Candido

Biography

Candido Camero, born Cándido de Guerra Camero on April 22, 1921, in the El Cerro barrio of San Antonio de los Baños, Havana, Cuba, was a pioneering percussionist whose career spanned over eight decades and left an indelible mark on Afro-Cuban jazz and Latin music[1][3][4]. As a child, he initially played the string bass before moving to the tres guitar, bongos, and eventually the conga drums, which became his signature instrument[1][2]. By his early teens, he was performing with local groups such as Septeto Gloria Habanera and later the house band at Havana’s legendary Tropicana nightclub, establishing himself as a leading figure in Cuba’s vibrant music scene[1][2]. In 1952, encouraged by Dizzy Gillespie, Candido moved to New York, where he became a central figure in both the mambo and bebop movements, bridging Latin rhythms with American jazz[1][3].

Candido’s innovative use of multiple congas and his virtuosic technique made him one of the most sought-after percussionists in jazz and pop music from the 1950s through the 1970s[1][4]. He recorded with a staggering array of jazz legends—including Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, and Duke Ellington—and became a fixture on American television, appearing on shows like Ed Sullivan and Jackie Gleason[1][3]. His solo career flourished with hits such as “Thousand Finger Man” and “Dancin’ and Prancin’,” and he continued to record and perform well into his 90s, earning a Grammy nomination for Inolvidable in 2004 and the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship in 2008[3][4]. Candido passed away in New York City on November 7, 2020, at age 99, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential conga players in history[3][4].

Fun Facts

• Candido was the first percussionist to popularize the use of multiple conga drums, revolutionizing the instrument’s role in both Latin and jazz music[1][4].
• As a teenager, he and his friend Mongo Santamaría delivered mail together so they could finish work early and rehearse music[2].
• He performed on American television more than any other Latin percussionist of his era, including appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Jackie Gleason Show[3].
• Candido continued to perform and record into his 90s, releasing his final album, The Master, at age 93[3].

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Max Roach - jazz drumming inspiration (N/A) [1950s]
• Kenny Clarke - jazz drumming inspiration (N/A) [1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Dizzy Gillespie - key early collaborator in Latin jazz, recorded “Manteca Suite” (Manteca Suite) [1950s]
• Billy Taylor - early recordings and performances in New York (Billy Taylor Trio recordings) [1950s]
• Charlie Parker - recorded together, bridging bebop and Latin rhythms (N/A) [1950s]
• Mongo Santamaría - childhood friend and fellow percussionist, played together in Cuba (N/A) [1940s]
• Tito Puente - performed and recorded together in New York’s Latin music scene (N/A) [1950s–1970s]
• Machito - recorded and performed together in Cuba and New York (N/A) [1940s–1950s]
• Stan Kenton - toured with Kenton’s orchestra (N/A) [1950s]
• Buddy Rich - toured together in the 1970s (N/A) [1970s]
• Lionel Hampton - toured together in the 1970s (N/A) [1970s]
• David Amram - regular collaborator in later years (N/A) [1980s–2000s]
• Bobby Sanabria - regular collaborator in later years (N/A) [1990s–2000s]

Artists Influenced

• Giovanni Hidalgo - inspired by Candido’s conga technique (N/A) [1980s–present]
• Carlos 'Patato' Valdes - fellow conga master, mutual influence (N/A) [1950s–2000s]
• Generations of Latin jazz percussionists - set standard for conga playing and Latin jazz fusion (N/A) [1950s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Y Te VI Con El (a Partir de Hoy)
2. 30 Cartas (a Partir de Hoy)
3. Los Laureles (a Partir de Hoy)
4. Ojitos de MI Elena (a Partir de Hoy)
5. Bohemio de Aficion (a Partir de Hoy)
6. Y Cuentale (Y Cuentale)
7. Que Sera de Aquel Amor (a Partir de Hoy)
8. La Unica Estrella (Dejando Huella)
9. En Cada Vida (En Cada Vida)
10. Cuando Salgo a Los Campos (Cuando Salgo a Los Campos)

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not found in provided sources)
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #afro-cuban-jazz, #cuban, #jazz