Tati Rodriguez, one of my most avid supporters
in the percussion business, introduced me to Willie
Bobo early in my career, and convinced him to
endorse my products. The day after Willie agreed,
I was photographing him in a sand box in Coop
City, in the Bronx, while he played a set of my
timbales.
From that time on, Willie was a good friend until
he died of cancer in 1983. A New York Puerto Rican,
who worked with Mongo Santamaria in the Tito Puente
Band, Willie went on to become a band leader,
whose music reflected the traditions of Spanish
and Black Harlem. He was also a fine singer, and
he was always proud to say that Antonio Carlos
Jobim, the great Brazilian composer, liked the
way he sang Jobim's famous composition, Didi.
Please CLICK
HERE to see a gallery of photos.
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