Ruben Rada

Talented Uruguayan percussionist Ruben Rada got involved in music during the mid-'60s while playing in a group called El Kinto. While a teenager, the musician (nicknamed Zapatito) joined a Punta del Este act called Hot Blowers and later La Nueva Milonga. Known by his friends and fans as El Negro Rada, the singer/percussionist created an experimental candombe, combining unusual instruments with this style and elevating it to the level of a modern genre. He died on August 26, 2026, at the age of 83. ~ Drago Bonacich