Nicky Marrero Master timbalero and percussionist Nicky Marrero was ubiquitous during the 1970s New York salsa boom, playing and recording with Eddie Palmieri, Larry Harlow, Ismael Miranda, Típica Novel, Louie Cruz, Fania All Stars, Machito, and on, and on – not to mention Típica 73! One of the tightest rhythm guys ever, his style is a hybrid of the greats: Manny Oquendo, Tito Puente and Orestes Vilató. He is still mesmerizing on stage, whether playing Latin or straight jazz. His place in salsa history is secure and truly deserved. John Child and Ray Rosado speak to Nicky about his extensive career, stylistic contributions and innovations. The interview is followed by a selected discography of the Latin and jazz albums on which Nicky has performed. Videos: Credits: Year Album Artist Percussion, “Live” In Puerto Rico: 2012 Fania All-Stars Timbales, June 11, 1994 Timbalitos 2012 Latin Beat Jazz Heat Percussion 2011 Live in Africa Fania All-Stars Timbales Good King Bad/Benson & 2010 George Benson Percussion Farrell Year Album Artist Composer, Drums, Effects, Percussion, Ponte Duro: The Fania Timbales, 2010 Fania All-Stars All Stars Story Timbalitos, Vocals (Background), Whistle Soloist, 2009 San Juan 73 Fania All-Stars Timbales The Never Learned to Percussion, 2009 Dance: Anthology Harvey Averne Timbales 1967-1971 Soloist, Swanee Campeones: A Band and (Slide 2008 Fania All-Stars Their Music Whistle), Timbales NYC Salsa, Vol. 2: The 2008 Incendiary Sound of Composer Latin New York The Complete Studio 2008 Héctor Lavoe Timbales Albums, Vol. 1 To Be Free: The Nina 2008 Nina Simone Percussion Simone Story 2007 Back Hank Crawford Percussion Just Like a Woman: Main Personnel, 2007 Sings Classic Songs of Nina Simone Percussion the 1960s Larry Harlow and Latin Main Personnel, 2007 Larry Harlow Legends of Fania Percussion Year Album Artist Musician, Mambo Show: Serie 2007 Budda All Stars Percussion, Platino Timbales Soloist, 2007 The Player Willie Colón Timbales Bill Laswell and 2006 Bill Laswell Percussion Material 2006 Cali Concert [DVD] Fania All-Stars Guest Artist Main Personnel, El Prodigioso 50 Años 2006 Eddie Palmieri Soloist, del Maestro Timbales Nightlife/Essence of Benitez & 2006 Percussion Life Nebula Con Mucho Ritmo! The 2005 Timbales Very Best of Tropijazz Hot Sweat: The Best of 2005 Fania All-Stars Performer Fania All-Stars Live Bongos, 2005 Salsa en New York Sophy Percussion 2005 World on a String Dave Valentin Percussion CTI Master Collection, 2004 Percussion Vol. 2 2004 Live at Yankee Stadium Fania All-Stars Vocals Gaucho/Aja/Countdown 2003 Steely Dan Timbales to Ecstacy 2002 Mo Jimmy Sabater Timbales Que Pasa?: The Best of 2002 Fania All-Stars Timbales Fania All-Stars 2002 Weekend Special Brenda Fassie Timbales 2001 Matrix Dizzy Gillespie Timbales 2001 Tu Bien Lo Sabes Héctor Lavoe Timbales Year Album Artist 2000 Son de Melaza Grupo Caribe Timbales Afro-Cuban Grooves, 1999 Timbales Vol. 4 [Melodie] 1999 Encore La Charanga 76 Timbales 1999 Lo Que No Fue No Sera Rafael de Jesus Timbales Rhythm & Time: Global 1999 Percussion Percussion Songs 1998 Celluloid Funk Bongos Timbales, Unknown 1998 Live Chucho Valdés Contributor Role Live from Soundscape: 1998 Latin New York Bongos 1980-1983 1997 Best of Ellipsis Arts Percussion Cool Fever: From Disco 1997 Congas Jazz to Jazz House Fiesta Picante: The 1997 Latin Jazz Party Guiro, Timbales Collection Composer, 1997 Island Episode Houston Person Timbales Guataca, 1997 Latin Jazz Con Gusto Percussion, Timbales Nu Yorica 2!: Further Adventures in Latin 1997 Timbales Music Chango in the New World Year Album Artist Vanguard Collector’s 1997 Congas Edition Giants/Portrait of 1996 Dizzy Gillespie Timbales Jenny Primary Artist, 1996 La Conexion Conexion Latina Timbales Percussion, Nu Yorica! Culture 1996 Soloist, Clash in New York City Timbales United Nations of Timbales, 1996 Messidor Timpani 1995 Afro-Cuba Timbales Amor, Vida y 1995 Ismael Quintana Timbales Sentimiento 1995 Ismael Quintana Ismael Quintana Timbales Member of Attributed Artist, Percussion, Live: June 11-1994, Soloist, 1995 Fania All-Stars Puerto Rico Timbales, Timbalitos, Unknown Contributor Role 1994 Forever Mon Rivera Timbales The Big Bang: In the 1994 Percussion Beginning Was a Drum 1993 Citizen Steely Dan Steely Dan Timbales 1993 Fronteras de Sueno Mezcla Guiro, Musician Justo Timbales, 1993 Lo Sabemos Betancourt Whistle (Human) Year Album Artist 1993 Mambo 2000 Conexion Latina Timbales 1993 Saxofobia Plus Timbales Justo Main Personnel, 1992 Leguleya No Betancourt Timbales Kettle Drums, Justo 1992 Pa’ Bravo Yo Main Personnel, Betancourt Timbales The Anthology: Down in The Manhattan 1992 Timbales Birdland Transfer Bongos, Guiro, 1991 Afrodisiac Nueva Manteca Timbales Beyond the Groove: 1991 Contemporary Jazz on Percussion The Move Main Personnel, 1989 Guasasa Fania All-Stars Timbales Timbales, 1989 Live Session, Vol. 2 Steve Nelson Whistle (Human) Bells, Cowbell, 1989 Rendevous Jorge Dalto Timbales, Wood Block Bongos, 1989 Street Smart Eddie Gomez Timbales 1988 Bamboleo Fania All-Stars Timbales Percussion, 1988 Obatalá Jerry Gonzalez Timbales 1988 Trillium Bob Prester Percussion 1987 Arawe Daniel Ponce Timbales Year Album Artist Bells, Cowbell, Jamaaladeen Shaker, 1986 Music World Tacuma Shakuhachi, Timbales Homenaje a Beny More, Main Personnel, 1985 Celia Cruz Vol. 3 Timbales Guica, Jorge Dalto & Timbales, The 1985 Urban Oasis Unknown Interamerican Contributor Band Role 1984 Criollo Willie Colón Bongos 1984 Lo Que Pide La Gente Fania All-Stars Timbales Choir/Chorus, 1984 Masterpiece Patato Valdes Percussion, Timbales Main Personnel, 1984 Tiempo Pa’ Matar Willie Colón Percussion Performer, 1983 The Master Ismael Miranda Primary Artist, Timbales Bongos, 1982 Coup de Tête Kip Hanrahan Okonkolo, Percussion Drums, 1982 One Down Material Percussion Guataca, 1982 The River Is Deep Jerry Gonzalez Percussion, Timbales Chekere, 1982 Ya Yo Me Cure Jerry Gonzalez Guataca, Timbales Year Album Artist Bongos, 1982 Yo Soy Latino Larry Harlow Cencerro, Main Personnel 1981 GB George Benson Percussion Drums, Member 1981 Into the 80’s Tipica ’73 of Attributed Artist Tamboura, 1981 Latin Connection Fania All-Stars Timbales 1981 Our Latin Feeling Larry Harlow Bongos Unknown 1981 Social Change Fania All-Stars Contributor Role Main Personnel, 1981 ¡Que Sentimiento! Héctor Lavoe Timbales At Home/Around the Percussion, 1980 David Amram World Timbales Group Member, Member of 1980 California Jam Fania All-Stars Attributed Artist, Timbales Main Personnel, Charangueando Con La 1980 Tipica ’73 Tamboura, Tipica 73 Timba, Timbales Drum, Drums, 1980 Commitment Fania All-Stars Main Personnel, Timbales Dandy’s Dandy: A Latin Latin Composer, 1980 Affair Percussionists Timbales Year Album Artist Percussion, 1980 Gaucho Steely Dan Timbales, Vocals Las Tres Flautas: 1980 Johnny Pacheco Timbales Javier Y Su Charanga Main Personnel, Musician, 1979 Cross Over Fania All-Stars Performer, Primary Artist New York City 1979 New York City Band Percussion Band Tipica 73 en Cuba, 1979 Tipica ’73 Tamboura Intercambio Cultural 1978 Baltimore Nina Simone Percussion 1978 Boogie to the Top Idris Muhammad Percussion The Players Conductor, 1978 Born to Dance Association Congas 1978 It Don’t Mean a Thing Eddie Drennon Percussion 1978 Live in Africa Fania All-Stars Timbales, Tma 1978 Spanish Fever Fania All-Stars Timbales 1978 The Path Ralph MacDonald Percussion The Lebrón 1977 10th Anniversary Timbales Brothers The Average 1977 Benny & Us Percussion White Band Soloist, 1977 Fire Works Machito Timbales 1977 Metiendo Mano! Rubén Blades Timbales Drums, Main 1977 No Voy Al Festival Ismael Miranda Personnel, Timbales Year Album Artist 1977 Para Gozar Borinquen Tito Gomez Tma Composer, 1977 Rhythm Machine Fania All-Stars Soloist, Timbales 1977 Ringo the 4th Ringo Starr Percussion Latin 1977 The Fox Urbie Green Percussion, Percussion Bongos, Main 1977 Vamonos Pa’l Monte Eddie Palmieri Personnel, Timbales 1976 Benson & Farrell Joe Farrell Percussion The Manhattan Percussion, 1976 Coming Out Transfer Timbales 1976 Delicate and Jumpy Fania All-Stars Timbales Percussion, 1976 For All We Know Esther Phillips Timbales Executive 1976 Hank Crawford’s Back Hank Crawford Producer 1976 I Can See Ralfi Pagan Bongos Main Personnel, Live at Yankee 1976 Fania All-Stars Percussion, Stadium, Vol. 2 Timbales 1976 Ole! Belmonte Timbales Chivirico 1976 Para Mi Gente Drums, Timbales Davila 1976 Salsa Fania All-Stars Musician 1976 Shoogie Wanna Boogie David Matthews Guiro, Timbales 1976 Sound of a Drum Ralph MacDonald Percussion 1976 Tico Rico Hank Crawford Percussion Year Album Artist Tribute to Tito Bongos, Drums, 1976 Fania All-Stars Rodriguez Timbales 1975 Este Es Ismael Miranda Ismael Miranda Timbales Esther Phillips and 1975 Esther Phillips Percussion Joe Beck Main Personnel, 1975 La Voz Héctor Lavoe Timbales Member of Attributed Live at Yankee 1975 Fania All-Stars Artist, Stadium, Vol. 1 Percussion, Timbales Main Personnel, Percussion, 1974 Latin-Soul-Rock Fania All-Stars Soloist, Timbales Main Personnel, Orchestra 1974 Live in Quad Soloist, Harlow Timbales 1974 The Band Kept Playing Electric Flag Percussion Percussion, 1974 Unfinished Masterpiece Eddie Palmieri Timbales Bongos, Main 1973 Asi Se Compone un Son Ismael Miranda Personnel, Timbales Main Personnel, 1973 Felicidades Cheo Feliciano Timbales Live at the Cheetah, 1973 Fania All-Stars Percussion Vol. 2 Percussion, 1973 The Sun of Latin Music Eddie Palmieri Timbales Year Album Artist Clifford Percussion, 1972 Communications Network Thornton