Watermelon Man

Mongo Santamaría

About Watermelon Man

"Watermelon Man" is a jazz standard written by Herbie Hancock for his debut album, Takin' Off (1962). Hancock's first version was released as a grooving hard bop record, and featured improvisations by Freddie Hubbard and Dexter Gordon. A single reached the Top 100 of the pop chart. Cuban percussionist Mongo Santamaría released the tune as a Latin pop single and it became a surprise hit, reaching No. 10 on the pop chart. Santamaría's recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. Hancock radically re-worked the tune, combining elements of funk, for the album Head Hunters (1973). 


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2013
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Mongo Santamaría

Ramón "Mongo" Santamaría Rodríguez (April 7, 1917, in Havana, Cuba – February 1, 2003 in Miami, Florida) was a rumba quinto master and an Afro-Cuban Latin jazz percussionist. He is most famous for being the composer of the jazz standard "Afro Blue," recorded by John Coltrane among others. In 1950 he moved to New York where he played with Perez Prado, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Fania All Stars, etc. He was an integral figure in the fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms with R&B and soul, paving the way for the boogaloo era of the late 1960s. His 1963 hit rendition of Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. more »

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Written by: Herbie Hancock

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Tratore

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


16 facts about this song

Genre Classification
"Watermelon Man" is classified under the Afro-Cuban jazz or Latin jazz genre.
Release Date
The song was first released by Mongo Santamaría in 1963.
Original Composition
The song was originally composed by Herbie Hancock. However, it got its fame from Mongo Santamaría's cover.
Inspirational Origin
The song was inspired by a watermelon vendor from Hancock's childhood in Chicago.
Chart Success
"Watermelon Man" made it into the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, a significant achievement for a jazz song.
Grammy Nominations
The song was nominated for a Grammy in the 'Best Rhythm & Blues Recording' category in 1963.
Album Inclusion
"Watermelon Man" was included in the album 'Watermelon Man' by Mongo Santamaría.
Influential Cover
Mongo Santamaría's cover of "Watermelon Man" influenced Herbie Hancock to venture more into jazz fusion.
Cultural Impact
The song has been covered by dozens of artists and remains a standard in both jazz and pop music.
Film Appearance
"Watermelon Man" was featured in the 2004 film, "Million Dollar Baby."
Musical Structure
The song is known for its catchy, bluesy melody and its use of African-Cuban rhythm.
Various Versions
Herbie Hancock remade the song for his 1973 album "Head Hunters," in a synth funk style, proving the song's adaptability across different genres.
Signature Song
Despite Santamaría's extensive discography, "Watermelon Man" is often considered his signature song.
Live Performances
The tune remains a popular choice for Hancock in his live performances, often with innovative improvisations.
Important Collaboration
The Santamaria version added a bridge section composed by trumpet player Donald Byrd.
Use in Dance
Besides being popular in musical circles, the song is also commonly used in dance performance and competitions, particularly in Latin dance genres like salsa and mambo.

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