Congas and Bongos are essential to all kinds of Latin American music, especially that of the Caribbean and South American regions, used in both folklore (Punta, Santeria, Rumba, etc.) and popular music such as Merengue, Salsa, Son, Boleros, Bachata, Cumbia, latin jazz, and others.
The version that appears on Nothing's Shocking makes extensive use of steel drums played by Stephen Perkins in place of the original's bongos, giving the song an unmistakable sound.
His colleague, musician and composer David Amram, would often play the piano or bongos as Kerouac read.
In 1966, his band which included timbales, congas, sometimes bongos, bass, vibraphones, and the piano among its musical instruments, scored a "hit" in the United States National Hit Parade List with the song "Bang Bang" - which helped kick off the popularity of the boogaloo.
He also wrote three of the episodes for Sitting Ducks: "Feather Island/King of the Bongos", "Holding Pen 13/Daredevill Ducks" and "Iced Duck/Duck Footed. While working at MGM Animation he worked as writer on "MGM Sing Along Videos", "The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue" and "Tom Sawyer".
Larry Young: Bongos, Keyboards, Organ, Percussion, Producer, Remixing, Vocals
Andy Farag - congas, bongos, timbales, percussion, groovebox
Lenny White - conga, bongos, drums, percussion, marimba (CD 1 on tracks 7-9, CD 2)
Jim Sclavunos – drums (6), melodica (12), bells (5,14), percussion (13), organ (15), bongos (16), tambourine (17)
The "Secret Agent Man" performance begins, featuring Bob Mothersbaugh on guitar, Gerald Casale on bass, Jim Mothersbaugh on electric bongos, and Mark Mothersbaugh/Booji Boy on synthesizers.
Dave Bainbridge - Keyboards, Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Piano, Bouzouki, Mandolin, Balafon, 15 String Harp, Star Bells, Bongos, Hand Drum, Indian Tambourine, Shakers, Finger Cymbals
Pat Patrick - Baritone Saxophone, Bongos, Drums on We Travel The Spaceways