"Questions, Questions..."

A series of interviews with the members of The Latin Jazz Discussion List.
All the questions were submitted by other members of the group, their peers.
Each artist was given a number of questions with the option of answering as
many as they wished. Further discussion with the artist in this forum is
invited...

Johnny Conga
Congas, Miami, Florida

Website:
http://www.floridagrooves.com/Jazz/Players/Johnny_Conga/johnny_conga.html

CD: "Caribe Madness"

Q: Tell us a little about your childhood-where you were born and raised?"

I was born in Brooklyn NY in 1948, to an Italian mother and a Cuban
father. At the age of 2 the family moved to Yonkers, NY, where I lived until
the age of 9, then we moved to The Bronx. That's when my life changed
forever.

Q: "Who was the most influential person in your life that affected you,and
your decision to become an artist?"

The most influential person in my life was my mother. She, in her time,
was what used to be called back then a Lounge or Cabaret singer. She always
nurtured my desire to either act or play music,and taught me how to sing, I
just don't have the voice....

Q: "When did you first fall in love with Latin music-or-when did you first
choose Latin music as a career path? Can you remember which band or artist
turned you on?

I first fell in love with Latin music at a very early age. My father,
being Cuban, had an extensive collection of Cuban music and my mom had the
Jazz. I first made a career decision in my living room in the Bronx, when I
married my congas,at the age of 15. the artists that turned me on are too
numerous to mention here, but I did listen to a lot of Los Papines,
Guaguanco Mantanzero, Beny More, and of course my mentor, Mongo Santamaria.

Q: "At what hour of the day are you most productive and why?"

Being productive, for me, has no time of day to speak of. My musical
consciousness is alive and kicking every waking moment. Walking down the
street,I might pick up a melody from a bird and go home and try to play it
out, and that could be any time of the day or night....

Q: "Are you a songwriter"?

No. I consider myself a poet, but I did recently write a song for my
wife that I might even try to sing on my next CD, ha ha ha......

Q: "What kinds of things do you do to inspire your writing"?

I don't do anything in particular that inspires me to compose. If a
melody comes to me, say while I'm watching TV, I'll go and play it on my
vibes and record it and go back to it later. I kinda let the melody linger
to see where it will take me, if it needs to be expanded on or left as is.
Some things I believe, are divine intervention..

Q: "What things do you practice day to day?"

My practicing consists of rudiments on congas and practicing scales on
the vibes,in different modes. I'm still young on the instrument.

Q: "What are your priorities when you go to the stage?"

My priorities are to give the best showing of myself, and the band, to
the people. My school is that people come first, and then you. I play for
the people.....

Q: "How do you see yourself in relation to the "tradition"?"

I see myself in the tradition,as a mentor to younger musicians and
educator. My teachers passed the "tradition" down to me from their
mentors,so I must do the same,to keep it alive.

Q: "What music do you listen to when you are relaxing?"

First, I listen to all types of music to relax to, but I listen to the
music in my head. I know that may sound a bit weird or something but my head
is my library, it's where I keep all my records, which I have put to memory.
My favorite, of course is Latin-Jazz and afro-Caribbean drumming.

Q: "Give us a mental image of your favorite view in the world".

Sitting on top of a mountain,overlooking a valley,and playing my
congas...

Q: "What does the music you play do for you
emotionally,spiritually,socially,whichever-other-ly?"

What music has always done for me is give me peace of mind. I find
solace in my playing and recognize the gift God gave me. It's what heals me
and keeps me strong.

Q: "What changes or landmarks in your life can you attribute to the music
you play?"

I have been through too many changes and landmarks to pick any
particular situation, but maybe the time I say Mongo and his band in 1967 at
Carnegie Hall, with Hubert Laws, Marty Sheller, Bobby Capers, and Carmelo
Garcia. I've never been the same since...

Q: "When the music is at it's best in your opinion, what is it that's
happening (to make it the best) and what do you feel?"

When the music is feeling it's best is when the hair on my arms stand
up with the hair on my neck.

 

Q: "What one CD or record of someone else's would you keep if all others
were forever lost?"

I don't collect CD's. I have a few. I collect vinyl, so I would have to
say Mongos DEMO record from 1952 on the SMC label.

Q: Name an All-Star band of your favorite musicians (and arrangers) or one
band for each.

All-Star band UH!..ok here goes

Eddie Palmieri---piano
Cachao-----------bass
Mongo Santamaria-congas
Willie Bobo------timbales
Tony Fuentes-----bongo
Jose Lozano------flute
Doc Cheatham-----trumpet
Chapparo---------trumpet
Barry Rogers-----trombone
Juan Pablo Torres - trombone
Mario Rivera-----tenor sax
Bobby Porcelli---alto sax

Q: "What musicians would you most like to play with,now living on earth or
elsewhere?"

I would have loved to play with the musicians above and Cal Tjader. I
have worked with Willie, Mongo, Jose L. Juan P, and Chapparo.

Q: "Are critics important? Or do you rather see your music reviewed in the
vanity press?"

I am my own worst critic,but they are kinda necessary,for a different
perspective. Vanity? That word is not in my musical vocabulary.

Q: "Do you believe in music as art, as opposed to a product for
merchandising?"

Music is art and science,artistic in sound and science in it's math.
There will always be people making money off others.

Q: "Would you still be a musician even if that means you'll die of hunger?"

I have been a musician for 35 years and have even suffered
homelessness, but it never deterred me, not even when I was in the military
68-71.

Q: "If you had to choose a short segment (a few bars) from your work to
represent you, which would it be.

From my CD "Caribe Madness".

Q: "What food would you liken your music to?"

Spaghetti with Black Beans......

Q: "Do you believe in Aliens?"

Yes I do. I have seen a mother ship and her scouts. 1968 in South
Carolina at Ft. Jackson.

Credits:
Allan Johnston - format questions
Eliseo Cardona - translations

Lea esta entrevista en Español visite www.anapapaya.com