Marc Quiñones on congas

Marc Quiñones

The Allman Brothers Band, 1969–2014

With the band: 1991–2014
Instruments: Percussion

Born to the Drums

Marc Quiñones was born in the Bronx, New York, into a family of drummers. He was playing congas and drums by the time he was three, and he was working professionally at nine. As a young player he performed with his idol, Tito Puente, and he helped start a youth group called Los Rumberitos.

A Salsa Education

Marc spent five years in Willie Colón’s band. He played every instrument in the percussion section and eventually became the band’s musical director. He went on to tour with Rubén Blades and David Byrne, and in 1989 he joined the jazz-fusion band Spyro Gyra.

Stolen by Butch

In 1991 Butch Trucks saw Marc play with Spyro Gyra and decided on the spot that the Allman Brothers Band needed him. Marc joined that year and turned our drum section into a trio. Over time the three found their roles: Butch held down the time, Jaimoe added color, and Marc laid down patterns for the guitar players to play against.

Marc’s first album with the band was Shades of Two Worlds (1991). He stayed for the rest of the band’s history, right through the final show at the Beacon Theatre in October 2014.

Marc Quiñones playing congas
Marc Quiñones on congas, Peach Music Festival, Montage Mountain, Pennsylvania, August 17, 2013Photo by Vernon Webbvawebb.com

After the Allman Brothers Band

Marc then joined Gregg Allman’s solo band and Les Brers, the group Butch started with other ABB alumni. In 2018 he began touring with the Doobie Brothers. Between tours he works as a session percussionist on albums, films and television.


Marc Quiñones in the Photo Gallery

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