Willie Bobo


William Correa, better known by his stage name Willie Bobo, a Latin and jazz percussionist of Puerto Rican ancestry.

Early life and education

William Correa grew up in Spanish Harlem, New York City.

Career

Correa became a noted timbales performer in Latin Jazz, specifically Afro-Cuban jazz, in the 1960s and 1970s. He met Mongo Santamaría shortly after his arrival in New York and studied with him while acting as his translator, and later at the age of 19 joined Tito Puente for four years.
The nickname Bobo is said to have been originated by the jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams in the early 1950s.
Correa joined George Shearing's band on the album The Shearing Spell. After leaving Shearing, Cal Tjader asked Bobo and Santamaría to become part of the Cal Tjader Modern Mambo Quintet, who released several albums as the mambo craze reached fever pitch in the late 1950s. Reuniting with his mentor Santamaría in 1960, the pair released the album Sabroso! for the Fantasy label. Bobo later formed his own group, releasing Do That Thing/Guajira with Tico and Bobo's Beat and Let's Go Bobo for Roulette, without achieving huge penetration.
After the success of Tjader's Soul Sauce, in which he was heavily involved, Correa formed a new band with the backing of Verve Records, releasing Spanish Grease, the title track being perhaps his most well known tune. Highly successful at this attempt, Correa released a further six albums with Verve.
In the early 1970s, he moved to Los Angeles. He again met up with his longtime friend Richard Sanchez Sr. and his son Richard Jr. and began recording in the studio. Bobo then worked as a session musician for Carlos Santana among others, as well as being a regular in the band for Bill Cosby's variety show Cos. Santana covered Willie Bobo's Latin song "Evil Ways" in 1969 on their debut album. In the late 1970s, Bobo recorded albums for Blue Note and Columbia Records.

Personal life

His youngest son, Eric Bobo, is a percussionist with crew Cypress Hill. He also performed on the Beastie Boys' 1994 album Ill Communication, as well as doing the 1994 Lollapalooza tour with the group. His grandson, William Valen Correa, is co-founder of the music-based non-profit organization HNDP Los Angeles.
After a period of ill health, he died at the age of 49, succumbing to cancer.

Discography

As leader

With Nat Adderley
With Dorothy Ashby
With Bob Brookmeyer
With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
With Miles Davis
With Victor Feldman
With José Feliciano
With Benny Golson
With Dexter Gordon
With Grant Green
With Chico Hamilton
With Slide Hampton
With Herbie Hancock
With Eddie Harris
With Bobby Hutcherson
With Herbie Mann
With Les McCann
With Gary McFarland
With Buddy Miles
With Wes Montgomery
With Oliver Nelson
With Dave Pike
With Tito Puente
With Ike Quebec
With Terry Reid
With Dannie Richmond
With Charlie Rouse
With A. K. Salim
With Mongo Santamaria
With Doc Severinsen
With Sonny Stitt
With Gábor Szabó
With Clark Terry
With Cal Tjader
With Don Wilkerson