From Muppet Wiki

Ray Barretto (1929-2006), a.k.a. King of the Hard Hands, was a Puerto Rican jazz musician, widely credited as the godfather of Latin jazz. He was also the first Hispanic to record a Latin song which became a "hit" in the American Billboard charts.

Barretto appeared on Sesame Street in the mid-70s to explain Latin rhythm. (EKA: Episode 0966)