finetune artist: Willie Bobo

b. William Correa, 28 February 1934, New York City, New York, USA, of Puerto Rican parentage, d. 15 September 1983, Los Angeles, California, USA. Growing up in New York's El Barrio, Bobo was exposed to substantial doses of Latin music, jazz and R&B. These genres later jostled together in his work as a band leader. He started playing Latin percussion at the age of 14 (the timbales became his preferred instrument) and managed to get hired as Machito's bandboy. Bobo befriended Mongo Santamar¡a shortly after the conga player's arrival in New York. Santamar¡a gave him percussion lessons and Bobo acted as his translator. He was dubbed "Bobo" by jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams during an early 50s recording session. Bobo received his first major exposure as a sideman in 1955 with The Shearing Spell by George Shearing. After stints with Tito Puente (1954-57), Cal Tjader (1958 -61), Santamar¡a's charanga (1961-62), Ren Bloch and Ren Touzet, Bobo formed his own group and recorded for Tico and Roulette Records between 1963 and 1964.

Listen to Willie Bobo at Finetune.

(2008) Bobo Motion
(2006) Lost and Found
(2003) Willie Bobo's Finest Hour
(2002) A New Dimension
(1998) Juicy
(1997) Talkin' Verve
(1994) Spanish Grease / Uno Dos Tres 1 2 3

Spanish Grease
Fried Neck Bones And Some Homefries
Haitian Lady
One, Two, Three (1-2-3) (Uno, Dos, Tres)
Grazing In The Grass