Machito

Francisco 'Machito' Grillo was born in Tampa, Florida, on February 16 1912 (some sources claim the Maria district in Havana to be his birthplace). He was certainly raised in Cuba, where he came to be inspired by the sounds of the Orquesta Aragon and El Sexteto Habanera to pursue a career as a vocalist and maracas player. In 1926, Machito's sister Graciela facilitated an introduction to the clarinettist and saxophonist Mario Bauza at the Havana Municipal Conservatory of Music. Bauza and Machito eventually became lifelong friends and moved to Manhattan, New York, where they played music for several Latin-style dance bands, including La Estrella Habanera. In 1940, Machito left Alberto Iznaga's 'La Siboney' to form his own big band, the Afro-Cubans. A year later, he was able to entice Bauza to leave his chair as first trumpeter with Cab Calloway's orchestra to join him as musical director and principal arranger. Tito Puente and legendary conga player Chano Pozo (1915-48), respectively, pla