Giovanni Hidalgo (born March 9, 1963, in San Juan, Puerto Rico) - percussionist. Giovanni received his primary education in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. His father and grandfather had been musicians and he was raised in a household surrounded by drums, bongos, congas and timbales. When he was eight he received a conga for his birthday which had been hand made by his father. As a young child he practiced and developed his speed and playing skills on the conga and on the other instruments in his house.