José Mangual Jr. is an American salsa percussionist, singer, and composer of Puerto Rican descent, born and raised in East Harlem, New York City. He is the son of the pioneering bongo player José Mangual Sr., also known as "Buyú." Growing up in the neighborhood known as "El Barrio," Mangual Jr. began playing in local groups by the age of fifteen, developing his skills within the salsa, latin jazz, and son cubano genres.
He gained significant recognition during the New York salsa boom of the 1960s and 1970s, during which he recorded and performed with prominent figures such as Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe. His percussion work and vocal contributions became highly regarded within the salsa movement.
Over the course of his solo career, Mangual Jr. has maintained a consistent output of recordings. His catalog includes albums such as "Ritmo, Sabor y Clave" (1999), "Tribute To Chano Pozo / Dancing With The Gods" (2009), "Baila Mi Son Montuno" (2010), and "Una Dinastía" (2010). In the 2020s, he has continued to release new material, including the singles "Funky Pachanga" (2023), "Me Quedo En Medellín" (2024), and "El Perfumito Venteconmigo" (2025).
