Puerto Rican percussion master honored for a lifetime of innovation, teaching and Afro-Caribbean rhythm
by the El Reportero staff
Puerto Rican percussion virtuoso Giovanni Hidalgo, regarded by musicians around the world as one of the masters of the conga, has received one of the most prestigious honors of his career: the 2026 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship.
Hidalgo received his medal Sept. 30 during a ceremony at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The National Heritage Fellowship is the nation’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts and recognizes artistic excellence, lifetime achievement and contributions to America’s cultural heritage. The fellowship also carries a $25,000 award.
For generations of salsa and Latin jazz musicians, however, Hidalgo’s influence goes far beyond awards.
Born in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, Hidalgo grew up surrounded by percussion. His father, renowned conga player José “Mañengue” Hidalgo, and his musician step-grandfather Fernando “Nando” Hernández helped immerse him in Afro-Caribbean rhythms from childhood. Hidalgo was already performing publicly by age five.
His extraordinary command of congas, bongos and timbales — combining speed, precision, independence and musical expression — eventually carried him from Puerto Rico to some of the world’s most important stages.
During the 1980s, Hidalgo became associated with the influential Puerto Rican group Batacumbele and later gained international recognition performing with jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nations Orchestra.
His career has since crossed salsa, Latin jazz, jazz, rock and world music. Hidalgo has performed or recorded with an extraordinary roster of artists that includes Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, Mickey Hart, Paquito D’Rivera, McCoy Tyner and Michel Camilo.
His collaboration with Camilo, Hands of Rhythm, earned a Grammy nomination, while his work with Mickey Hart’s multicultural percussion ensemble Planet Drum further expanded his international audience. Over his career, Hidalgo has released 10 solo albums and appeared on more than 100 recordings.
His legacy also lives in the musicians he has taught. Hidalgo served on the percussion faculty at Berklee College of Music and has conducted workshops and master classes around the world. Berklee awarded him an honorary Doctor of Music degree in 2010.
Following the Washington ceremony, Hidalgo reflected on what the honor represented.
“It was a great honor to receive the 2026 National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, in recognition of a lifetime dedicated to percussion, music, culture and the traditions that have shaped who I am as an artist,” he wrote in Spanish.
He closed with a characteristically simple message:
“Love and drums for everyone.”
Sources: National Endowment for the Arts, Berklee College of Music and Latin Percussion.
Giovanni Hidalgo and John Santos of Oakland, CA. at around 2013. https://youtu.be/eEyFjVSFPUA
