by Muata » Tue Jun 10, 2003 7:46 pm
Hello and Respect to all the Congueros and aspiring Congueros, such as myself. Because of my recent move, I haven't checked out the site in a while, but after catching up, I can't help but to think how awesome this site is for someone wanting to learn how to play the congas.
OK, I'm new to this whole "trying to be a congeuro" scene, but I've started to notice that a lot of the music I grew up listening to used congas, which I'd never paid attention to before. I guess what I've been enjoying is listening to the conga playing in various Motown artists (Marvin Gaye especially), James Brown, Commodores, and other groups from the 70s. What I find interesting is that these styles or patterns are hardly mentioned or discussed. Also, I've only seen one post, many moons ago, that was asking about conga playing in DC Go-Go music, which uses a mix of congitas with a conga and tumba.
While I realize that the conga was popularized in this country by way of Cuba and other Caribbean nations, I was just wondering why these previously mentioned styles are so overshadowed. Now, please don't take my post as a complaint because I can't imagine my life without guaguanco or the 6/8 cowbell; however, I was just wondering about this topic after seeing the documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown, which is a must see by the way, and listening to James Brown's "Super Bad" yesterday.
Thanks in advance for you posts and the positive energy that I get every time I read the posts. Is it me or am I the only one who feels like going and playing after visiting this site?
One Love,
Muata