Poncho Sánchez (born Ildefonso Sanchez,[1] October 30, 1951[citation needed]) is an American conguero (conga player), Latin jazz band leader, and salsa singer.

Sanchez has performed with artists including Cal Tjader, Mongo Santamaría, Hugh Masekela, Clare Fischer, and Tower of Power.

[2][3] The youngest of eleven children, Poncho Sanchez was born in Laredo, Texas and reared in Norwalk, California, while he attended Cerritos College.

[7] Seeing the young man's talent, Tjader hired Sanchez for a week before officially making him a full member of the ensemble.

[6] His 2005 CD, Do It!, features the funk band Tower of Power on two tracks, as well as South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela.