464 - Yamil Conga: Playing with Artist Frank Ray, Diversifying your Portfolio, The Origin of the Conga in American music

Working Drummer

Yamil Conga is a percussionist and drummer with over 20 years of experience playing a vast array of musical genres in live venues, music videos and in the studio. A native of Puerto Rico and a current resident of Nashville, Yamil has benefitted from a vast array of musical influences. Salsa runs in Yamil’s blood due to his father, singer songwriter, Eladio Jimenez, who wrote and produced for several Latin giants. Knowing that music has no boundaries, Yamil’s mission is to make people fall in love with the art of live performance and foster a new generation of percussionists.

Yamil tours nationally and internationally bringing educational lectures on the conga drum and salsa music. He is currently the percussionist and DJ for Country artist Frank Ray. Yamil rounds out his calendar performing with corporate bands as well as performing as a soloist as a drumming DJ.

In this episode, Yamil talks about:

• Diversifying your "portfolio”
• Being proactive with your daily activities
• The evolution of the drumming/DJ thing
• Playing with artist Frank Ray
• Lecturing on the origin of the conga in American music
• The influence of his father’s legacy
• Percussion advice for drum set players