Poncho Sanchez
Poncho Sánchez (born Ildefonso Sanchez, October 30, 1951) is an American conguero (conga player), Latin jazz band leader, and salsa singer. In 2000, he and his ensemble won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album for their work on the Concord Picante album Latin Soul. Sanchez has performed with artists including Cal Tjader, Mongo Santamaría, Hugh Masekela, Clare Fischer, and Tower of Power.
Poncho Sanchez
Jeff Dunn from St. Clair Shores, MI, USA · Jazz Cruise 2014 - Day 2 610 · CC BY 2.0
- Name
- Poncho Sánchez
- Birth Name
- Ildephonso Sanchez
- Born
- 30 October 1951
- Birthplace
- Laredo, Texas, U.S.
- Occupation
- * Musician
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- jazz
- Education
- Cerritos College
- Honours
- Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
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Documentary summary
Poncho Sánchez (born Ildefonso Sanchez, October 30, 1951) is an American conguero (conga player), Latin jazz band leader, and salsa singer. In 2000, he and his ensemble won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album for their work on the Concord Picante album Latin Soul. Sanchez has performed with artists including Cal Tjader, Mongo Santamaría, Hugh Masekela, Clare Fischer, and Tower of Power.
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Poncho Sanchez (born 1951) is a bandleader, conductor and musician, among other activities, of American nationality. The bandleader was born in Laredo. Poncho Sanchez was educated at Cerritos College.
The work spans jazz. Honours include Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Poncho Sánchez • Birth Name — Ildephonso Sanchez • Born — 30 October 1951 • Birthplace — Laredo, Texas, U.S. • Instrument — * Conga • vocals • timbales • percussion • Genre — * Jazz • Latin • Latin jazz • Occupation — * Musician • arranger • composer • record producer • Years Active — 1975–present • Label — * Concord Records • Universal
Early life
Early life
The youngest of eleven children, Poncho Sanchez was born in Laredo, Texas and reared in Norwalk, California, while he attended Cerritos College. Growing up, he was exposed to and influenced by two different styles of music: Afro-Cuban music (mambo, son, cha-cha, rumba, guaracha, and Changui) by Tito Puente and others, and bebop jazz, including the works of Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. Originally a guitarist, he discovered his talent for singing during an audition for the R&B band The Halos that rehearsed across the street from his residence. Sanchez became the lead vocalist of The Halos, and would go on to teach himself the flute, the drums, and timbales before finally deciding in high school to pursue conga drumming above all. Sanchez has released dozens of LP and CD albums.
Career
Career
In 1975, Sanchez's idol, vibraphonist Cal Tjader, invited him to perform a set with his band. Seeing the young man's talent, Tjader hired Sanchez for a week before officially making him a full member of the ensemble. Sanchez played a crucial role as conguero for several years until Tjader's death in 1982. Before he died, Tjader suggested that Concord Records founder Carl Jefferson sign Sanchez and his soon-to-be-formed group under the Concord Picante label. Tjader's wishes were honored, and the first two records were composed and arranged by long-time Tjader collaborator Clare Fischer. Sanchez went on to produce 19 albums for the label, eventually garnering a Grammy for his work. AllMusic described Sanchez as "among the most influential percussionists in jazz." He has been performing frequently in venues varying in size from concert halls to local jazz festivals. His 2005 CD, Do It!, features the funk band Tower of Power on two tracks, as well as South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. Sanchez is a frequent collaborator with bandleader José Rizo. He played conga on the Grammy-nominated album Mongorama produced by Rizo. Sanchez was featured on Ilya Serov's single "Tangerine", released on January 9, 2018.
Discography
• Poncho (Discovery DS 799, 1979) • Straight Ahead (Discovery DS 813, 1980) • Salsa Picante [by Clare Fischer] (Discovery DS 817, 1980) • Machaca [by Clare Fischer & Salsa Picante] (Discovery DS 835, 1981] • 2+2 [with Clare Fischer & Salsa Picante] (Pausa PR 7086, 1981) • Sonando (Concord Picante, 1983) • Bien Sabroso (Concord Picante, 1984) • El Conguero (Concord Picante, 1985) • Gaviota (Discovery DSCD 930, 1980 [rel. 1986]) with Clare Fischer • Papa Gato (Concord Picante, 1987) • ¡Fuerte! (Concord Picante, 1988) • La Familia (Concord Picante, 1989) • Chile Con Soul (Concord Picante, 1990) with Tito Puente • Cambios (Concord Picante, 1991) with Freddie Hubbard • A Night at Kimball's East (Concord Picante, 1991) • El Mejor (Concord Picante, 1992) • Bailar: A Night With Poncho Sanchez Live (Concord Picante, 1990 [rel. 1993]) • Para Todos (Concord Picante, 1994) • Soul Sauce: Memories Of Cal Tjader (Concord Picante, 1995) • Baila Mi Gente: Salsa! (Concord Picante, 1996) compilation • Conga Blue (Concord Picante, 1996) • Freedom Sound (Concord Picante, 1997) with Wilton Felder, Wayne Henderson • Poncho Sanchez: The Concord Jazz Heritage Series (Concord Jazz, 1998) compilation • Afro-Cuban Fantasy (Concord Picante, 1998) with Dianne Reeves • Latin Soul (Concord Picante, 1999) • Soul of the Conga (Concord Picante, 2000) • Latin Spirits (Concord Picante, 2001) with Dale Spalding • Ultimate Latin Dance Party (Concord Picante, 2002) 2-CD compilation • Out of Sight! (Concord Picante, 2003) with Ray Charles • Poncho at Montreux [live] (Silverline/Immergent, 2004) • Instant Party (Concord Picante, 2004) compilation • Do It! (Concord Picante, 2005) with Hugh Masekela, Tower Of Power • Raise Your Hand (Concord Picante, 2007) • Psychedelic Blues (Concord Picante, 2009) • Chano y Dizzy! (Concord Picante, 2011) with Terence Blanchard • Live in Hollywood (Concord Picante, 2012) • Trane's Delight (Concord Picante, 2019) • Live at the Belly Up Tavern (PS Productions, 2023 [rel. 2025]) With Benny Golson • Killer Joe (Columbia, 1977) With Woody Herman • Woody's Gold Star (Concord, 1987) With Art Pepper • Tokyo Debut [live] (Galaxy, 1977 [rel. 1995]) With Cal Tjader • Grace Cathedral Concert (Fantasy, 1976) • Guarabe (Fantasy, 1977) • Here [live] (Galaxy, 1977 [rel. 1979]) • Cuban Fantasy [live] (Fantasy, 1977 [rel. 2003]) • Huracán (Crystal Clear, 1978; reissue: Laserlight, 1990) • La Onda Va Bien (Concord Picante, 1979) • Gózame! Pero Ya (Concord Picante, 1980) • A Fuego Vivo (Concord Picante, 1981) • Heat Wave (Concord Jazz, 1982) with Carmen McRae • Good Vibes (Concord Picante, 1981 [rel. 1984]) • Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival 1958–1980 (Concord Jazz, 2008) With Ilya Serov • Back In Time (featuring Poncho on "Tangerine") (Silky Sound, 2018)
Los Angeles based musician, Poncho Sanchez in his studio. "Fans tell me nobody plays as strong as we do, and that pleases me," Poncho Sanchez says.
Lori Shepler, Los Angeles Times
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Poncho Sanchez”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1377199: Poncho Sanchez
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Varela, Chuy. A master percussionist tries his hand at new beat. Sfgate.com. January 10, 2005.
- 2.Poncho Sanchez | Biography & History. AllMusic.
- 3.Peña, Tomas. A Conversation with Percussionist, Bandleader Poncho Sanchez. Latinjazznet.com. 2010-04-11.
- 4.Varela, Jesse. Poncho Sanchez: Straight Up. Jazztimes.com.
- 5.Poncho Sanchez. Telluride Jazz Festival.
- 6.Poncho Sanchez - DRUMMERWORLD. Drummerworld.com.
- 7.Gama, Raul da. Poncho Sánchez and His Latin Jazz Band: Live in Hollywood. Latinjazznet.com. 2013-11-18.
- 8.Poncho Sanchez. Concord.com.
- 9.Poncho Sanchez. Grammy.com. 2019-06-04.
- 10.Poncho Sanchez Biography & History. AllMusic.
- 11.Navas, Danilo. Presenting José Rizo's Mongorama. Latinjazznet.com. 2011-06-29.
- 12.Rising Jazz Star Ilya Serov Releases Vibrant Video for "Tangerine," Second Single From His Upcoming "Back In Time" Album. Jazzcorner.com.
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