Rico Rodriguez

This article is about the musician. For the martial artist Ricco Rodriguez see Ricco Rodriguez. For the fictional character named Rico Rodriguez see the Just Cause video game. For the rock musician Rico Rodriguez see Picture Atlantic.

Rico Rodriguez
Rico Rodriguez in 2002
Background information
Birth name	Emmanuel Rodriguez
Born	October 17, 1934 (1934-10-17) (age 74)
Origin	Kingston, Jamaica
Genres	Ska, reggae, jazz
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Trombone
Years active	1958–present
Associated acts	The Specials Jools Holland R&B Orchestra

Rico Rodriguez, also known as Reco or El Reco (born Emmanuel Rodriguez, 17 October 1934,^[1] Kingston, Jamaica), is a ska and reggae trombonist. He has recorded with many producers, including Karl Pitterson, Prince Buster, and Lloyd 'Matador' Daley.

Career

Rodriguez was taught to play the trombone by his slightly older schoolmate Don Drummond at the Alpha Boys School in Jamaica.^[1] In the 1950s, he became a rasta and became closely musically related to rasta drummer, Count Ossie. In 1961, he moved to the UK and started to play in reggae bands there. In 1976, he recorded the album, Man from Wareika under contract with Island Records.^[1] 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".^[1]

Rodriguez also helmed his own outfit, Rico and the Rudies, to yield the albums, Blow Your Horn and Brixton Cat.^[1] He also created two albums with Dik (Richard) Cuthell (also of the Specials and others), namely 'That Man is Forward' and 'Jama Rico.' (1981) The story goes that Dik turned up at Rico's house and Rico didn't appear for two weeks!

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.^[2]

Discography

Bibliography

• Rico Rodriguez bibliography

See also

• List of reggae musicians
• List of ska musicians
• List of jazz trombonists
• Island Records discography
• Ska jazz

References

External links

• Unofficial site
• Jama Rico - A Wikia dedicated to Rico Rodriguez