My first Manu experience was when I participated in a fashion show for a friend. She used Esperanza as the back ground music while a guitarist played live. The music was so invigorating we all sashayed down the catwalk swiveling our hips seductively in a show like no other.

Of course I was hooked on the rhythm and brought Manu along for my Riviera road trip through Italy, France and Spain. The continuous rhythm kept us company as we drove along the autostrade.

I then introduced Manu to friends while vacationing in Barcelona and they too, have become life long fans.

I finally got a chance to see Manu live – just last month in Brooklyn. A thunderstorm threatened to shorten his performance but he would have none of that. The rain that fell as he professed himself King Of The BONGO was refreshing and a perfect accompaniment to his finale.