[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 15, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN RECOGNITION OF CANDIDO DE GUERRA CAMERO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 15, 2015

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the extraordinary 
achievements of the legendary percussionist and innovator of Afro-Cuban 
Jazz, Candido Camero. Popularly known as Candido, Mr. Camero has 
literally changed music on a world-wide scale. A jazz artist that has 
performed and recorded with a long list of distinguished figures across 
a dizzying array of genres, he holds the distinction of being the most 
recorded percussionist in the history of Jazz. ``Candido'' is truly the 
percussion colossus of Modern Jazz and popular music.
  On September 17, 2015, National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master 
Candido will be honored this year by the Congressional Black Caucus 
Foundation (CBCF) at the 30th Annual Jazz Forum and Concert, during the 
45th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC). Dubbed ``The Man with A 
Thousand Fingers,'' Candido was the first musician to play two or more 
congas simultaneously, while tuning the drums to add melodic interest 
to rhythmic complexity. His innovations paved the way for future 
percussionists in Latin jazz, pop, rock, mambo, salsa and world music. 
For his many contributions to the development of music, Candido is 
truly deserving of the 2015 CBCF Jazz Legacy Award.
  Candido de Guerra Camero was born on April 22nd, 1921 in Havana, 
Cuba. He started playing congas and bongos as a young child, and 
competed in neighborhood parades known as comparsas. His earliest gigs 
were with the CMQ Radio Orchestra for six years, and later with the 
famed Tropicana nightclub for eight years. In 1946 he appeared in a 
musical revue called Tidbits at the Plymouth Theater on Broadway, 
playing backup for the Cuban dance team, Carmen and Rolando. He made 
his first U.S. recording with the famed Afro-Cuban bandleader Machito 
in 1948 on the tune, El Rey Del Mambo, and worked with trumpeter Dizzy 
Gillespie to record three albums, Afro (1954), Gillespiana (1960) and 
The Melody Lingers On (1966). Candido also appeared on the Ed Sullivan 
and Jackie Gleason shows.
  Gillespie introduced Candido to legendary pianist, bandleader, 
composer and educator, Dr. Billy Taylor. He played with Taylor from 
1953 to 1954. They recorded The Billy Trio with Candido: A seminal, 
Latin jazz LP which spotlighted Camero's amazing and revolutionary 
conga and bongo playing. Dr. Taylor wrote that, ``he had not heard 
anyone who even approaches the wonderful balance between jazz and Cuban 
elements that Candido demonstrates.'' Candido also worked and recorded 
with Stan Kenton, Tito Puente, Grant Green, Elvin Jones, Wes 
Montgomery, Tony Bennett, Art Blakey and Randy Weston. In 1979, Candido 
wrote ``Jingo'' for the West African percussionist Olatunji and his 
Dancin' and Prancin' LP for the Salsoul Latin-disco label.
  Candido recorded over fifteen recordings as a leader, including ``The 
Volcanic'' (1956), ``Conga Soul'' (1962), ``Thousand Finger Man'' 
(1969), ``Brujerias de Candido: Candido's Latin McGuffa's Dust'' 
(1971), ``The Conga Kings,'' with percussionists Giovanni Hidalgo and 
Patato Valdes (2000), and ``The Master'' (2014). He was named an NEA 
Jazz Master in 2008, and was featured in the 2009 PBS documentary, 
Latin Music USA.
  Candido Camero is a living national jazz treasure, and I encourage my 
colleagues to honor his tremendous contributions to Jazz.

                          ____________________