Cándido Camero

Cuban percussionist who plays fundamentally congas and bongó. He came to the United States at age 25 and soon began playing with Jazz Master Billy Taylor. In the early 50s, he worked with Dizzy Gillespie and was a soloist with Stan Kenton's big band, with which he toured the country playing three congas, at a time when others played only one, in addition to güiro. He created a unique style by turning his congas to obtain specific notes.

Candido Camero started at the age of 4 playing the bongó; later his father taught him to play the tres cubano, an instrument that would later serve him to accompany greats like Ramon "Mongo" Santamaria and Luciano "Chano" Pozo.

Candido Camero began his professional career at age 14 and in a very curious way he recalls how his father would smell his hands to know if he had been smoking or drinking "I don't smoke and I don't drink because I feel that I have talent and all I have to do is show it"

Candido started playing congas in 1940 with Jazz bands in Havana achieving many successes and recognition.

Candido moved to the United States in 1946 when he accompanied a Cuban dance group on tour; the group was made up of Carmen and Rolando, two professional dancers, who had a tour through the United States, but did not have enough money to bring the bongocero and conguero they needed; and that is how Candido decides to play both instruments simultaneously. Success was not long in coming because for the public that was something new, unusual and it was also the first time a musician played congas and bongos simultaneously.

During this period Candido manages to adapt a second conga to his set, thus becoming the first percussionist to use more than one conga. The appearance of a third conga goes back to the year 1950 when Candido feels the need to play entire melodies with his congas.

Now at 90 years old and with more than 70 years of artistic career, Candido Camero was the protagonist of a documentary about his life and the history of Afro-Cuban Jazz around him. The documentary producer, Ivan Acosta, comments that the documentary included images from Candido's early stages to his most recent work.

Candido Camero has shared the stage with greats such as:
Machito, Billy Taylor, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, George Shearing, Stan Kenton, Fania All Stars, Quincy Jones, Charlie Mingus, Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, Tito Puente, Chico O'Farrill, Sonny Rollins, Coleman Hawkins, Celia Cruz, Patato, Mongo Santamaria and many more.

Candido Camero Discography

Candido Calipso Dance Party ABC - Paramount, 1957
Candido the Volcanic ABC - Paramount, 1957
Candido In Indigo ABC - Paramount, 1958
Latin Fire ABC - Paramount, 1959
Conga Soul Roulette Records, 1962
Candido's Comparsa ABC - Paramount, 1963
Candido ABC - Paramount, 1965
Beautiful Blue Note, 1970
Candido 1000 finger man Solid State, 1970
Brujerías de Candido Tico Records, 1971
Candido Drum Fever Polydor LP, 1973
Dancin and Pracin Saulsoul,1979
Candi's Funk Saulsoul, 1979
Jingo Saulsoul, 1983
The Conga Kings 2000

With Sonny Rollins

* What's New?

With Bennie Green

* Bennie Green Blows His Horn (1955)

With Grant Green

* His Majesty King Funk (1965)
* Bumpin' (1965)

With Elvin Jones

* Poly-Currents (Blue Note, 1969)
* Coalition (Blue Note, 1970)

With Wynton Kelly

* It's All Right! (1964)

With Ellen McIlwaine

* Honky Tonk Angel (1972)
* We the People (1973)