Tata Guines dies, aged 77

By Chris Barnes
published

Cuban percussionist Tata Guines has died in Havana at the age of 77 after suffering from a kidney infection.

Guines, real name Federico Aristides Soto, was dubbed 'King Of The Congas' and over a sixty year career performed with the likes of Josephine Baker, Dizzy Gillespie and Frank Sinatra. Despite this success in the US, he returned to Cuba following Castro's 1959 revolution because he found he couldn't get used to the racial segregation in America at that time.

"Fame did not extend beyond the stage," he said in a recent interview: "Once you left the stage, it was like the signs said: 'Whites only'".

Rhythm extends its condolences to his friends and family.

Chris Barnes
Chris Barnes

I'm MusicRadar's eCommerce Editor. In addition to testing the latest music gear, with a particular focus on electronic drums, it's my job to manage the 300+ buyer's guides on MusicRadar and help musicians find the right gear for them at the best prices. I dabble with guitar, but my main instrument is the drums, which I have been playing for 24 years. I've been a part of the music gear industry for 20 years, including 7 years as Editor of the UK's best-selling drum magazine Rhythm, and 5 years as a freelance music writer, during which time I worked with the world's biggest instrument brands including Roland, Boss, Laney and Natal.