Biography:

James “Mingo” Lewis (December 8, 1953 – January 2026) was an American percussionist and drummer who played with Santana, Al Di Meola (he was a band member for Di Meola’s first five albums), Return to Forever, and The Tubes.

Playing

Lewis played congas, bongos, timbales, vibraslap, drums, bells, güiro, gong, Syndrum, bata, tambourine, cowbell, and assorted percussion.[1]

Writing

Lewis is credited with composition of one song on four of the first five Di Meola albums: “The Wizard” on Land of the Midnight Sun, “Flight Over Rio” on Elegant Gypsy, and “Chasin’ The Voodoo” on Casino (retitled from his composition Frankinsence on his 1976 album Flight Never Ending). For The Tubes album Now Lewis wrote “God-Bird-Change”, which he reprised on Di Meola’s Electric Rendezvous.

Death

Lewis died in January 2026, at the age of 72.[2]

Credits: