Candido Camero

One of the great Cuban conga players and percussionists to come in the wake of Chano Pozo, he has been a constant source of authentic Afro-Cuban rhythms since his arrival in the early ‘50’s.

Born Candido Camera, 22 April 1921, Havana, Cuba, with no formal musical training, Candido is largely self taught. He originally started playing on bass and guitar, and later began playing bongos and conga drums. He was with Station CMQ Radio Havana for six years, after which, in 1947 to 1952, he worked with Armando Romue at the Tropicana Club in Havana, Cuba. In Oct. 1952, he emigrated to the USA, and after a six week engagement at the Clover Club in Miami (with the 'Night In Havana' show), he traveled to NYC.

There, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie took him to the Downbeat Club on New York's famed 52nd Street where he sat in with pianist Billy Taylor's group, and worked for the next year with Taylor. The fall of 1954 found him touring with Stan Kenton's band. During 1956-57, he free-lanced in NYC, and was back playing with Dizzy Gillespie's combo in 1958.

Subsequently, Candido was often seen on TV and in nightclubs, both in the US and in Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. He has recorded with a great many big names in jazz, pop and Latin fields including Shearing, Kenton, Gillespie, Dinah Washington, Tito Puente, Machito.

He put out three albums under his own name on ABC-Paramount in the late 1950s, playing alongside Dick Hyman, and had later albums on Solid State (mid-1960s), Blue Note (1970), and Polydor (1973). He signed on with the Salsoul label and put out two for them including the 1982 “Jingo,” which was a dancehall hit worldwide. He collaborated with Patato Valdes and Giovanni Hidalgo for the 2000 outing of “The Conga Kings.” This is Candido playing with two other conga masters and the results are excellent, highly recommended for percussion fans.

Now in his eighties, elder statesman Candido Camero shows no sign of slowing down. His touch on congas is sure, his time is solid, his sound is uniquely his own, and his execution is as nimble as that of a man half his age. Heralded as the father of the technique of coordinated independence, Candido has further accomplishments. For one, he pioneered the use of two congas and later three, whereas in past congueros were content with a single drum. Source: James Nadal

Candido: Fountain of Youth

by AAJ Staff
December 22, 2008

By Bobby Sanabria At the youthful age of 87, NEA Jazz Master Candido Camero has indeed led a full life with no signs of slowing down. While still maintaining a busy schedule of performing and traveling, “The Man of a Thousand Fingers" is still wowing audiences the world over as a shining example of youthful vigor, excellence and originality. In fact, there isn't a conga player today that doesn't play something that Candido didn't do first. His innovations ...

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Album Review

C: Inolvidable

Read "Inolvidable" reviewed by Javier AQ Ortiz

by Javier AQ Ortiz
May 10, 2004

In 1997, when Steve Turré released his self-titled production for Verve, Graciela Pérez interpreted José Antonio Méndez's bolero “Ayer lo vi llorar. At the time, I wondered why Graciela's yumminess wasn't featured more often as it was obvious there was plenty of feeling and interpretive capacity left in her vocal chords in spite of her advanced age. Seven years later, even at 88 years of age, she's still very sabrosa or swingly tasty, as evidenced in Chesky Records' standard laden ...

122

Album Review

Candido: Thousand Finger Man

Read "Thousand Finger Man" reviewed by Jim Santella

by Jim Santella
March 1, 2000

The late 1960s and early 1970s introduced changes to jazz as well as to all of music. Pop organ and whacka-whacka electric guitar sounds invaded the studio when Candido recorded these sessions in September 1969. This reissue with Dr. Billy Taylor’s original liner notes only measures 38 minutes in length, but its value lies in the quality; not its running time. So play it twice. Highly recommended, Thousand Finger Man is a pop album with spirit, musical accuracy and excellent ...

Obituary

Cándido Camero (1921-2020)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
November 13, 2020

Cándido Camero, a conga and bongo player who moved to New York from Cuba in 1946 and wound up recording on hundreds of jazz, Latin and disco albums, died November 7. He was 99. Cándido's arrival coincided with a wave of Cuban and Puerto Rican immigration. Quotas were eased to take the stress off sagging economies in the Caribbean and prevent the onset of Communism. With the arrival of musicians, Latin music and instruments entered the pop mainstream. Taking hold ...
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Video / DVD

Weekly Latin Jazz Video Fix: Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Candido Camero, and Ray Barretto

Source: The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz
April 22, 2011

Percussion sits at the heart and soul of Latin Jazz, providing the music's cultural lifeline and rhythmic vitality. The use of percussion certainly sets Latin Jazz apart from straight ahead jazz, but it is so much more than a simple novelty. Embedded in each hit of the drum is a cultural legacy, associated with centuries of social development. When that deep legacy blends with the rich cultural history of the African American experience through jazz, miracles can happen. Percussionists are ...
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Award / Grant

Candido Camero Has Been Named an NEA Jazz Master

Source: All About Jazz
October 5, 2007

Los Angeles, CA - Emerson Bran Management is proud to announce that legendary Cuban American percussionist, Mr. Candido Camero, has been named an National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master. Mr. Camero will receive a $25,000 fellowship, will appear in an award ceremony and concert on January 12, 2008, and have the opportunity to participate in other NEA-sponsored promotional and performance activities. “I am delighted to announce the outstanding artists of the class of 2008," said NEA Chairman Dana Gioia. ...
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Book / Magazine

Traps Covers It All: Third Issue Features Unpublished Material on John Bonham Plus Soul-Jazz Pioneer Idris Muhammad and Conga Legend Candido Camero

Source: All About Jazz
July 21, 2007

Enter Music Publishing, publishers of diverse, drum/percussion magazines worldwide, has released Traps Issue Three, its first rock cover story, on Zepellin's John Bonham. Brilliantly organized into eight “chapters" by Traps editor, Andy Doerschuk, this 25-page tribute to Bonzo is proof once again that Traps is committed to its editorial mission: covering 'The Art of Druming" in unique, creative ways, whether it's jazz, rock or somewhere in between.

As previously announced in “Traps Swings To Success", the magazine's premiere issue was ...
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154

Event

Legendary Afro-Cuban Percussionist Francisco Aguabella Debuts at SOBs September 10 featuring Candido Camero

Source: All About Jazz
September 2, 2006

“The legendary Cuban-born percussionist Francisco Aguabella certainly doesn't have anything left to prove. After pioneering the mixture of Afro-Cuban rhythms and jazz with a handful of others from the 1950s on, his legacy would be assured"--MIAMI NEW TIMES

New York, NY (PRWEB) August 9, 2006 -- Legendary Afro-Cuban percussionist Francisco Aguabella will make his debut at New York's famed SOB's located at 204 Varick Street September 10. This rare event, produced by impresario Charles Carlini, will feature some of New ...
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167

Education

Percussion Legend Candido Camero Conducts Clinic Crafters Master Class at Blue Note April 2

Source: All About Jazz
March 30, 2005

"Let your talent hit the rafters...get yourself to Clinic Crafters." - Jim Hall

From the audience, a great performance comes across like a seamless miracle. If you could get the performer's commentary on what he does, though, you'd learn that each combines theory, technique and tricks of the trade with his talent in a totally individual way - and that's what students and fans have the opportunity to discover in an intimate series of workshops scheduled at Blue Note, 131 ...
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