Dandy's LP Signature Bongos
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 2:18 pmDandy has been the most prominent bongocero for the past 30 years. Mongo used to tell me, "when Puente comes to Miami go and seat in the front row in front of Dandy and just assimilate his style and approach". I did that everytime Puente played South Florida. I must have listen to "Te Traigo Mi Son" and "Cocinando", Barretto's tunes that feature incredible bongo solos by Dandy, about 500 times, I wore out the albums.
I think a Dandy signature bongo by LP should have taken place 30 years earlier, but I'm glad it has finally come. Dandy knew Mongo since he was an infant, as his dad (Johnny La Vaca) and Mongo were great friends, he had Mongo's Vergara as a screen saver in his computer for years ( the photo from my pool). He approached LP research group with photos of Mongo's Vergara, he also wanted something of Valje ( Tom Flores) in them, as Dandy lived in L.A. as a teen and spent a great deal of time in Valje's worshop and owned several old Valje bongos. As a result of these sources, Mongo, Vergara and Valje is how Dandy's signature bongos came about. Macho 7", hembra 9" Vergara style shells with old Valje style hardware. Here is Mongo with his Vergara and his Vergara by the pool (notice the black band around the shells).
Dario
I think a Dandy signature bongo by LP should have taken place 30 years earlier, but I'm glad it has finally come. Dandy knew Mongo since he was an infant, as his dad (Johnny La Vaca) and Mongo were great friends, he had Mongo's Vergara as a screen saver in his computer for years ( the photo from my pool). He approached LP research group with photos of Mongo's Vergara, he also wanted something of Valje ( Tom Flores) in them, as Dandy lived in L.A. as a teen and spent a great deal of time in Valje's worshop and owned several old Valje bongos. As a result of these sources, Mongo, Vergara and Valje is how Dandy's signature bongos came about. Macho 7", hembra 9" Vergara style shells with old Valje style hardware. Here is Mongo with his Vergara and his Vergara by the pool (notice the black band around the shells).
Dario
I can see us talking and rumbiando for hours.