Bobby Rodriguez was born in New York in Manhattan County, in the sector of … Read Full Bio ↴Bobby Rodriguez was born in New York in Manhattan County, in the sector of Hispanic Harlem, widely known as the neighborhood, we do not know at the time his date of birth; Nevertheless died the 12 of March of 2003 the victim of a cancer in his stomach. Bobby was member and director of the band of his brother Ray Rodriguez, in this band it was untied like arranger, composer, in addition to playing tenor saxophone. In the second recording of this band titled Disillusion, it contains the successful work Forget me written in a shared way by Bobby and the Divine Albino, Nestor Sánchez, ex vocalist of the Orchestra The Protest of Tommy Pabón and Larry Harlow.

For 1974 Bobby Rodriguez decides to create its own orchestra, which denominated The Company, there it served like its Director, in addition it touched the saxophone, the transverse flute, the clarinete and the piano. The Company worked in different places of the salsero environment of the city of New York for years 70s. From the beginning, the style of the Company - although firmly rooted in the Latin tradition - was heavily influenced by jazz, soul and funk; In addition that its repertoire included lyrics in English. Eddie Iglesias Hernandez his trombone, who was vocalising the pieces in English, it must be remembered that Eddie came from the band of soul-Latin king Joe Bataan; While the pieces in Spanish were sung by the legendary Newyorricans Junior Cordova and José Acosta. Junior Córdova previously worked with the Nelson Feliciano Orchestra, with whom I hit the Latin band Green and with the Combo by maestro Rafael Cortijo in several countries in Latin America.

The part of his first album, Number 6, composed by Rubén Blades was a massive success; Given that its letter tells the typical urban history about the delays that occur in the system of trains of New York, in the route that covers the train 6, considered one of the most boring and tedious routes. The lyrics are sticky: "hurry up, move on, the damn machine I've been waiting for here for hours and I still have not been able to see that train number six, number six ...", really a success synchronized with the experiences of the Latino community of New York. Rubén Blades also wrote the hit What Happens? LP SALSA AT WOODSTOCK, recorded by The Company Live for 1976. Bobby Rodríguez and The Company also recorded for the same year their first full length for the Fania label, which included Johnny Pacheco's classic "Recuerdo de Arcaño" And where Bobby shows us his skills on the flute

In 1977, Bobby Rodríguez, Eddie Hernández, José Acosta and the company's timbalero, Charlie Salinas, participated in the seventeenth anniversary of La Alegre All-Stars Album directed by one of the most creative musicians in salsa music, Charlie Palmieri and produced By Al Santiago. Bobby played bass on that anniversary. In 1978, Bobby Rodríguez and La Compañía put on the market the theme of the same name as the Album: LATIN FROM MANHATTAN. A version of the song originally recorded by Al Jolson in the 30's, Bobby Rodriguez gave a fusion treatment: between the Salsa and a Jazz in the manner of Dizzi Gillespie, Rodriguez played the clarinet without hesitation and well executed.In 1984, the Company suffered a loss, its singer in English lyrics and trombone Eddie Iglesias Hernández leaves the band and calls Charlie Salinas and José Acosta for his band of nine musicians and two trombones: Los Amigos and The Bad Street Boys. The first Spanish voice on its tremendous and shocking debut in CHEEK TO CHEEK was run by Frankie Morales, who worked with the Lebron Brothers, before leaving and making his solo debut.

The departure of Hernández, Salinas and Acosta created the Company a gap that lasted three years. Then Rodríguez restructures his band and calls it the New Company and returned with the LP of appropriate title MY RETURN in 1984. The lead singer of this album was Orlando Castillo "Watusi" (born March 23, in San Felipe , Of the state of Yaracuy, Venezuela). Watusi worked in Venezuela with The Satellites of Cheche Mendoza, La Band by Porfi Jiménez and the exceptional Venezuelan Salsa Orchestra - one of my favorites - Federico and his Latin Combo. In 1990 "Watusi" became independent and recorded in England with the band of Tito Puente LP MI REGRESO, cuts Olvidame and a fine version of the classic Maria Cristina, composed by ico Saquito (Born on February 13, 1901, in Santiago de Cuba , And died on August 5, 1982, Cuba). In 1987, Junior Cordova, Iglesias and Salinas met with Bobby and La Nueva Compañía to record TOGETHER AGAIN in 1995.

For the Company, the great musicians of the sixties and seventies: Eddie Iglesias Hernández Trombón and Vocal went through and collaborated in their recordings; Toti Negrón Bajo, Joe Wohletz Trumpet; José Acosta Vocal, Choirs, Maracas and Guiro; Charlie Salinas Timbales, bongo bell, and percussion; Wilson (Chambo) Corniel (I also work with José Bello, Tito Allen, Luis Ramírez, Pete El Conde and Tito Nieves) Congas and drums; Al Dorsey Piano, Johnny Pacheco Typical Tambora; Junior Cordova without exception his vocal leader; Shepherd (Toti) Negrón Bajo y Coro; Jaime Rodríguez baritone saxophone; Louie Mantañez Bongoes and Guiro; Roland Ramos Congas; Edgard Reyes Timbales; Charlie Salinas Timbales; Danny O'Brian Maracas and Guiro, Jose De Leon Congas, Felix Nazario Bongoces and Timbales, Venezuelan Orlando Watusi Lead vocalist; Roland Carlos Torres Bongoes and bell or bell, Edgar Jimmy Jr. Timbales. Special Guests: Tony Barretto on the Trumpet and Flugelhorn; Louie Ramírez in the Timbales, Isidro Infante in the Piano; Papo Pepín Congas; Johnny Kenton Bongoes, cow bell; Enrique Breton Bajo; Felo Barrios Güiro and the already mythical Yayo El Indio in the Choirs.

At the end of his years Bobby Rodriguez remained as composer and playing Latin Jazz with diverse local bands of NYC.