By: Sergio A. Rendón Ángel
For: www.latinastereo.com
Medellín, Colombia — November 2025
He grew up in the neighborhood known as El Barrio, a predominantly Latino immigrant community in East Harlem. It is said that during his childhood, he loved playing baseball — “pelota caliente” — often alongside his friend Willie Bobo.
From a young age, he was drawn to music, especially the sound of the conga or tumbadora. At ten years old, he bought his first conga for $35.
With guidance from conguero and arranger Ray Armando, as well as bongo player Bobby Flash, he received his first instruction in percussion. It is also said that he received musical advice from one of the giants of Cuban music: Arsenio Rodríguez.
He grew up practicing alongside other great percussionists of the era, such as “Little Ray” Romero, Tommy López Sr., Changuito, Kako, and José “Buyú” Mangual. However, his greatest influences were Cándido, Mongo Santamaría, and—especially—Carlos “Patato” Valdés.
Se dice que sus primeras experiencias como profesional fueron junto al compositor,
arreglista, pianista, violinista y organista Ángel Vicente Hernández Renedo, conocido como
Ángel René, un timbalero también del este de Harlem. Más tarde, realizó su primera
grabación con el productor, mánager y músico Harvey Averne, así como con el músico,
compositor, vibrafonista y percusionista Pete Terrace, a comienzos de la década de 1960.
Las primeras grabaciones del gran percusionista Frank Malabé, como profesional, las
realizó con Kako, The Alegre All Stars, The La Playa Sextet, Charlie Palmieri, Louie
Ramírez, Tito Puente y Celia Cruz, durante los años sesenta, las cuales fueron publicadas
en formato de LP.
En la década de los setenta, continuó participando en numerosos trabajos discográficos
junto a artistas como Eddie Palmieri, The Cesta All Stars, Cabrerita, Ismael Rivera, Raúl
Marrero, Ralfi Pagán, Tito Allen, Al Santiago, Azuquita, Markolino Dimond con Frankie
Dante, The Alegre All Stars, Chivirico Dávila, Bobby Paunetto y Mike Guagenti.
His first professional experiences were alongside composer, arranger, pianist, violinist, and organist Ángel Vicente Hernández Renedo, better known as Ángel René, who was also a timbalero from East Harlem. He later recorded for the first time with producer and musician Harvey Averne, and with vibraphonist and percussionist Pete Terrace, in the early 1960s.
His earliest professional recordings were made with Kako, The Alegre All Stars, The La Playa Sextet, Charlie Palmieri, Louie Ramírez, Tito Puente, and Celia Cruz during the 1960s, all released in LP format.
In the 1970s, he continued contributing to numerous recordings with artists such as Eddie Palmieri, The Cesta All Stars, Cabrerita, Ismael Rivera, Raúl Marrero, Ralfi Pagán, Tito Allen, Al Santiago, Azuquita, Markolino Dimond with Frankie Dante, Chivirico Dávila, Bobby Paunetto, and Mike Guagenti.
As with many great musicians, there are recordings in which Frank Malabé participated but did not receive credit — including works with Tito Rodríguez and Johnny Pacheco.
A special chapter deserves to be highlighted regarding his participation with pianist, musical director, and producer Larry Harlow, with whom he recorded the albums El Judío Maravilloso, Rumbambola, El Dulce Aroma del Éxito, Así Soy Yo, Yo Soy Latino, and Señor Salsa.
In 1977, Frankie Malabé became a music educator, joining the faculty of the Drummers Collective. He also worked at the Harbor Performing Arts Center, where he taught music to students from under-resourced communities.
In 1990, alongside percussionist and historian Bob Weiner, he published the groundbreaking instructional book Afro-Cuban Rhythms for the Drumset, accompanied by a CD featuring Malabé’s own conga demonstrations — a work that received high praise from critics and musicians alike.
Frankie Malabé’s talent shone not only in Afro-Caribbean and Latin genres but also extended to funk, rock, soul, jazz, contemporary jazz, fusion, and reggae. In jazz especially, he made significant contributions on several albums with New York musician Bob Mintzer, with whom he collaborated on at least seven recordings.
Across four decades, maestro Frankie Malabé made an enormous artistic contribution that left an indelible mark. His legacy resonates through iconic tracks such as Adoración, Bemba Colora, Buenavista Guaguancó, El Nazareno, Rumbambola, Tremendo Guaguancó, Son Con Guaguancó, Traigo de Todo, and many others.
Sadly, Frankie Malabé passed away on April 21, 1994, at just 53 years old. Yet in his three decades of musical life, he left a legacy of immeasurable value.
Through this tribute in our Salsero del Mes section at www.latinastereo.com, we honor one of the great percussionists of our music.
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