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Arsenio Rodriguez

Arsenio Rodriguez

Biography

Arsenio Rodriguez, tres player and composer of autodidactic formation, was born in Güira de Macurijes, Matanzas, Cuba, on August 30th, 1911, in a simple family. He grew up in Güines, in Havana, and he became blind at the age of 13.
Since adolescent he got close to the music, in the 30’s he was part of the son legion and he was linked as a tres player to the sextet Boston and Bellamar.
In 1940 he founded his own son group and to Arcaño goes the honor of adding to the traditional septet format, a piano, three trumpets and a drum, giving space to the instrumental ensemble, thus revolutionizing the sonority of Cuban popular music.
In the 40’s, his conjunto was the favorite one of the dancers who used to go to Tropical and to famous saloons in Havana, that is why Arsenio became a real legend. His group got together many musicians from a well known prestige, including personalities like the singer Miguelito Cuni, the piano player Luis “Lili” Martinez Griñan, and the trumpet player Felix Chappotin, who got in charge of the conjunto when Arsenio emigrated to New York, in the early years of the 50’s.
In the skyscrapers city he kept his conjunto and was among the Cuban musicians who used to visit the Palladium, also getting together with some of the greatest jazz stars.
Arsenio Rodriguez was one of the most amazing tres player and a real paradigm of instrument player; as composer, he left us some very prestigious themes with among them the son: “Hacheros pa´ un palo”, “El reloj de Pastora”, “Papa upa”, “Fuego en el 23”, “Bruca manigua”, and the boleros “La vida es sueño”, “Acerca el oído”, “Nos estamos alejando”, and many others.
Arsenio Rodriguez, whose geniality gave him the qualification of "El Ciego Maravilloso", passed away in Los Angeles, California, on December 31st, 1971.