Ray Barretto was an American (with Puerto Rican ancestry) conga drummer and band leader. He played many kinds of Latin music and Latin jazz. He had a hit song in 1962 called "El Watusi" which was recorded by band "Charanga" (Cuba) band. (A Charanga band is a traditional Cuban dance band)

Ray was one of leading promoters of "Boogaloo" (a genre of Latin dance music that was poplular in the 1960s which originated in New York City mainly among Hispanic and Latino Americans). It was a fusion of African American rhythm and blues and soul music with mambo and son montuno with songs in English and Spanish. Boogaloo was introduced to the American mainstream by "American Banstand".

He later combined charanga and conjunto which would later be know as "Salsa".

He made over 40 albums as band leader and New World Spirit (nine albums), and recorded and played with With Gene Ammons (nine albums), Ray Bryant, Kenny Burrell (five albums), Arnett Cobb, Billy Cobham, Celia Cruz, George Benson, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Deodato, Bill Doggett, Art Farmer, Jimmy Forrest, the Red Garland Trio, Ben E. King, Dizzy Gillespie, Al Grey, Slide Hampton, Eddie Harris, Willis Jackson, Clifford Jordan, Yusef Lateef, Johnny Lytle, Junior Mance, Herbie Mann (nine albums), Jack McDuff, Wes Montgomery, Oliver Nelson, Dave Pike, Michel Sardaby , Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Jeremy Steig and Eddie Gómez, Sonny Stitt, Cal Tjader, Julius Watkins, Weather Report, Frank Wess, Charles Williams, and others.

This is Ray playing "El Watusi".