Master Cuban Conguero 'Modesto Duran' with his band the "Charanga Kings" with 'Olguita' on vocals. 1961 / "Pachanga, Anyone?" World Pacific 1414Has been re-issued on CD several years ago..
One of the great conga players, Modesto Duran performed on many key recordings by top stars and orchestra leaders. His few records as a leader prove him to be very capable in that capacity, and it is a shame he was not "discovered" and recorded more. Hailing from the old section of Havana, he first started there with the Gilberto Valdes Orchestra. During 12 years in Mexico, he played with most other orchestras, including those of Esquivel, Luis Arcaraz, Armengol, and Marroquin. He travelled with Maria Antonietta Pons for seven years before becoming the backbone of the Perez Prado organization. Although Perez Prado once claimed there was no real difference between the cha cha cha and mambo, it was Duran's three-count beat that gave mambo a unique identity and changed the face of Latin music. Moving with Perez Prado to the U.S. in 1953, he worked with Sonny Burke, Don Swan and Russ Garcia, as well as singers Eartha Kitt, the DeCastros,Lena Horne , Herb Jeffries, and Harry Belafonte. That's Duran on Belafonte's famous, first Calypso album. A musician's musician, Duran had tremendous influence on other conga players and Latin aficionados, mainly by being on all the right albums at the right time. ~ Tony Wilds, All Music Guide
Modestos "Fabulous Rhytms" LP
Long out of print and obscure.
One of the great conga players, Modesto Duran performed on many key recordings by top stars and orchestra leaders. His few records as a leader prove him to be very capable in that capacity, and it is a shame he was not "discovered" and recorded more. Hailing from the old section of Havana, he first started there with the Gilberto Valdes Orchestra. During 12 years in Mexico, he played with most other orchestras, including those of Esquivel, Luis Arcaraz, Armengol, and Marroquin. He travelled with Maria Antonietta Pons for seven years before becoming the backbone of the Perez Prado organization. Although Perez Prado once claimed there was no real difference between the cha cha cha and mambo, it was Duran's three-count beat that gave mambo a unique identity and changed the face of Latin music. Moving with Perez Prado to the U.S. in 1953, he worked with Sonny Burke, Don Swan and Russ Garcia, as well as singers Eartha Kitt, the DeCastros,
Modestos "Fabulous Rhytms" LPLong out of print and obscure.
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