Sammy Figueroa

American percussionist

Sammy Figueroa
Born	(1948-11-16) November 16, 1948 (age 75) The Bronx, New York, United States
Genres	Jazz, Afro-Cuban jazz, Latin jazz, world fusion, jazz fusion, soul, funk, disco
Occupation(s)	Percussionist
Years active	1967–present

Website	Official website

Musical artist

Sammy Figueroa (born November 16, 1948, The Bronx, New York) is an American percussionist.^[1] At 18 he joined the band of bassist Bobby Valentín and also co-led the Brazilian/Latin fusion group Raíces.

As of 2023, he is living in South Florida and performs with the Sammy Figueroa and His Latin Jazz Explosion band.^[2]

Selected discography

^[3]^[4]^[5]

As leader or co-leader

Solo

Talisman (2014, Savant, SCD 2144) with Glaucia Nasser
Memory of Water (2015, Ashe Records)
Imaginary World (2015, Savant, SCD 2151)

With Sammy Figueroa & His Latin Jazz Explosion

...and Sammy Walked In (2006, Savant Records 2066)
The Magician (2007, Savant 2079)
Urban Nature (2011, Senator Records, SEN-1001)

As sideman

With Deodato

Very Together (1976)

With Average White Band

AWB (1974)
Cupid's in Fashion (1982)
Soul Tattoo (1996)

With George Benson

In Your Eyes (Warner Bros., 1983)

With Blondie

The Hunter (Chrysalis, 1982)

With Tommy Bolin

Teaser (Nemperor, 1975)

With David Bowie

Let's Dance (EMI, 1983)
Tonight (EMI, 1984)

With The Brecker Brothers

Back to Back (1976)
Don’t Stop the Music (1977)
Straphangin' (1981)

With Paul Carrack

Groove Approved (Chrysalis, 1989)

With Chic

Chic (1977)
C'est Chic (1978)
Risqué (1979)
Real People (1980)
Take It Off (1981)
Tongue in Chic (1982)

With Joe Cocker

Unchain My Heart (Capitol, 1987)

With Miles Davis

The Man with the Horn (1981)

With Joey DeFrancesco

Where Were You? (1990)
In the Key of the Universe (2019)

With Al Foster

Mr. Foster (1979)

With Hiroshi Fukumura

Hot Shot (1985)

With Bee Gees

E.S.P. (Warner Bros., 1987)

With Debbie Gibson

Body, Mind, Soul (Atlantic, 1993)

With Dave Grusin

West Side Story (1997)

With Gwen Guthrie

Just for You (Island, 1985)

With Hall & Oates

Ooh Yeah! (Arista, 1988)

With Major Harris

How Do You Take Your Love (RCA Victor, 1978)

With Debbie Harry

KooKoo (Chrysalis, 1981)

With Nicole Henry

The Very Thought of You (Banister, 2008)

With Whitney Houston

Whitney (Arista, 1987)

With Grayson Hugh

Road to Freedom (MCA, 1992)

With Dr. John

Anutha Zone (Parlophone, 1998)

With Etta Jones

Christmas with Etta Jones (Muse, 1990)
Reverse the Charges (Muse, 1992)

With Mick Jagger

She's the Boss (Columbia, 1985)

With France Joli

Now! (Prelude, 1982)

With Stanley Jordan

Magic Touch (1985)

With Chaka Khan

Naughty (Warner Bros., 1980)
Chaka Khan (Warner Bros., 1982)

With Ben E. King

Music Trance (Atlantic, 1980)

With Carole King

City Streets (Capitol, 1989)

With Morgana King

Everything Must Change (Muse Records, 1979)

With Earl Klugh

Wishful Thinking (1986)

With Melissa Manchester

Hey Ricky (Arista, 1982)

With Herbie Mann

Peace Pieces - The Music of Bill Evans (1995)

With Jay McShann

The Big Apple Bash (Arista, 1979)

With Bette Midler

Thighs and Whispers (Atlantic, 1979)

With Stephanie Mills

Tantalizingly Hot (Casablanca, 1982)

With Charles Mingus

Me, Myself an Eye (1979) Mingus does not play on this posthumous recording

With Bob Mintzer Big Band

Departure (1993)

With Mark Murphy

What a Way to Go (Muse, 1990)
I'll Close My Eyes (Muse, 1991)

With Odyssey

Hang Together (RCA Victor, 1980)

With Yoko Ono

It's Alright (I See Rainbows) (Polydor, 1982)

With John Pizzarelli

Meets the Beatles (RCA, 1998)

With Jimmy Ponder

Come On Down (1991)

With Sonny Rollins

Road Shows, Vol. 1 (2008)
Road Shows, Vol. 2 (2011)
Road Shows, Vol. 3 (2014)

With David Lee Roth

Crazy from the Heat (Warner Bros., 1985)
Eat 'Em and Smile (Warner Bros., 1986)

With Diana Ross

The Boss (Motown, 1979)
Red Hot Rhythm & Blues (EMI, 1987)

With Leo Sayer

World Radio (Chrysalis, 1982)

With John Scofield

Who's Who? (1979)

With Sister Sledge

We Are Family (Cotillion, 1979)

With O. C. Smith

After All Is Said and Done (Triune, 1993)

With Patti Smith

Dream of Life (Arista, 1988)

With Spyro Gyra

Three Wishes (1992)

With Billy Squier

Tell the Truth (Capitol, 1993)

With Candi Staton

Candi Staton (Warner Bros., 1980)

With Peter Tosh

Mystic Man (EMI, 1979)

With Luther Vandross

Forever, for Always, for Love (1982)

With Narada Michael Walden

Garden of Love Light (Arista, 1976)
I Cry, I Smile (Arista, 1977)

With Dionne Warwick

How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye (Arista, 1983)

With Steven Van Zandt

Men Without Women (EMI, 1982)

References

^ Cole, George (2007). The Last Miles: The Music of Miles Davis, 1980-1991. University of Michigan Press. p. 69. ISBN 9780472032600. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
^ "Sammy Figueroa | South Arts". www.southarts.org. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
^ Sammy Figueroa selected discography at www.SammyFigueroa.com
^ Sammy Figueroa recording credits at AllMusic. www.allmusic.com
^ Sammy Figueroa recording credits at Discogs. www.discogs.com