[1] Born in Lawton Batista, Havana, Cuba in 1924 (although the birth year is uncertain),[2] he was orphaned by age 7 and lived on the streets.

His music career began at seventeen when he heard at a baseball game that bandleader Alberto Ruiz was looking for a conga player.

After playing in Machito's big band, Peraza was invited by Charlie Parker to participate in a recording session that included Buddy Rich.

After a period in Mexico, where he recorded with Perez Prado and did some soundtracks for the Mexican movie industry, he returned to the U.S. and settled in San Francisco.

Armando also led an Afro-Cuban dance review at the Cable Car Village club[4] in San Francisco, attracting a clientele from Hollywood that included Errol Flynn, Marlon Brando, and Rita Hayworth.

In Miami during dates with Shearing and Peggy Lee in 1959, Peraza and black members of the band were prohibited from staying at the same hotel as the white musicians.

Although Peraza preferred being a featured performer to leading, he did record one solo album, Wild Thing (1968), for Skye, a label owned by Tjader, Gary McFarland, and Gábor Szabó.

Peraza remained with Carlos Santana for nearly twenty years and played to millions of people around the world, partnering with percussionists José Areas, Mingo Lewis, Raul Rekow, and Orestes Vilató.

In July 2006, Peraza, at 82 years of age, made a rare appearance with Santana for a three show performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

The tribute show was held at Bimbo's nightclub in San Francisco and was attended by Carlos Santana, who presented Peraza with an award.

Every January, the Voices of Latin Rock present the Armando Peraza Award for achievement in the San Francisco Bay Area.