Sammy Figueroa (born November 16, 1948, The Bronx, New York) is an American percussionist. At 18 he joined the band of bassist Bobby Valentín and also co-led the Brazilian/Latin fusion group Raíces.
As of 2023, he is living in South Florida and performs with the Sammy Figueroa and His Latin Jazz Explosion band.
Selected discography
As leader or co-leader
Solo
Talisman (2014, Savant, SCD 2144) with Glaucia Nasser
Memory of Water (2015, Ashe Records) Imaginary World (2015, Savant, SCD 2151)
With Sammy Figueroa & His Latin Jazz Explosion
...and Sammy Walked In (2006, Savant Records 2066) The Magician (2007, Savant 2079) Urban Nature (2011, Senator Records, SEN-1001)
As sideman
With Deodato
Very Together (1976)
With Average White Band
AWB (1974) Cupid's in Fashion (1982) Soul Tattoo (1996)
With George Benson
In Your Eyes (Warner Bros., 1983)
With Blondie
The Hunter (Chrysalis, 1982)
With Tommy Bolin
Teaser (Nemperor, 1975)
With David Bowie
Let's Dance (EMI, 1983) Tonight (EMI, 1984)
With The Brecker Brothers
Back to Back (1976) Don’t Stop the Music (1977) Straphangin' (1981)
With Paul Carrack
Groove Approved (Chrysalis, 1989)
With Chic
Chic (1977) C'est Chic (1978) Risqué (1979) Real People (1980) Take It Off (1981) Tongue in Chic (1982)
With Joe Cocker
Unchain My Heart (Capitol, 1987)
With Miles Davis
The Man with the Horn (1981)
With Joey DeFrancesco
Where Were You? (1990) In the Key of the Universe (2019)
With Al Foster
Mr. Foster (1979)
With Hiroshi Fukumura
Hot Shot (1985)
With Bee Gees
E.S.P. (Warner Bros., 1987)
With Debbie Gibson
Body, Mind, Soul (Atlantic, 1993)
With Dave Grusin
West Side Story (1997)
With Gwen Guthrie
Just for You (Island, 1985)
With Hall & Oates
Ooh Yeah! (Arista, 1988)
With Major Harris
How Do You Take Your Love (RCA Victor, 1978)
With Debbie Harry
KooKoo (Chrysalis, 1981)
With Nicole Henry
The Very Thought of You (Banister, 2008)
With Whitney Houston
Whitney (Arista, 1987)
With Grayson Hugh
Road to Freedom (MCA, 1992)
With Etta Jones
Christmas with Etta Jones (Muse, 1990) Reverse the Charges (Muse, 1992)
With Mick Jagger
She's the Boss (Columbia, 1985)
With France Joli
Now! (Prelude, 1982)
With Stanley Jordan
Magic Touch (1985)
With Chaka Khan
Naughty (Warner Bros., 1980) Chaka Khan (Warner Bros., 1982)
With Ben E. King
Music Trance (Atlantic, 1980)
With Carole King
City Streets (Capitol, 1989)
With Morgana King
Everything Must Change (Muse Records, 1979)
With Earl Klugh
Wishful Thinking (1986)
With Melissa Manchester
Hey Ricky (Arista, 1982)
With Herbie Mann
Peace Pieces - The Music of Bill Evans (1995)
With Jay McShann
The Big Apple Bash (Arista, 1979)
With Bette Midler
Thighs and Whispers (Atlantic, 1979)
With Stephanie Mills
Tantalizingly Hot (Casablanca, 1982)
With Charles Mingus
Me, Myself an Eye (1979) Mingus does not play on this posthumous recording
With Bob Mintzer Big Band
Departure (1993)
With Mark Murphy
What a Way to Go (Muse, 1990) I'll Close My Eyes (Muse, 1991)
With Odyssey
Hang Together (RCA Victor, 1980)
With Yoko Ono
It's Alright (I See Rainbows) (Polydor, 1982)
With John Pizzarelli
Meets the Beatles (RCA, 1998)
With Jimmy Ponder
Come On Down (1991)
With Sonny Rollins
Road Shows, Vol. 1 (2008) Road Shows, Vol. 2 (2011) Road Shows, Vol. 3 (2014)
With David Lee Roth
Crazy from the Heat (Warner Bros., 1985) Eat 'Em and Smile (Warner Bros., 1986)
With Diana Ross
The Boss (Motown, 1979) Red Hot Rhythm & Blues (EMI, 1987)
With Leo Sayer
World Radio (Chrysalis, 1982)
With John Scofield
Who's Who? (1979)
With Sister Sledge
We Are Family (Cotillion, 1979)
With O. C. Smith
After All Is Said and Done (Triune, 1993)
With Patti Smith
Dream of Life (Arista, 1988)
With Spyro Gyra
Three Wishes (1992)
With Billy Squier
Tell the Truth (Capitol, 1993)
With Candi Staton
Candi Staton (Warner Bros., 1980)
With Peter Tosh
Mystic Man (EMI, 1979)
With Luther Vandross
Forever, for Always, for Love (1982)