Chano Pozo

Luciano Pozo González, better known as Chano Pozo (January 7, 1915 in Havana - December 3, 1948 in New York City) was an Afro-Cuban jazz percussionist, singer, dancer and composer who played a major role in the founding of Latin jazz. Though he died young of unnatural causes, no discussion of Latin jazz is complete without mentioning his name and no discussion of the trumpet giant Dizzy Gillespie, the godfather of Latin jazz in the U.S., can begin without the name of Pozo, who was the first in a long line of Latin percussionists in Dizzy's various bands. Dizzy's dozens of Latin-flavored compositions, including the hit song "Manteca" and "Tin Tin Deo" (both co-written by Pozo), "Fiesta Mojo" and others - have Afro-Cuban drumming derived from the ritual rhythms of West Africa as their rhythmic backbones. Despite a short stint in Dizzy's band abbreviated by Chano's early death, Pozo's influence could be felt in Dizzy's playing and compositions for decades, which Dizzy acknowledged without hesitation. percussionist. To survive the racial marginalization he faced in Cuba, he began work cleaning shoes and selling newspapers. His made his first performances as a dancer in a Havana troupe known as "The Dandy". His brother was the famous Cuban trumpeter Felix Chapotín.

He worked as a partner at the radio station Cadena Azul, where he met Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, and the latter was involved with helping him launch "Manteca," a hit with the Cuban population. He became the first musician to incorporate Afro-Cuban rhythms into American jazz and is considered to have been one of the founders of Latin jazz.

In 1942 he emigrated to the United States in search for better career prospects. It was in Chicago where he joined the "Jack Cole Dancers". Chano Pozo left his mark in New York to open the Latin club "Blem Blem", located in the central Palladium on Broadway. The club was named after one of his hit songs.