Francisco Aguabella, Cuban-born American jazz percussionist, died of cancer, he was 84

Francisco Aguabella was an Afro-Cuban jazz percussionist whose career began in the 1950s.

(October 10, 1925 – May 7, 2010)

Aguabella was born in Matanzas, Cuba. In the 1950s, he left Cuba to perform with Katherine Dunham in the Shelley Winters film Mambo filmed in Italy. After touring with Katherine Dunham he came to the United States and performed and toured with Peggy Lee for the next seven years. He performed in Europe, Australia, South America, and all over the United States (including the White House). Francisco enjoyed an extensive music performing and recording career and delighted many audiences with his masterful and powerful rhythms.

Francisco performed with many great Jazz artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Frank Sinatra, Eddie Palmieri, Cachao, Lalo Schifrin, Cal Tjader, Nancy Wilson, Poncho Sanchez, Bebo Valdes and numerous others. Francisco was honored to receive numerous awards including the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Durfee Foundation's Master Musicians' Fellowship, and recognition by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. He is featured in the documentary, "Sworn to the Drum" by filmmaker Les Blank, and is featured in a documentary, "Aguabella," currently in production, directed by actor/filmmaker Orestes Matacena (The Mask, Bitter Sugar). He has also appeared with his ensemble on television programs including the Orlando Jones Show on FX.

During the 1970s he was a member of the Jorge Santana Latin rock band Malo. ^[1] Francisco was a widely recognized master conguero and bata artist, a caring and knowledgeable instructor. In 1992 he won a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. He lived in Los Angeles, California where he taught Afro-Cuban drumming to undergraduate and graduate students at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Aguabella died in Los Angeles on May 7, 2010 of a cancer-related illness.^[2]

Discography

As leader

• 1977: Hitting Hard (Epsilon)
• 1993: Oriza: Santeria Religion Afrocubana (Cubop/Ubiquity Records)
• 1999: Agua de Cuba (Cubop)
• 1999: H2O (Cubop)
• 2002: Cubacan (Cubop)
• 2002: Cantos a los Orishas (Pimienta Records)
• 2004: Ochimini (Cubop)

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