Giovanni Hidalgo – born November 22, 1963 in San Juan, Puerto Rico – is a Latin
Jazz percussionist, who is also known by his nickname Mañenguito. Hidalgo was
raised in a musical household - his father, José Manuel Hidalgo, was a
well-known conga player known as Mañengue. When he turned 8, he received a
handmade conga from his father and practiced at home, developing his skills on a
variety of instruments. He joined the Batacumbele Band in 1980, touring Cuba
with them the following year. While there, he met Cuban percussionist Chanquito
(real name: José Luis Quintana). The two mus...