Also
known professionally by his given name--simply
"Vitin"--Vitin Gonzalez was my
first customer. I don't think I made a bongo
for him, though; it was more of a fix-up. He was
the bongo player with the Tito Rodriguez Orchestra.
This
photo was taken at the famous Palladium Ballroom
around 1961. A couple of years later, Vitin was
convicted of trafficking in marijuana and went
to jail for what seemed an eternity. After he
reemerged, I never saw him again, and, as far
as I know, he never played again.
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