Ramón "Mongo" Santamaría Rodríguez (April 7, 1917 – February 1, 2003) was a Cuban percussionist and bandleader who spent most of his career in the United States.

Primarily a conga drummer, Santamaría was a leading figure in the pachanga and boogaloo dance crazes of the 1960s.

His biggest hit was his rendition of Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man", which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.

He then learned the bongos from Clemente "Chicho" Piquero and toured with various successful bands such as the Lecuona Cuban Boys and Sonora Matancera.

[1] In 1950, he moved to New York City, where he became Tito Puente's conguero and in 1957 he joined Cal Tjader's band.

He then became a pioneer of boogaloo with "Watermelon Man" and later signed record deals with Columbia, Atlantic and Fania.

He collaborated with salsa artists and became a member of the Fania All-Stars, often showcasing his conga solos against Ray Barretto.

[3] Santamaría was mentored on bongos and congas by Clemente "Chicho" Piquero, who played in Beny Moré's band.

Santamaría's albums tended to list the personnel and their instruments, and record buyers came to know other Cuban rumberos, such as Armando Peraza, Francisco Aguabella, Julito Collazo, Carlos Vidal Bolado, Modesto Duran and Pablo Mozo.

The 10 inch 33 1/3 rpm phonorecord Afro-Cuban Drums by Santamaría was recorded in SMC's New York City studios on November 3, 1952.

In 1959 Santamaría recorded "Afro Blue," the first jazz standard built upon a typical African 3:2 cross-rhythm, or hemiola.

[10] In late 1962 Chick Corea had given notice and Santamaría needed a pianist to fill in for the upcoming weekend gigs.

Anyway, during one of the intermissions, Donald had a conversation with Mongo, something about, "What are the examples of the common thread between Afro-Cuban or Afro-Latin music and African-American jazz?"

[11]The sudden success of the song (which Mongo Santamaria recorded on December 17, 1962) propelled Santamaría into his niche of blending Afro-Cuban and African American music.