José Mangual (percussionist, 1924)

José Mangual (left) performing in New York in 1947

José Mangual. Sr. (born March 18, 1924 in Juana Díaz ; † September 24, 1998 ), known as Buyú , was a Puerto Rican percussionist .

Mangual showed the qualities of a professional percussionist at the age of ten. In 1939 he went to New York with his family and initially appeared in small clubs. His musical career began in 1942 when Chino Pozo and Tito Puente left Machito's orchestra and he replaced them on the timbales and Pilidor Allende on the bongos. When Puente returned a short time later, Allende switched to the conga and Mangual to the bongos.

In the eighteen years that he was a member of Machito's Afro-Cuban All-Stars , he took part in international tours, performed with musicians such as Stan Kenton , Dizzy Gillespie , Buddy Rich , Flip Phillips and Charlie Parker , and has appeared on more than three hundred recordings the group with. In 1959 he separated from Machito to perform with the flautist Herbie Mann . He also toured Africa with Carlos Valdéz and worked as an accompanist for Abbie Lane and Nancy Ames .

Through Valdéz he met the pianist Erroll Garner , with whom he performed in Europe and the USA. After his death, he became the star of the New York Cheveré Social Club . Musicians with whom Mangual has performed in his career include Eddie Palmieri , Chico O'Farrill , Cal Tjader , the Count Basie Orchestra , Sarah Vaughan , Dexter Gordon , Cachao , Ray Charles and Tito Rodríguez . In 1977 his only solo album was released with the title Buyú . Mangual had six children, of whom the sons José Jr. and Luis were also known as musicians.

Web links

Literature by and about José Mangual in the catalog of the German National Library

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personal data
SURNAME	Mangual, José
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Buyú
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Puerto Rican percussionist
DATE OF BIRTH	March 18, 1924
PLACE OF BIRTH	Juana Díaz (Puerto Rico)
DATE OF DEATH	September 24, 1998