Rico Rodriguez
Encyclopedia
Rico Rodriguez MBE
(born Emmanuel Rodriguez; 17 October 1934), also known as Reco or El Reco, is a ska
and reggae
trombonist
. He has recorded
with many producers
, including Karl Pitterson
, Prince Buster
, and Lloyd 'Matador' Daley
. He is known as one of the first and most distinguished Ska
artists
, and was taught to play the trombone
by his slightly older schoolmate Don Drummond
at the Alpha Boys School
. In the 1950s, he became a Rastafarian
and became closely musically related to rasta drummer
, Count Ossie
. In 1961, he moved to the UK
and started to play in reggae
band
s there. In 1976, he recorded the album
, Man from Wareika
under contract with Island Records
. In the late 1970s, with the arrival of the 2 Tone
genre, he played with ska revival bands such as The Specials
. One of his most notable performances was on The Specials' song
, "A Message to You, Rudy
".
Rodriguez also helmed his own outfit, Rico and the Rudies, to yield the album
s Blow Your Horn and Brixton Cat.
In 1995, Island Records
released the album Roots to the Bone
, an updated version of Rodriguez's earlier work, Man from Wareika.
Since 1996, amongst other engagements, he has played with Jools Holland
's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra and he also performs at various ska festivals
throughout Europe
with his own band.
He was awarded an MBE
(Member of the Order of the British Empire) at Buckingham Palace
on 12 July 2007, for services to music.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born Emmanuel Rodriguez; 17 October 1934), also known as Reco or El Reco, is a ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
and reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
trombonist
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
. He has recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
with many producers
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, including Karl Pitterson
Karl Pitterson
Karl Pitterson is a Jamaican record producer and sound engineer.Pitterson began his career in the early 1970s as house engineer with such legendary Jamaican studios as Dynamics, Federal, Randy's, Studio One, Treasure Isle and Aquarius...
, Prince Buster
Prince Buster
Cecil Bustamente Campbell, O.D. , better known as Prince Buster, and also known by his Muslim name Muhammed Yusef Ali, is a musician from Kingston, Jamaica. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of ska and rocksteady music...
, and Lloyd 'Matador' Daley
Lloyd Daley
Lloyd Daley also known as Matador is a Jamaican electronic technician, sound system pioneer and reggae producer.-Career:...
. He is known as one of the first and most distinguished Ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
artists
Career
Rodriguez was born in Kingston, JamaicaKingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, and was taught to play the trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
by his slightly older schoolmate Don Drummond
Don Drummond
Don Drummond was a Jamaican ska trombonist and composer. He was one of the original members of The Skatalites, and composed many of their tunes....
at the Alpha Boys School
Alpha Boys School
Alpha Cottage School is a school on South Camp Road in Kingston, Jamaica, run by Roman Catholic nuns...
. In the 1950s, he became a Rastafarian
Rastafari movement
The Rastafari movement or Rasta is a new religious movement that arose in the 1930s in Jamaica, which at the time was a country with a predominantly Christian culture where 98% of the people were the black descendants of slaves. Its adherents worship Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia , as God...
and became closely musically related to rasta drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
, Count Ossie
Count Ossie
Count Ossie, born Oswald Williams was a Jamaican drummer and band leader.-Biography:As a young boy Ossie grew up in a rasta community where he learned techniques of vocal chanting and hand drumming under the tutelage of Brother Job...
. In 1961, he moved to the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and started to play in reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
s there. In 1976, he recorded the album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Man from Wareika
Man From Wareika
Man From Wareika was the first album recording for Rico Rodriguez led by his own artistic imagination, and his first recording created for album release...
under contract with Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
. In the late 1970s, with the arrival of the 2 Tone
2 Tone
2 Tone is a music genre created in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s by fusing elements of ska, punk rock, rocksteady, reggae, and New Wave. It was called 2 Tone because most of the bands were signed to 2 Tone Records at some point. Other labels associated with the 2 Tone sound were Stiff...
genre, he played with ska revival bands such as The Specials
The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
. One of his most notable performances was on The Specials' song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, "A Message to You, Rudy
A Message to You, Rudy
"Rudy, A Message to You" is a 1967 rocksteady song by Dandy Livingstone. The song later achieved broader success when in 1979, The Specials cover, titled "A Message to You, Rudy", reached Number 10 in the UK chart....
".
Rodriguez also helmed his own outfit, Rico and the Rudies, to yield the album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s Blow Your Horn and Brixton Cat.
In 1995, Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
released the album Roots to the Bone
Roots to the Bone
Roots to the Bone was issued in 1995 by Island Records as an extended reissue of Rico Rodriguez' most important album, Man from Wareika, with some 12" sides from the late 1970s....
, an updated version of Rodriguez's earlier work, Man from Wareika.
Since 1996, amongst other engagements, he has played with Jools Holland
Jools Holland
Julian Miles "Jools" Holland OBE, DL is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer, and television presenter. He was a founder of the band Squeeze and his work has involved him with many artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Who, David Gilmour and Bono.Holland is a...
's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra and he also performs at various ska festivals
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with his own band.
He was awarded an MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(Member of the Order of the British Empire) at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
on 12 July 2007, for services to music.
See also
- List of reggae musicians
- List of ska musicians
- List of jazz trombonists
- Island Records discographyIsland Records discographyGiven the longevity of the Island Records record label it is inevitable that a large amount of data has to be gathered, managed and presented not only correctly but also usably...
- Ska jazzSka jazzSka jazz is a music genre derived by combining the melodic content of jazz with the rhythmic and harmonic content of ska.Ska jazz is considered a subgenre of third wave ska, but lacks the punk rock influence present in much of third wave ska, though jazz was a significant influence on ska itself...