Poncho Sánchez (born Filoberto Sanchez, October 30, 1951) is an American ''conguero'' (

conga The conga, also known as tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed drum from Cuba. Congas are staved like barrels and classified into three types: quinto (lead drum, highest), tres dos or tres golpes (middle), and tumba or salidor (lowest). ...

player), Latin jazz band leader, and

salsa Salsa most often refers to: * Salsa (Mexican cuisine), a variety of sauces used as condiments * Salsa music, a popular style of Latin American music * Salsa (dance), a Latin dance associated with Salsa music Salsa or SALSA may also refer to: A ...

singer. In 2000, he and his ensemble won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album for their work on the Concord Picante album ''

Latin Soul Latin soul (sometimes used synonymously with Boogaloo) was a short-lived musical genre that had developed in the 1960s in New York City. It had consisted of a blend of Cuban mambo with elements of Latin jazz and soul music. Although short-lived, ...

''. Sanchez has performed with artists including Cal Tjader, Mongo Santamaría, Hugh Masekela,

Clare Fischer Douglas Clare Fischer (October 22, 1928 – January 26, 2012) was an American keyboardist, composer, arranger, and bandleader. After graduating from Michigan State University (from which, five decades later, he would receive an honorary doctorate ...

, and Tower of Power.

Early life

The youngest of eleven children, Poncho Sanchez was born in

Laredo, Texas Laredo ( ; ) is a city in and the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Laredo has the distinction of flying seven flags (the flag of t ...

and reared in Norwalk, California, while he attended Cerritos College. Growing up, he was exposed to and influenced by two different styles of music: Afro-Cuban music (

mambo Mambo most often refers to: *Mambo (music), a Cuban musical form *Mambo (dance), a dance corresponding to mambo music Mambo may also refer to: Music *Mambo section, a section in arrangements of some types of Afro-Caribbean music, particular ...

son A son is a male offspring; a boy or a man in relation to his parents. The female counterpart is a daughter. From a biological perspective, a son constitutes a first degree relative. Social issues In pre-industrial societies and some current c ...

cha-cha Cha-Cha, Cha Cha, ChaCha or Chacha may refer to: Music *Cha-cha-cha (dance), a dance of Cuban origin *Cha-cha-cha (music), a genre of Cuban music * ''Cha Cha'' (album), a 1978 album by Herman Brood & His Wild Romance * ''Cha Cha'' (soundtrack), t ...

, rumba, guaracha, and Changui) by Tito Puente and others, and bebop

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

, including the works of

Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but addi ...

and

Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...

. Originally a

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

ist, he discovered his talent for singing during an audition for the R&B band The Halos that rehearsed across the street from his residence. Sanchez became the lead vocalist of The Halos, and would go on to teach himself the

flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

, the

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

, and timbales before finally deciding in

high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

to pursue

drumming above all. Sanchez has released dozens of LP and CD albums.

Career

In 1975, Sanchez's idol, vibraphonist Cal Tjader, invited him to perform a set with his band. Seeing the young man's talent, Tjader hired Sanchez for a week before officially making him a full member of the ensemble. Sanchez played a crucial role as ''conguero'' for several years until Tjader's death in 1982. Before he died, Tjader suggested that Concord Records founder

Carl Jefferson Carl Jefferson (December 10, 1919 – March 29, 1995) was an American jazz record producer, and was the founder of the Concord Records label. Biography Jefferson was born in Alameda, California. Prior to entering the music business, he owned and o ...

sign Sanchez and his soon-to-be-formed group under the Concord Picante label. Tjader's wishes were honored, and the first two records were composed and arranged by long-time Tjader collaborator

. Sanchez went on to produce 19 albums for the label, eventually garnering a

Grammy The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...

for his work.

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

described Sanchez as "among the most influential percussionists in jazz." He has been performing frequently in venues varying in size from concert halls to local jazz festivals. His 2005 CD, ''Do It!'', features the funk band Tower of Power on two tracks, as well as South African

trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitched one octave below the standard ...

er Hugh Masekela. Sanchez is a frequent collaborator with bandleader

José Rizo José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced differently in each language: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , is an old vernacul ...

. He played conga on the Grammy-nominated album ''Mongorama'' produced by Rizo. Sanchez was featured on

Ilya Serov Ilya Serov (born November 8, 1986) is an American trumpeter and singer. Ilya Serov is a Los Angeles-based jazz trumpet player and singer. Serov released his first album, ''September In The Rain'', in December 2013. Serov was named Best New Artis ...

's single "

Tangerine The tangerine is a type of citrus fruit that is orange in color. Its scientific name varies. It has been treated as a separate species under the name ''Citrus tangerina'' or ''Citrus'' × ''tangerina'', or treated as a variety of ''Citrus retic ...

", released on January 9, 2018.

Discography

* ''Poncho'' (Discovery DS 799, 1979) * ''Straight Ahead'' (Discovery DS 813, 1980) * '' Salsa Picante'' y Clare Fischer(Discovery DS 817, 1980) * ''

Machaca Machaca is a traditionally dried meat, usually spiced beef or pork, that is rehydrated and then used in popular local cuisine in Northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States. It is also readily available in many groceries and supermarket ...

'' y Clare Fischer & Salsa Picante(Discovery DS 835, 1981] * '' 2+2 (album), 2+2'' ith Clare Fischer & Salsa Picante(Pausa PR 7086, 1981) * ''Sonando'' (Concord Picante, 1983) * ''Bien Sabroso'' (Concord Picante, 1984) * ''El Conguero'' (Concord Picante, 1985) * ''Gaviota'' (Discovery DSCD 930, 1980 el. 1986 with

* ''Papa Gato'' (Concord Picante, 1987) * ''¡Fuerte!'' (Concord Picante, 1988) * ''La Familia'' (Concord Picante, 1989) * ''Chile Con Soul'' (Concord Picante, 1990) with Tito Puente * ''Cambios'' (Concord Picante, 1991) with

Freddie Hubbard Frederick Dewayne Hubbard (April 7, 1938 – December 29, 2008) was an American jazz trumpeter. He played bebop, hard bop, and post-bop styles from the early 1960s onwards. His unmistakable and influential tone contributed to new perspectives fo ...

* ''A Night at Kimball's East'' (Concord Picante, 1991) * ''El Mejor'' (Concord Picante, 1992) * ''Bailar: A Night With Poncho Sanchez Live'' (Concord Picante, 1990 el. 1993 * ''Para Todos'' (Concord Picante, 1994) * ''Soul Sauce: Memories Of Cal Tjader'' (Concord Picante, 1995) * ''Baila Mi Gente: Salsa!'' (Concord Picante, 1996) compilation * ''Conga Blue'' (Concord Picante, 1996) * '' Freedom Sound'' (Concord Picante, 1997) with Wilton Felder, Wayne Henderson * ''Poncho Sanchez: The Concord Jazz Heritage Series'' (Concord Jazz, 1998) compilation * ''Afro-Cuban Fantasy'' (Concord Picante, 1998) with

Dianne Reeves Dianne Elizabeth Reeves (born October 23, 1956) is an American jazz singer. Biography Dianne Reeves was born in Detroit, Michigan, into a musical family. Her father sang, her mother played trumpet, her uncle is bassist Charles Burrell, and h ...

* ''

'' (Concord Picante, 1999) * ''Soul of the Conga'' (Concord Picante, 2000) * ''Latin Spirits'' (Concord Picante, 2001) with Dale Spalding * ''Ultimate Latin Dance Party'' (Concord Picante, 2002) 2-CD compilation * ''Out of Sight!'' (Concord Picante, 2003) with

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

* ''Poncho at Montreux'' (Silverline/Immergent, 2004) * ''Instant Party'' (Concord Picante, 2004) compilation * ''Do It!'' (Concord Picante, 2005) with Hugh Masekela, Tower Of Power * ''Raise Your Hand'' (Concord Picante, 2007) * ''Psychedelic Blues'' (Concord Picante, 2009) * ''

Chano y Dizzy! ''Chano y Dizzy!'' is a collaborative studio album by conga player Poncho Sanchez and jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard. The release contains 11 tracks inspired by the works of Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo whose short-lived musical collaboration ...

'' (Concord Picante, 2011) with

Terence Blanchard Terence Oliver Blanchard (born March 13, 1962) is an American trumpeter and composer. He started his career in 1982 as a member of the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, then The Jazz Messengers. He has composed more than forty film scores and performed ...

* ''Live in Hollywood'' (Concord Picante, 2012) * ''Trane's Delight'' (Concord Picante, 2019) With

Benny Golson Benny Golson (born January 25, 1929) is an American bebop/hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger. He came to prominence with the big bands of Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie, more as a writer than a performer, before launch ...

*'' Killer Joe'' (Columbia, 1977) With

Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...

* ''Woody's Gold Star'' (Concord, 1987) With

Art Pepper Arthur Edward Pepper Jr. (September 1, 1925 – June 15, 1982) was an American alto saxophonist and very occasional tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. Active in West Coast jazz, Pepper came to prominence in Stan Kenton's big band. He was known ...

*''

Tokyo Debut ''Tokyo Debut'' is a live album by saxophonist Art Pepper recorded in Japan in 1977 by TBS Radio and originally released on the Japanese Polydor Records, Polydor label in 1990 as ''First Live in Japan'' before being rereleased on the Galaxy Records ...

'' ive(Galaxy, 1977

el. 1995 EL, El or el may refer to: Religion * El (deity), a Semitic word for "God" People * EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer * El DeBarge, music artist * El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American po ...

With Cal Tjader *''Grace Cathedral Concert'' (Fantasy, 1976) *''Guarabe'' (Fantasy, 1977) *''

Here Here is an adverb that means "in, on, or at this place". It may also refer to: Software * Here Technologies, a mapping company * Here WeGo (formerly Here Maps), a mobile app and map website by Here Television * Here TV (formerly "here!"), a TV ...

'' ive(Galaxy, 1977

el. 1979 EL, El or el may refer to: Religion * El (deity), a Semitic word for "God" People * EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer * El DeBarge, music artist * El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American po ...

*''Cuban Fantasy'' ive(Fantasy, 1977

el. 2003 EL, El or el may refer to: Religion * El (deity), a Semitic word for "God" People * EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer * El DeBarge, music artist * El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American po ...

*''Huracán'' (Crystal Clear, 1978; reissue: Laserlight, 1990) *''La Onda Va Bien'' (Concord Picante, 1979) *''Gózame! Pero Ya'' (Concord Picante, 1980) *''A Fuego Vivo'' (Concord Picante, 1981) *''

Heat Wave A heat wave, or heatwave, is a period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by high humidity, especially in oceanic climate countries. While definitions vary, a heat wave is usually measured relative to the usual climate in the ...

'' (Concord Jazz, 1982) with Carmen McRae *''Good Vibes'' (Concord Picante, 1981

el. 1984 EL, El or el may refer to: Religion * El (deity), a Semitic word for "God" People * EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer * El DeBarge, music artist * El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American po ...

*''Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival 1958–1980'' (Concord Jazz, 2008) With

*''

'' (2018)

References

External links

Official websitePoncho Sanchez Interview
NAMM Oral History Program (2005) {{DEFAULTSORT:Sanchez, Poncho 1951 births Living people American jazz bandleaders American musicians of Mexican descent Jazz musicians from California People from Laredo, Texas Grammy Award winners American percussionists Jazz percussionists Afro-Cuban jazz percussionists Conga players Concord Records artists People from Norwalk, California Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners Jazz musicians from Texas Hispanic and Latino American musicians