Cal Tjader was undoubtedly the most famous non-Latino leader of Latin jazz bands, an extraordinary distinction. From the 1950s until his death, he was practically the point man between the worlds of Latin jazz and mainstream bop; his light, rhythmic, joyous vibraphone manner could comfortably embrace both styles. His numerous recordings for Fantasy and Verve and long-standing presence in the San Francisco Bay Area eventually had a profound influence upon Carlos Santana, and thus Latin rock. He also played drums and bongos, the latter most notably on the George Shearing Quintets puckishly titled Rap Your Troubles in Drums, and would occasionally sit in on piano as well.

Tjader studied music and education at San Francisco State College before hooking up with fellow Bay Area resident Dave Brubeck as the drummer in the Brubeck Trio from 1949 to 1951. He then worked with Alvino Rey, led his own group, and in 1953, joined George Shearings then hugely popular quintet as a vibraphonist and percussionist. It was in Shearings band that Tjaders love affair with Latin music began, ignited by Shearings bassist Al McKibbon, nurtured by contact with Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, and Armando Peraza, and galvanized by the 50s mambo craze. When he left Shearing the following year, Tjader promptly formed his own band that emphasized the Latin element yet also played mainstream jazz. Bobo and Santamaria eventually joined Tjaders band as sidemen, and Vince Guaraldi served for a while as pianist and contributor to the bands songbook (Ginza, Thinking of You, MJQ). Tjader recorded a long series of mostly Latin jazz albums for Fantasy from the mid-50s through the early 60s, switching in 1961 to Verve, where under Creed Taylors aegis he expanded his stylistic palette and was teamed with artists like Lalo Schifrin, Anita ODay, Kenny Burrell, and Donald Byrd. Along the way, Tjader managed to score a minor hit in 1965 with Soul Sauce, a reworking of Dizzy Gillespie/Chano Pozos Guacha Guaro, which Tjader had previously cut for Fantasy. Tjader returned to Fantasy in the 1970s, then in 1979 moved over to the new Concord Picante label, where he remained until his death.