Mañenguito, Maestro de la Conga

Giovanni Hidalgo a.k.a. "Mañenguito" is an Puerto Rican educator and master percussionist.  His grandfather had also been a musician as well as his father, José Manuel Hidalgo "Mañengue", who was a renowned conga player. Therefore, Hidalgo was raised in a household surrounded by drums, bongos, congas and timbales.   He received a conga for his eighth birthday which had been handmade by his father. As a young child he practiced and developed his speed and playing skills on the conga and on the other instruments in his house.

Conga solo by Giovanni Hidalgo at the University of Southern Florida in Tampa, on November 5, 2007.