JOSÉ MANGUAL JR.

The son of the innovative and pioneering bongo musician of the Machito Orchestra, José Mangual Sr., also known worldwide as “Buyú”, José Jr. was born and raised in East Harlem, the Spanish Quarter of New York City known as “El Barrio”. By the age of fifteen, José Jr. was already playing in local groups. In 1968, Mangual Jr. was invited to play bongos and sing background vocals for a fledgling orchestra led by a young man named Willie Colón. The lead vocalist for this group was also a young singer named Hector Lavoe. Along with his perennial rhythm section "compadre", legendary percussionist Milton Cardona, Mangual would become a part of history, as they made some of the most important recordings in the annals of salsa music. Mangual Jr. showed his skill as a composer, author, and lead vocalist with Colón's orchestra. With Kent Gomez in 1973, Mangual co-authored the song “San Miguel” read more...