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Omelenko1 wrote:What "hangnailrumbero", (Ricky), is relating about Mongo's congas is true. Luis "El Pincho" , Ricky's father, was a dear friend of Mongo. Mongo gave his personal Meinl congas to Luis to give to Ricky, I was there when it happened. Mongo was impressed with Ricky's playing ability, at the time Ricky was a teen but he could kick butt on the skins. Mongo had already suffered his first stroke and was not active anymore. According to the Meinl rep that presented those congas to Mongo, he stated that the wood used to build them had been at the bottom of a lake in Austria for over 30 years and that it underwent a curing process. Mongo had a document to that effect.
A few days after Mongo gave the congas to Ricky, I had Mongo at my house and I did a rumba tribute to him, with all of Miami's best rumberos. I have a video of the event. I need someone with knowledge to post it on "youtube". Shortly after that, Mongo presented me with his 1954 Vergara bongo' , who Mongo had given to Willie Bobo when they were both part of Tito Puente's rhytm section. In a 1982 reunion with Cal Tjader, Willie, who had been diagnosed with cancer, gave back the Cuban Vergara to Mongo.

Enclosed photo of Mongo and myself at the rumba tribute in my house, December 28th 2002. Mongo died shortly on Feb, 1st, 2003. Mongo with Cuban Vergara bongo'. VIVA MONGO! Sofrito Na' Ma'.

Dario

mongo y dario.jpg

Mongo en bongo Vergara.jpg

Dario

hangnailrumbero wrote:Hello Forum.....The drums I have for sale are of extreme value to me, but I am going through some tough times in life, and my family is needing my help more than ever.........SO.........What for sale is 2 Meinl Woodcraft Congas(conga and Tumba) that were given to me by Mongo Santamaria himself, on Christmas of 2002. My father was close to Mongo and is a close friend of Dario aka Omelenko. I had a pair of JCR congas at the time that were egging on me, and my father asked Mongo if he knew of anyone that could repair them......Mongo asked, who was it for, and my father said for his son...me. From my father's version of the story, Mongo went to his room, got some keys, proceeded to a storage room where he asked my dad to follow, and told my dad to grab these two drums. When I recieved these drums, I can't tell you what went through me.....It was if like A spirit came inside me and was guiding me to the drum for a Life endeavor. I have not lost focus from that point on of what I am going to do with my Life. But......I am in this crazy world we live in, and I am in need now, which I am sure Mongo would understand.

I am open to offers.....please no low ballers, if Mongo gave you a set of his drums and you "HAD" to sell them, what would be your price. Thank you and Be Blessed

P.S. These drums are on Mongo's album that goes by the name of "Soy Yo"....front cover that is.
P.S.S. Dario aka Omelenko can be of reference and vouch for me of the history of these drums and who gave them to me and when.....cause he was also there that day Mongo gave the drums to my father. I later saw Mongo about 3 days later at Dario's house por una Rumba que tiramos pa' el Maestro. Thank you again dario....I Loved the garbanzos con Langosta that I tried later at my dad's. Deeelisshh