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Armando Peraza

Latin Jazz Percussionist (born ca. May 30, 1924 in Havana, Cuba, died April 14, 2014 in San Francisco). Through his long associations with jazz pianist George Shearing, vibraphonist Cal Tjader and guitarist Carlos Santana, he has been internationally known from the 1950s through to the 1990s. Although primarily known as a bongocero and conguero, Peraza is also an innovative and accomplished dancer and composer. Peraza has been featured on classic recordings by Perez Prado, Machito, George Shearing, Charlie Parker, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader and Carlos Santana. Armando Peraza is one of a handful of Cuban percussionists who came to the United States in the 1940s and 50s. Other notable congueros who came to the U.S. during that time include Mongo Santamaria, Chano Pozo, Francisco Aguabella, Julito Collazo, Carlos Vidal Bolado and Modetso Duran. Peraza's work with Shearing, Tjader and Santana brought him international fame. He has been inducted into the Smithsonian Institution's Hall of Jazz Legends and has had three official "Armando Peraza Days" by the City of San Francisco. He died of pneumonia on April 14, 2014 at the age of 89.