Tribute to a True Legend: Manny Oquendo

Another legend of our music has departed this earth. Manny Oquendo was a veteran persussionist and leader of Libre, one of the greatest and most influential groups in the history of latin music. He was aknowledged in the industry as the Elderstatesman of New York latin percussionists. I quote from the liner notes of an instructional album entitled Understanding Latin Rythms: "his timing is impeccable, his taste unquestioned and his left hand-LEGENDARY." That pretty much describes what Oquendo brought to the table and he parlayed those attributes into live and recorded performances with giants in music from Johnny Pacheco to Sarah Vaughn, culminating in the establishment of Libre,a band that became a musical factory producing stars like Jimmy Bosch, Nestor Torres, Oscar Hernandez, Herman Olivera and Frankie Vasquez.

Oquendo played an important role in the musical evolution of Eddie Palmieri and Tito Rodriguez. As music collector and journalist Felipe Luciano related, when Manny came on board as Tito's bongocero, he elevated the band to a different plane- not an easy task for a player of a "minor" percussion instrument. He turned Eddie on to the glory of Cuban music, urging him to listen to such piano virtuosos as Lili Martinez who played with Arsenio Rodriguez and Felix Chappottin, and the wonderful Lino Frias, pianist of the immortal Sonora Matancera.
In a career spanning seven decades, Oquendo's vast knowledge and mastery of Cuban rythms on the bongos and timbales made him an indispensable commodity as a drummer/guru/advisor to young aspiring musicians, and established stars alike.

Even at his advanced age, Manny was still playing occasionally, and still kicking ass on those drums, refusing to retire completely, still fighting until the end, ever the warrior, ever the champion. Farewell, master! You now join Chano, Mongo, Tito, Buyu, Ray, Tata and Patato in that great Rumba in heaven.