
WILLIAM CORREA, better known as WILLIE BOBO, was a consummate percussionist, drummer, vocalist, and showman. He was born to Puerto Rican parents on February 28, 1934, in Spanish Harlem and influenced by a broad variety of music, including Latin rhythms, Jazz, Blues, and R&B.
His first gig was as a band boy with the legendary Cuban bandleader, Frank “Machito” Grillo, and The Afro-Cubans. Shortly after that, he appeared as a sideman on pianist George Shearing’s, The Shearing Spell (1955).
At fourteen, he gravitated to the bongos, congas, timbales, and trap drums and studied under the legendary master Cuban percussionist, Mongo Santamaria. “Willie was mesmerized by Mongo,” says writer, historian Max Salazar, “Mongo took him on as a student and taught him everything about the drums.”
In 1954, Santamaria convinced Tito Puente to hire Bobo and replace Manny Oquendo on bongos. According to Joe Conzo Sr., “There was a bit of a rivalry between them,” but Puente grudgingly conceded, “He was a guy who could go toe to toe with me and not even blink.”

Willie’s Spanish Grease album is as great now as it was when recorded in 1965. I’ve written about it here: https://www.ctproduced.com/spanish-grease/
Thanks for the background details. ++Mark.
Thanks for this. FYI – Bobo was not Cuban. He was born and raised in Spanish Harlem and was bilingual.
Thanks for the correction, I completely misunderstood the relationship with Mongo Santamaria and not sure why I got his birthplace wrong since it’s completely spelt out in his obit.
I’ve added a correction and given credit at the end. Thank you.
You’re welcome. Check the spelling of Bobo’s last name.