Jose Mangual Sr. (March 18, 1924 - September 4, 1998) was a Puerto Rican percussionist world renowned for his bongo drum performances and recordings during the 1940s and 1950s with groups such as Machito Orchestra, Charlie Parker, Buddy Rich, Flip Philips, Abbie Lane and Nancy Ames.

[8][circular reference] In the 1950s Mangual played with the godfather of modern-day salsa Arsenio Rodriguez and with Latin jazz pioneer Cal Tjader.

[9] Thereafter Mangual joined Erroll Gardner's band with whom he traveled the world, playing jazz for international audiences.

During this time he also performed and recorded with Cannonball Adderley, Sarah Vaughn and Herbie Mann.

During the mid-1950s and 60s, Mangual appeared on numerous albums including Count Basie's 'April in Paris' (1955), Miles Davis' 'Sketches of Spain' (1959] in which he played castanets, Dizzy Gillespie's 'Talkin' Verve' (1957), Tito Puente's 'Babarabatiri' (1951), Willie Bobo's 'Spanish Grease' (1965), Gato Barbieri's 'Viva Emiliano Zapata' (1974), as well as on multiple Charlie Parker's compilations.