I AM ACCEPTING NEW PUPILS OF THE CONGA DRUM ..I CAN SAVE YOU YEARS OF LEARNING TIME AND GET U UP TO SPEED...email me at
johnnyconga@hotmail.com Also go to my CONGAZINE page here and read what others have said about their personal experiences with me, and learning from me...
Johnny Conga, a Volcano Percussion endorser, has been performing for 50 years, as a “multi-percussion-specialist”, in the Art of Afro-Cuban/Caribbean drumming and Latin Jazz music.
Creator of A Hand to Drum Productions/Online Learning LLC 2012
Some of the Artists that “JC” have worked with cover the gamut of “styles” in music. Here is a short list: Carlos Santana, Eddie Palmieri, Sergio Mendes & Brasil 77, Paquito D’Riviera, The Jackson 5, Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, Cerrone(France), Gloria Gaynor, Johnny Pacheco, Dave Valentine and over 100 other major artist’s in the United States and abroad. To date Johnny has been in 175 bands, over 200 recordings and has done 17 International tours, all around the world.
Please visit
http://www.facebook.com/JohnnyConga http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/johnnyconga My latest CD OYE!...
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/congajohnny also on Facebook, and his popular How to play the Conga drum videos on youtube.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/JohnnyConga Grammy Member (Pacific Northwest chapter)-Governor and “Latin-Rep” 2007-2011
Member of BMI as composer/arranger
Member of N.A.R.A.S. (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences)
Member of L.A.R.A.S. (Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences)
Member of Percussive Arts Society
Endorsed by Volcano Percussion
Dance Companies: Olatunji Drummers and Dancers-New York City 1965
Chuck Davis Afro-American Dance Co-New York City 1966-68 72
New York City Ballet Co.-1972
Mattie Lascoe Caribbean Splash-Los Angeles-1980
Miami City Ballet Co.-Miami,Fla.-1994-97
“Drummin”-Tania Leon-Miami/Hamburg Germany-1997
Released first CD 1994 called Johnny Conga & Caribe + Roots of Rhythm on Skyward records.
Http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/congajohnny Recognized by State of Florida as “Folklorist”-1997
Former P.A.C. E.(performing arts and cultural education) Artist for Dade County, Florida 1995
Recordings on Columbia-ABC-Polygram-Island-Roxbury-Skyward-Infinity-Cuni and many others.
Producers: George S Clinton- Cheech and Chong- Trevor Lawrence-John Arrias- Pete Moore(The Miracles), John Robinson, Ken Mansfield, Paul Dunlop, Steve and Nat Kipner.(short list).
Former Associate Professor at the University of Miami-Dept of Perc.-1990-92 under the auspices of Professor Fred Wickstrom. Miami Florida.
Education:
. Studied Djimbe and drum set at Jazzmobile-IS 201-NYCity, with Ritchie “Pablo” Landrum and Charlie Persip. Attended the East 3rd St. Music Settlement in 1972, and the Johnny Colon School of Music NYC. Studied timbales and bongos with Manny Oquendo and Nicky Marrero.
Studied with Ubaldo Nieto(Machito Orchestra drummer) reading for timbales
Attended Los Angeles Community College 1976-78 Liberal Arts program
48 years of performance in America and to over 50 countries around the world.
Since moving here in 2002 I have taught at the following Institutions:
Former Adjunct faculty at Shoreline Community College as the 'first' Latin Percussion course ever in any Community College in Seattle.
On staff at Cornish College of the Arts as ‘substitute’ since 2005 for the Latin ensemble for Jovino Santos Neto
Bellevue Community College Jazz Orchestra-workshop on Latin rhythms
Puget Sound Community College- Latin percussion workshop for Jazz ensemble with Dr. Chris Stover
Olympia Community College, Olympia WA.-substitute Instructor for percussion class
University of Washington-workshop on Afro-Cuban drumming and music with Teacher Michael Smolker
Formerly On staff at “Music Works” Northwest-Bellevue, Seattle-2002-2003
My syllabus includes the Cuban method of learning how to play the Conga drums and the multitude of rhythms and styles of Cuban music, African, Puerto Rican, Caribbean, and Brasilian.
What I teach is up to 100 Afro-Cuban/Caribbean rhythms and modern styles ex.Pop,Jazz,etc.