Munyungo

Percussionist, composer, arranger, producer, author, and four-time Grammy winner Munyungo Jackson brings an ever-growing collection of instruments to his craft. This warm and unassuming West Coast artist is a sought-after presence in virtually any musical setting, from funk, pop, and jazz to Latin, reggae, and the traditional dance music of Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Haiti, Brazil, and Cuba.

Munyungo is an accomplished musician with more than 30 years of experience. His exceptional versatility has earned him widespread respect and made him a highly sought-after performer for studio sessions, concerts, and tours. Throughout his career, he has shared the stage with iconic artists such as Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Kenny Loggins, Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, the Zawinul Syndicate, George Howard, Ronnie Laws, The Temptations, Four Tops, The Supremes, Bennie Maupin, Bill Summers, Marcus Miller, and many others. He has also worked with numerous ethnic music and dance ensembles, further showcasing his wide-ranging talent.

Munyungo was born in Los Angeles, California, into a creative family. His parents, Arthur Jackson Jr. and Genie Jackson, were both deeply involved in music, dance, and writing, and Munyungo is the nephew of the legendary jazz, pop, and blues singer-pianist Nellie Lutcher, who recorded for Capitol Records.

As a child, Munyungo was required to take classical piano lessons, which he continued until the age of nineteen. However, during his high school years, he was drawn to the sound of the timbales when a friend started a Latin jazz band. At just seventeen, Munyungo found himself captivated by the rhythm and energy of the instrument, and his passion for the piano began to wane. He began spending more time with the percussionist in the band, quickly picking up techniques through keen observation and practice. Eventually, he purchased his own set of timbales.

Around this time, Munyungo’s father worked as the program director of a jazz radio station, exposing Munyungo to a wide variety of music. He immersed himself in albums by Latin music greats like Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, and Tito Puente, practicing by playing along with their recordings. His method of observing and practicing soon proved successful, and before long, Munyungo had formed his own Latin jazz band with his classmates.

Munyungo’s passion for the timbales was just the beginning of his musical journey. From there, he naturally progressed to mastering the Congas, Bongos, Latin Percussion, and eventually ventured into religious Bata drumming, as well as exploring drums and percussion from various cultures around the world.

In his musical evolution, Munyungo had the opportunity to collaborate with traditional drummers from Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, China, and Japan. These experiences led him to amass a collection of over four hundred percussion instruments and drums from across the globe — all of which he plays with remarkable proficiency.

Why the name "Munyungo"? During several performances with musicians from Africa and the Caribbean, they would chant “Munyungo!”—a Zulu word meaning "door" or "entrance"—to cheer him on as he played. Over time, the word stuck and became his nickname. For Munyungo now, the name holds a deeper meaning: it represents the “Gateway to Heaven.”

Munyungo is deeply dedicated to understanding and preserving the traditions behind the instruments he plays. "It’s hard to study drums without studying the cultures from which they come," he explains. This deep respect for the roots of his craft infuses his playing with genuine passion and joy.

“Munyungo describes himself and his art as that of a 'drummer.' “Traditional percussion instruments were created to communicate with nature, spirits, and other people,” he says. "Anyone who uses these instruments to invoke the forces of nature is traditionally called a 'drummer.' This is why those of us who perform, know, and study traditional music don’t refer to each other as ‘percussionists’; we call each other ‘drummers.’”