GA Russell
February 1st, 2003, 02:12 PM
posted on 1-Feb-2003 4:05:36 PM
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Mongo Santamaria passed away early this morning in Miami.
I'll post the obit when I see it. Here is the notice:
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/news/ft/20030201/2336/Mongo_Santamara_Died.html
The first time I went to a jazz club was early in '67. I was 16 and I ventured into Al Hirt's Club on Bourbon Street. Mongo Santamaria was the band. I remember being impressed by his flute player (who as it turned out later went on to success) Hubert Laws. I can picture it all now. The bandstand was a revolving carousel. The only one I've ever seen.
For those of you too young to remember, Mongo had a genuine hit (45 rpm single played on the radio) with his recording of Herbie Hancock's Watermelon Man. His most famous composition is Afro Blue, which John Coltrane recorded.
I'll have to go play my Mongo's Greatest Hits album now.
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Mongo Santamaria passed away early this morning in Miami.
I'll post the obit when I see it. Here is the notice:
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/news/ft/20030201/2336/Mongo_Santamara_Died.html
The first time I went to a jazz club was early in '67. I was 16 and I ventured into Al Hirt's Club on Bourbon Street. Mongo Santamaria was the band. I remember being impressed by his flute player (who as it turned out later went on to success) Hubert Laws. I can picture it all now. The bandstand was a revolving carousel. The only one I've ever seen.
For those of you too young to remember, Mongo had a genuine hit (45 rpm single played on the radio) with his recording of Herbie Hancock's Watermelon Man. His most famous composition is Afro Blue, which John Coltrane recorded.
I'll have to go play my Mongo's Greatest Hits album now.