Musician. Born Callen R. Tjader in St. Louis, Missouri, he was a drummer-vibraphonist, regarded as one of the greatest Anglo Latin jazz music artists of his time. In the 1940s, he moved to California, played around the Bay Area and won a Gene Krupa contest by playing "Drum Boogie". After serving in the US Army during World War II, he joined the Dave Brubeck Trio and became a popular figure on the jazz scene. During the 1960s to 1970s, he was a successful recording side man, also performed tours with jazz greats to include Alvino Ray, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Chick Corea and many more. Signed to a subsidiary label called Concord Picante to market Latin jazz, he was awarded a Grammy for Best Latin Recording for his album "La Onda Va Bien" in 1980. He died of a heart attack while on tour with his band in Manila.
Musician. Born Callen R. Tjader in St. Louis, Missouri, he was a drummer-vibraphonist, regarded as one of the greatest Anglo Latin jazz music artists of his time. In the 1940s, he moved to California, played around the Bay Area and won a Gene Krupa contest by playing "Drum Boogie". After serving in the US Army during World War II, he joined the Dave Brubeck Trio and became a popular figure on the jazz scene. During the 1960s to 1970s, he was a successful recording side man, also performed tours with jazz greats to include Alvino Ray, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Chick Corea and many more. Signed to a subsidiary label called Concord Picante to market Latin jazz, he was awarded a Grammy for Best Latin Recording for his album "La Onda Va Bien" in 1980. He died of a heart attack while on tour with his band in Manila.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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