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JC - Johnny Conga

Artist and Musician

JC - Johnny Conga I'm "JC" Johnny Conga and I was the Conga drummer for Gloria Gaynor from 1974 to 1976 with the City Lights Band...you can see me with Gloria in three videos from those days on my site at http://www.myspace.com/jcjohnnyconga.

I traveled the Disco world with her and this is way before "I Will Survive." Her hits at the time were "Casanova Brown," "Do it Yourself" and "Never Can Say Goodbye" written by Clifton Davis. I worked with Meco Menardo, Jay Ellis and Norby Walters back then. I am also looking for the videos of us on the 1974 show Don Kirshners Rock Concert series, Cousin Brucie's Disco Special 1975, and the Soap Factory shows. Does anyone have any of these available for sale?

I have been a working musician now for 45 years and have worked with over 100 major artists like: Sergio Mendes, The Jackson 5, Paquito D'rivera, Juan Pablo Torres, Gloria Gaynor, Dave Valentin, Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, El Chicano, and many others. I still travel, record and now put to my teachings what is called "neuro linguistic programming" with my "congarobics(tm)" methods on the conga drum. I have been teaching now for over 20 years, and teach the methods as they are taught today in Cuba, on the conga drum, as well as my own.

I have taught at:
University of Miami Dept. of Percussion
Cornish College of the Arts-Seattle, WA
Pacific Lutheran University-Olympia, WA
Music Works Northwest-Bellevue, WA

I have worked as a "Folklorist" in Los Angeles County School district Dade County, Florida; Seattle, WA. I have also worked as a "dance musician" for the New York City Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Chuck Davis Afro American Dance Co. Olatunji drummers and dancers Mattie Lascoe Afro-Haitian Dance Co.

Photos below:
Description: JC Johnny Conga on the road with Gloria Gaynor... second photo was Disco Night at Madison Square Garden where we headlined for the evening. It was GREAT!