blue," became a jazz classic after John Coltrane recorded it.
In the 1960s, Armando was a member of Cal Tjader's band for six years. He performed in many places in California, including the famous Hollywood Bowl with the Stan Kenton Band. He even played in the orchestra for The Judy Garland Show, a TV series from 1963 to 1964. In 1964, he recorded the album Soul Sauce with Tjader. A song from that album, "Guachi Guaro," won a Grammy Award in 1965!
Armando recorded one solo album called Wild Thing in 1968. He was also the first Afro-Cuban percussionist to add conga drums to a rock song. This happened on Harvey Mandel's Cristo Redentor album in 1968.
Joining Santana
In 1972, when he was 47, Armando Peraza joined the rock band Santana. He helped the band mix Afro-Cuban, jazz, rock, and blues music. Armando stayed with Carlos Santana for almost twenty years. He played for millions of fans around the world. He also wrote or co-wrote sixteen songs for Santana, including "Gitano" from the album Amigos (1976).
Armando retired from Santana in 1990 at age 66. However, he did play with Santana again in 1992 for a huge concert in Chile. In 2002, he visited his home country of Cuba for the first time in over fifty years.
In 2006, at 82 years old, Armando made a special appearance with Santana at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. He also taught drum classes in California.
In 2007, Armando received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Voices of Latin Rock. Carlos Santana himself gave Armando the award. Today, the Voices of Latin Rock give out the Armando Peraza Award every January to honor achievements in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Armando Peraza passed away on April 14, 2014, at the age of 89.
Discography
As Leader
- Wild Thing (Skye, 1968)
With Santana
- Caravanserai (Columbia, 1972)
- Welcome (Columbia, 1973)
- Borboletta (Columbia, 1974)
- Amigos (Columbia, 1976)
- Inner Secrets (Columbia, 1978)
- Marathon (Columbia, 1979)
- Zebop (Columbia, 1981)
- Shangó (Columbia, 1982)
- Beyond Appearances (Columbia, 1985)
- Freedom (Columbia, 1987)
- Viva Santana! (Columbia, 1988)
- Spirits Dancing in the Flesh (Columbia, 1990)
Other Notable Albums
- With Mongo Santamaria: Mongo (Fantasy, 1959)
- With Carlos Santana: Oneness – Silver Dreams Golden Reality (Columbia, 1979)
- With George Shearing: Ritmo Caliente! (Fantasy, 1955)
- With Cal Tjader: Soul Sauce (Verve, 1965)
- With John Lee Hooker: The Healer (Chameleon, 1989)
- With Linda Ronstadt: Frenesí (Rhino Records, 1992)
See also
In Spanish: Armando Peraza para niños
