>Ricardo Maldonado jr., better known as Richie Ray, is a Latin American salsa musician and bandleader. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City, in 1945, and is of Puerto Rican descent. Ray is considered one of the pioneers of the salsa genre, creating music that combined elements of Latin, Caribbean, and American jazz. He is known for his use of the maracas and his energetic performances.
Ray Barretto:
>Raymond Barretto Pagán was a Puerto Rican-born American conguero, percussionist, bandleader, and composer who played jazz and Latin music and is considered a pioneer in the Latin jazz movement of the 1960s. He was known for his innovative and dynamic conga style, which influenced future generations of Latin musicians.
Tito Puente:
>Ernesto Antonio Puente Jr., known professionally as Tito Puente, was an American musician, arranger, composer, and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent. Puente is regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of Latin music, and is credited with popularizing Latin music in the United States. He was known for his virtuoso maraca playing and his ability to fuse Afro-Cuban rhythms with other musical styles such as jazz, mambo, and salsa.