Sammy Figueroa (born November 16, 1948,

The Bronx The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Y ...

, New York) is an American percussionist. At 18 he joined the band of bassist

Bobby Valentín Roberto "Bobby" Valentín (born June 9, 1941), is a musician and salsa bandleader. He is known as "El Rey del Bajo" (King of the Bass). Early years Valentín was born in Orocovis, Puerto Rico. He was taught by his father to play the guitar at ...

and also co-led the Brazilian/Latin fusion group Raíces.

Selected Discography

Sammy Figueroa recording credits
at

Discogs Discogs (short for discographies) is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. While the site was originally created with a goal of becoming the ...

. ''www.discogs.com''

As leader or co-leader

Solo * ''Talisman'' (2014, Savant, SCD 2144) with Glaucia Nasser * ''Memory of Water'' (2015, Ashe Records) * ''Imaginary World'' (2015, Savant, SCD 2151) With Sammy Figueroa & His Latin Jazz Explosion * ''...and Sammy Walked In'' (2006, Savant Records 2066) * ''The Magician'' (2007, Savant 2079) * ''Urban Nature'' (2011, Senator Records, SEN-1001)

As sideman

With Deodato * '' Very Together'' (1976) With

Average White Band The Average White Band (also known as AWB) are a Scottish funk and R&B band that had a series of soul and disco hits between 1974 and 1980. They are best known for their million-selling instrumental track " Pick Up the Pieces", and their album ...

* '' AWB'' (1974) * '' Cupid's in Fashion'' (1982) * ''Soul Tattoo'' (1996) With

George Benson George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist. A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, play ...

* ''

In Your Eyes IN, In or in may refer to: Places * India (country code IN) * Indiana, United States (postal code IN) * Ingolstadt, Germany (license plate code IN) * In, Russia, a town in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast Businesses and organizations * Independ ...

'' (1983) With Blondie * '' The Hunter'' (1982) With

Tommy Bolin Thomas Richard Bolin (August 1, 1951 – December 4, 1976) was an American guitarist and songwriter who played with Zephyr (from 1969 to 1971), The James Gang (from 1973 to 1974), and Deep Purple (from 1975 to 1976), in addition to maintaining ...

* '' Teaser'' (1975) With

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

* '' Let's Dance'' (1983) * ''

Tonight Tonight may refer to: Television * ''Tonight'' (1957 TV programme), a 1957–1965 British current events television programme hosted by Cliff Michelmore that was broadcast on BBC * ''Tonight'' (1975 TV programme), a 1975–1979 British current ...

'' (1984) With

The Brecker Brothers The Brecker Brothers were a jazz fusion music duo consisting of siblings Michael and Randy. Michael played saxophone, flute, and EWI, and Randy played trumpet and flugelhorn. The brothers attended Cheltenham High School in Wyncote, Pennsylv ...

* '' Back to Back'' (1976) * '' Don’t Stop the Music'' (1977) * '' Straphangin''' (1981) With Paul Carrack * '' Groove Approved'' (1989) With

Chic Chic (; ), meaning "stylish" or "smart", is an element of fashion. It was originally a French word. Pronounced Chick. Etymology '' Chic'' is a French word, established in English since at least the 1870s. Early references in English diction ...

* ''

'' (1977) * '' C'est Chic'' (1978) * '' Risqué'' (1979) * ''

Real People ''Real People'' is an American reality television series that originally aired on NBC from 1979 to 1984, Wednesdays from 8 pm to 9pm Eastern Time. Its initial episodes aired live in the Eastern and Central time zones. ''Real People'' featured "r ...

'' (1980) * '' Take It Off'' (1981) * '' Tongue in Chic'' (1982) With Joe Cocker * '' Unchain My Heart'' (1987) With

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of musi ...

* '' The Man with the Horn'' (1981) With

Joey DeFrancesco Joey DeFrancesco (April 10, 1971August 25, 2022) was an American jazz organist, trumpeter, saxophonist, and occasional singer. He released more than 30 albums under his own name, and recorded extensively as a sideman with such leading jazz perfo ...

* '' Where Were You?'' (1990) * '' In the Key of the Universe'' (2019) With

Al Foster Aloysius Tyrone Foster (born January 18, 1943) is an American jazz drummer. Foster's professional career began in the mid-60s, when he played and recorded with hard bop and swing musicians including Blue Mitchell and Illinois Jacquet. Foster ...

* ''Mr. Foster'' (1979) With Hiroshi Fukumura * ''Hot Shot'' (1985) With Bee Gees * '' E.S.P.'' (1987) With

Debbie Gibson Deborah Ann Gibson (born August 31, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Gibson released her debut album '' Out of the Blue'' in 1987, which spawned several international hits, later being certified triple plati ...

* '' Body, Mind, Soul'' (1993) With

Dave Grusin Robert David "Dave" Grusin (born June 26, 1934) is an American composer, arranger, producer, jazz pianist, and band leader. He has composed many scores for feature films and television, and has won numerous awards for his soundtrack and record w ...

* ''West Side Story'' (1997) With Gwen Guthrie * ''Just for You'' (1985) With Daryl Hall & John Oates * '' Ooh Yeah!'' (1988) With Major Harris * ''How Do You Take Your Love'' (1978) With Debbie Harry * ''

KooKoo ''KooKoo'' is the debut solo album by American singer Debbie Harry, released on July 27, 1981, by Chrysalis Records. Produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic, the album was recorded whilst Harry took a break from her band Blondie. I ...

'' (1981) With Nicole Henry * '' The Very Thought of You'' (2008) With

Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed " The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston i ...

* ''

Whitney Whitney may refer to: Film and television * ''Whitney'' (2015 film), a Whitney Houston biopic starring Yaya DaCosta * ''Whitney'' (2018 film), a documentary about Whitney Houston * ''Whitney'' (TV series), an American sitcom that premiered i ...

'' (1987) With Grayson Hugh * ''Road to Freedom'' (1992) With

Etta Jones Etta Jones (November 25, 1928 – October 16, 2001) was an American jazz singer. Her best-known recordings are "Don't Go to Strangers" and "Save Your Love for Me". She worked with Buddy Johnson, Oliver Nelson, Earl Hines, Barney Bigard, Gene A ...

* '' Christmas with Etta Jones'' (1990) * ''

Reverse the Charges ''Reverse the Charges'' is an album by vocalist Etta Jones which was recorded in 1991 and 1992 and released on the Muse label.Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English singer and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the lead vocalist and one of the founder members of the rock band the Rolling Stones. His ongoing songwriting partnershi ...

* ''

She's the Boss ''She's the Boss'' is the debut solo album by English singer Mick Jagger, released in 1985. When Jagger's group The Rolling Stones signed with Columbia/CBS Records in 1983, one of the options available to them was for individual projects, an ...

'' (1985) With

France Joli France Joli () (born February 2, 1963) is a Canadian singer, best known for the disco classics " Come to Me" and "Gonna Get Over You". Teen stardom Born France Joly in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Joli grew up in Dorion. Her father was a hardwa ...

* '' Now!'' (1982) With

Stanley Jordan Stanley Jordan (born July 31, 1959) is an American jazz guitarist noted for his playing technique, which involves tapping his fingers on the fretboard of the guitar with both hands. Music career Jordan was born in Chicago, Illinois, United St ...

* '' Magic Touch'' (1985) With Chaka Khan * '' Naughty'' (1980) * '' Chaka Khan'' (1982) With

Ben E. King Benjamin Earl King (né Nelson; September 28, 1938 – April 30, 2015) was an American soul and R&B singer and record producer. He is best known as the singer and co-composer of " Stand by Me"—a US Top 10 hit, both in 1961 and later ...

* '' Music Trance'' (1980) With Carole King * '' City Streets'' (1989) With

Earl Klugh Earl Klugh ( ; born September 16, 1953) is an American acoustic guitarist and composer. He has won one Grammy award and thirteen nominations. Klugh was awarded the “1977” Best Recording Award For Performance and Sound” for his album “Fin ...

* ''

Wishful Thinking Wishful thinking is the formation of beliefs based on what might be pleasing to imagine, rather than on evidence, rationality, or reality. It is a product of resolving conflicts between belief and desire. Methodologies to examine wishful thin ...

'' (1986) With

Melissa Manchester Melissa Manchester (born February 15, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Since the 1970s, her songs have been carried by adult contemporary radio stations. She has also appeared on television, in films, and on stage. Early l ...

* '' Hey Ricky'' (1982) With

Herbie Mann Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 – July 1, 2003), known by his stage name Herbie Mann, was an American jazz flute player and important early practitioner of world music. Early in his career, he also played tenor saxophone and clarinet (inclu ...

* ''Peace Pieces - The Music of Bill Evans'' (1995) With

Jay McShann James Columbus "Jay" McShann (January 12, 1916 – December 7, 2006) was an American jazz pianist, vocalist, composer, and bandleader. He led bands in Kansas City, Missouri, that included Charlie Parker, Bernard Anderson, Walter Brown, and B ...

* '' The Big Apple Bash'' (1979) With Bette Midler * ''

Thighs and Whispers ''Thighs and Whispers'' is the fifth studio album by American singer Bette Midler. Released in 1979, the album reached #65 on the ''Billboard'' Pop Albums chart. Production and release The album was largely disco-influenced. It saw Midler reunite ...

'' (1979) With Stephanie Mills * '' Tantalizingly Hot'' (1982) With Charles Mingus * ''Me, Myself an Eye'' (1979) Mingus does not play on this posthumous recording With Bob Mintzer Big Band * ''Departure'' (1993) With

Yoko Ono Yoko Ono ( ; ja, 小野洋子, Ono Yōko, usually spelled in katakana ; born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking. Ono grew up i ...

* ''

It's Alright (I See Rainbows) ''It's Alright (I See Rainbows)'' is the sixth solo album by Yoko Ono, and her second release after the death of husband John Lennon. As a variation of a theme concerning its predecessor, the back cover features a transparent image of Lennon in a ...

'' (1982) With Jimmy Ponder * '' Come On Down'' (1991) With Sonny Rollins * ''Road Shows, Vol. 1'' (2008) * ''Road Shows, Vol. 2'' (2011) * ''Road Shows, Vol. 3'' (2014) With David Lee Roth * '' Crazy from the Heat'' (1985) * ''

Eat 'Em and Smile ''Eat 'Em and Smile'' is the debut studio album by former Van Halen singer David Lee Roth, released on July 7, 1986, after his unpredicted successful debut EP ''Crazy from the Heat'' (1985). History After releasing ''Crazy from the Heat'', an ...

'' (1986) * '' Skyscraper'' (1988) With Diana Ross * '' The Boss'' (1979) * '' Red Hot Rhythm & Blues'' (1987) With

Leo Sayer Gerard Hugh "Leo" Sayer (born 21 May 1948) is an English-Australian singer and songwriter whose singing career has spanned five decades. He has been an Australian citizen and resident since 2009. Sayer launched his career in the United Kingdom ...

* ''

World Radio ''World Radio'' is the ninth album by the English singer-songwriter, Leo Sayer, and was released in April 1982. It was (including the greatest hits compilation album, '' The Very Best of Leo Sayer'') his tenth successive Top 50 chart entry in ...

'' (1982) With

John Scofield John Scofield (born December 26, 1951), sometimes referred to as "Sco", is an American guitarist and composer whose music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention in th ...

* '' Who's Who?'' (1979) With Sister Sledge * '' We Are Family'' (1979) With

Patti Smith Patricia Lee Smith (born December 30, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, poet, painter and author who became an influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album ''Horses''. Called the "punk poet ...

* '' Dream of Life'' (1988) With Spyro Gyra * '' Three Wishes'' (1992) With Billy Squier * '' Tell the Truth'' (1993) With Candi Staton * ''Candi Staton'' (1980) With Peter Tosh * '' Mystic Man'' (1979) With Luther Vandross * '' Forever, for Always, for Love'' (1982) With Narada Michael Walden * '' Garden of Love Light'' (1976) * '' I Cry, I Smile'' (1977) With Dionne Warwick * '' How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye'' (1983) With

Steven Van Zandt Steven Van Zandt (né Lento; born November 22, 1950), also known as Little Steven or Miami Steve, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. He is a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, in which he plays guitar and mandoli ...

* '' Men Without Women'' (1982)

References

External links

* www.SammyFigueroa.com
All About Jazz article

Sammy Figueroa discography and album reviews, credits & releases
at

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 databa ...

Sammy Figueroa discography, album releases & credits
at

Sammy Figueroa albums to be listened
as stream on

Spotify Spotify (; ) is a proprietary Swedish audio streaming and media services provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. It is one of the largest music streaming service providers, with over 456 million monthly active us ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Figueroa, Sammy American jazz drummers American jazz percussionists Latin jazz percussionists Living people Musicians from New York City People from the Bronx Jazz musicians from New York (state) 1948 births