Raymundo "Ray" Barretto Pagán (April 29, 1929 – February 17, 2006) was an American percussionist and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent.

His first hit, "El Watusi", was recorded by his Charanga Moderna in 1962, becoming the most successful pachanga song in the United States.

His father left their family when Barretto was four, and his mother Delores moved the family to first Spanish Harlem (El Barrio) on NYC's East Side then at the age of 7 to the Bronx[2][3][4].From a young age he was influenced by his mother's love of music and by the jazz of Duke Ellington and Count Basie.

[5][6][7] Barretto was not able to escape racial discrimination while stationed in Germany, which led him to a nightclub that was welcoming to black servicemen.

[3] In 1949, when Barretto returned home from military service, he started to visit clubs and participated in jam sessions, where he perfected his conga playing.

On his album El Ray Criollo, Barretto explored the modern Latin sounds of New York, combining features of charanga and conjunto to birth a new style which would later be known as salsa.

"Cocinando," a track from the album, opened the soundtrack of the Fania All Stars film Our Latin Thing in which Barretto had a role.

After a number of successful albums, and just as his Afro-Cuban band had attained a remarkable following, most of its members left it to form Típica 73, a multinational salsa conglomerate.

The series of departures left Barretto depressed and disappointed with salsa; he then redirected his efforts to jazz, while remaining as musical director of the Fania All Stars.

[5][6][7] In 1990, Barretto won his only Grammy, in the Tropical Music category, for the album Ritmo en el corazón ("Rhythm in the Heart"), a collaboration featuring the vocals of Celia Cruz and Adalberto Santiago.

[5][6][7] With New World Spirit With Gene Ammons With Kenny Burrell With Celia Cruz With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis With Lou Donaldson With Jimmy Forrest With Eddie Harris With Yusef Lateef With Johnny Lytle With Herbie Mann With Johnny "Hammond" Smith With Sonny Stitt With Cal Tjader With others