Changuito

José Luis Quintana (January 18, 1948 – June 6, 2025) was a Cuban percussionist.

Background Changuito was born in Casablanca, Cuba on January 18, 1948. As a child, he played professionally in bands such as Havana Jazz (joining aged 8), with his musician father, and with La Pandilla de los Cabezas de Perros. This was his first recording in the United States, and it highlighted many aspects of his playing overlooked in his Van Van recordings. He also played on a recording with Greg Landau, accompanying Puerto Rican poet Piri Thomas, along with Patato and Orestes. He also contributed to recordings by Hilario Durán.

Changuito taught other notable percussionists including Giovanni Hidalgo, Karl Perazzo (of Santana), and Ginaski Wop (member of Bardamu project).

Changuito died on June 6, 2025, at the age of 77.

"Changuito special" While Changuito held the timbales chair in Los Van Van in the 1970s, he popularized the technique of simultaneously playing timbales and bongó bell parts (previously introduced elsewhere by New York City-based drummers/timbaleros like Jimmy 'La Vaca' Santiago with La Playa Sextet and the José Curbelo Orchestra). This was done following the elimination of the bongó player, who would normally play the bongó bell (cencerro) in the montuno (vamp) sections of songs in Cuban-based dance music. The example below shows the combined bell patterns (written in a 2-3 clave sequence).

Selected discography Cal Tjader - Cal Tjader Plays The Contemporary Music Of Mexico And Brasil Flora Purim - Speed of Light Orestes Vilató, Changuito, Patato - Ritmo Y Candela: Rhythm at the Crossroads Juan Formell and Los Van Van - De Cuba Fourth World (Airto Moreira and Flora Purim) - Last Journey Changuito / Cándido Fabré / Tiburon - El Muso Y Su Sonora Maraca - Descarga Total Airto Moreira - Homeless Brice Wassy - Shrine Dance Clave Y Guaguanco with Celeste Mendoza and Changuito - Noche De La Rumba Changuito - Syncopation Kysha25 (from Italy) LP Culebras - in the song Ambatula Maraca - Tremenda Rumba! Giraldo Piloto - Klimax Diego el Cigala and Bebo Valdés - Lagrimas Negras Kysha25 (from Italy) - LP Farandula Changuito - Telegrafias Sin Hilo