Arsenio Rodríguez

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Ignacio de Loyola Rodríguez Scull, known as Arsenio Rodríguez (August 30, 1911 - December 31, 1971) was a Cuban musician who developed the son montuno, other Afro-Cuban rhythms and is often said to be the true creator of the "Mambo." He was a prolific composer and wrote nearly two hundred songs.

He was born in Güira de Macurijes in the province of Matanzas. As a young child, Rodríguez was blinded when a horse (or possibly a mule) kicked him in the head.

Later, he became a musician, and eventually became one of the most renowned bandleaders on the island earning him the nickname "El Ciego Maravilloso". His music emphasized the Afro-Cuban rhythm as well as the melodic lead of the tres, which he played. In 1928 he played his own compositions with the Sexteto Boston, which disbanded in 1937 because as a blind he felt unable to be a bandleader, and he joined the Septeto Bellamar of cornettist José Interián. From 1940 to 1947 he led a band again, Arsenio Rodríguez y su Conjunto.

He then went to New York where he hoped to get cured from his blindness but was told that his seeing nerves had been completely destroyed. This experience led him to compose the bolero La Vida es un Sueño (Life is a dream). He went on to play with percussionist Chano Pozo and other great musical artists of what became Latin Jazz like Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, and Mario Bauza.

However, what Arsenio Rodrigeuz is known for even more-so than just Latin Jazz, is being the first to add reed and brass instruments to Latin bands and orchestras. Arsenio's bassist and close friend for eight years Alfonso "El Panameno" Joseph as well as other members of Arsenio's band, were one of the very largest and most popular bands that performed at the Palladium in New York during the 1960's. He had much success in the US and went to exile there in 1953.

But at the end of the 1960s the Mambo craze more or less petered out, and Rodríguez showed no interest in modern Latin styles like Guaracha or Boogaloo. He tried a new start in Los Angeles. He invited Joseph to fly out to Los Angeles with him but died only a week later. Arsenio died there as a poor man in relative obscurity in 1971 and was buried in New York.

Larry Harlow and Ismael Miranda recorded a post-humous song "Tributo a Arsenio Rodriguez", purportedly the first salsa recording using the Cuban tres, in homage to the great composer and tres player.

Jazz guitarist Marc Ribot recorded an album of Rodríguez' music called Marc Ribot y los Cubanos Postizos.

Arsenio Rodriguez is a name often mention in a major television production about the era of Afro-Cuban music at the Palladium in New York "La Epoca." The film discusses many of Arsenio's contributions, and features some of the musicians he recorded with such as Alfonso "El Panameno" Joseph and Yomo Toro.