Latin Jazz USA Award, presented to Mongo Santamaría

Description (Brief):

This award was presented to Ramon "Mongo" Santamaría by Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, in 1991. It is a clear lucite panel on a black lucite base. The panel is engraved:

Description (Brief)

LATIN JAZZ USA AWARD
Honors
MONGO SANTAMARIA
FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION
TO THE
PRESERVATION AND EVOLUTION
OF LATIN JAZZ
AVERY FISHER HALL
LINCOLN CENTER
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
IVAN ACOSTA - NESTOR RODRIGUEZ
ASSOC. PRODUCER
PABLO MARTINEZ
OCTOBER 11, 1991

Description (Brief)

This Latin Jazz USA award was presented to Mongo Santamaría during a concert at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center, New York, in 1991. The concert featured Chico O'Farrill leading a 20-piece big band with five powerhouse guests: alto saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera, pianist Hilton Ruiz, conga player Mongo Santamaría, flutist Dave Valentin and saxophonist Stanley Turrentine.

Description (Brief)

Ramón "Mongo" Santamaría Rodríguez (1917–2003) 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. From the 1970s, he recorded mainly salsa and Latin jazz, before retiring in the late 1990s. Santamaria made several recordings as a leader of his own group, as well as a sideman with Fania All-Stars, Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie, and Ray Charles.