1979 Mongo Santamaria – Red Hot
Red Hot is an album by Cuban percussionist Mongo Santamaria. It was released in 1979.
Ramón “Mongo” Santamaría Rodríguez (April 7, 1917 – February 1, 2003) was a Cuban percussionist and bandleader who spent most of his career in the United States. Primarily a conga drummer, Santamaría was a leading figure in the pachanga and boogaloo dance crazes of the 1960s. His biggest hit was his rendition of Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man”, which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. From the 1970s, he recorded mainly salsa and Latin jazz, before retiring in the late 1990s.
Tracks
1 Watermelon Man (Herbie Hancock; Jon Hendricks) 06:24
2 A Mi No Me Engañan (You Better Believe It) (Mongo Santamaria; Tata Guerra) 04:35
3 Jai Alai (Rena) (Gary King) 07:39
4 Jamaican Sunrise (Doug Harris) 05:50
5 Afro-Cuban Fantasy (Jay Chattaway) 07:36
6 Sambita (Joe Gallardo; Justo Almario) 05:45
Biography
Musicians
1 Watermelon Man
| Bass | Gary King |
| Drums | Jimmy Young |
| Guitar | Jeff Layton |
| Guitar | Lance Quinn |
| Piano | Bob James |
| Synthesizer | Bob James |
| Sax | Michael Brecker |
| Trumpet | Randy Brecker |
| Bongos | Mongo Santamaria |
| Congas | Mongo Santamaria |
| Background Vocals | Michael Brecker |
| Background Vocals | Randy Brecker |
| Background Vocals | Brenda Frazier |
| Background Vocals | Gwen Guthrie |
| Background Vocals | Vivian Cherry |
| Vocals | La Lupe |
2 A Mi No Me Engañan (You Better Believe It)
| Bass | Sal Cuevas |
| Drums | Steve Berrios |
| Tres | Harry Viggiano |
| Piano | Charlie Palmieri |
| Congas | Mongo Santamaria |
| Timbales | Steve Berrios |
| Percussion | Mongo Santamaria |
| Vocals | Brenda Frazier |
| Vocals | Frank Floyd |
| Vocals | Gwen Guthrie |
| Vocals | Hector Aponte |
| Vocals | Ray Simpson |
| Vocals | Vivian Cherry |
| Vocals | Zachary Sanders |
3 Jai Alai (Rena)
| Bass | Gary King |
| Drums | Steve Berrios |
| Guitar (solo) | Jeff Layton |
| Guitar | Eric Gale |
| Fender Rhodes | Barry Miles |
| Mini Moog | Barry Miles |
| Effects | Bob James |
| Trumpet | Jon Faddis |
| Congas | Mongo Santamaria |
| Percussion | Jim Maelen |
4 Jamaican Sunrise
| Bass | Gary King |
| Drums | Idris Muhammad |
| Guitar | Eric Gale |
| Piano | Barry Miles |
| Flute | Doug Harris |
| Bongos | Mongo Santamaria |
5 Afro-Cuban Fantasy
| Bass | Gary King |
| Drums | Steve Gadd |
| Electronic Drums | Bob James |
| Guitar | Eric Gale |
| Fender Rhodes | Bob James |
| Sax | Mark Colby |
| Bata | Hector Hernandez |
| Bata | Julio Collazo |
| Bata | Steve Berrios |
| Bata | Mongo Santamaria |
| Shekere | Steve Berrios |
| Percussion | Mongo Santamaria |
6 Sambita
| Bass | Lee Smith |
| Drums | Thelmo M Porto |
| Guitar | Eric Gale |
| Piano | Bill O’Connell |
| Bongos | Mongo Santamaria |
| Congas | Mongo Santamaria |
| Percussion | Thelmo M Porto |
Liner Notes
Producer – Jay Chattaway
Producer (Executive) – Bob James
Arranged By – Jay Chattaway (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Arranged By – Marty Sheller (Track 2)
Conductor – Jay Chattaway (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Conductor – Marty Sheller (Track 2)
Engineer – Joe Jorgensen
Engineer (Additional) – Alec Head (Track 2
Mastered By – Vlado Meller
Design – Paula Scher
Photography – Buddy Endress
Mastered At CBS Studios, New York
Mixed At Soundmixers, NYC
Overdubbed At Soundmixers, NYC
Recorded At A&R Studios
Recorded At Mediasound
Phonographic Copyright Tappan Zee Records Inc