Arsenio Rodríguez

Arsenio Rodríguez (born Ignacio Arsenio Travieso Scull; 31 August 1911 – 30 December 1970) was a Cuban musician, composer and bandleader. He played the tres, as well as the tumbadora, and he specialized in son, rumba and other Afro-Cuban music styles. In the 1940s and 1950s Rodríguez established the conjunto format and contributed to the development of the son montuno, the basic template of modern-day salsa. He claimed to be the true creator of the mambo and was an important as well as a prolific composer who wrote nearly two hundred songs.

Despite being blind since the age of seven, Rodríguez quickly managed to become one of Cuba's foremost treseros. Nonetheless, his first hit, "Bruca maniguá" by Orquesta Casino de la Playa, came as a songwriter in 1937. For the following two years, Rodríguez worked as composer and guest guitarist for the Casino de la Playa, before forming his conjunto in 1940, one of the first of its kind. After recording over a hundred songs for RCA Victor over the course of twelve years, Rodríguez moved to New York in 1952, where he remained active, releasing several albums. In 1970, Rodríguez moved to Los Angeles, where he died of pneumonia shortly before the end of the year.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 31, 1911 (Matanzas), Died December 31, 1970 (Los Angeles)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1934 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, trés, composer, songwriter, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 101-125 of 139 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor CU-1104 10-in. before 11/16/1943 Camina a trabajá, aragán Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1105 10-in. before 11/16/1943 Quién será mi amor? Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1226 10-in. before 7/6/1944 Quien ama no traiciona Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1227 10-in. before 7/6/1944 Mi chinita me botó Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1228 10-in. before 7/6/1944 Oye mi consejo Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1229 10-in. before 7/6/1944 Estás equivocada Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1230 10-in. before 7/6/1944 Mujeres, enamórenme Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1231 10-in. before 7/6/1944 Yo no como corazón de chivo Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1326 10-in. before 7/5/1945 Tú no eres culpable Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1327 10-in. before 7/5/1945 Mi guane Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1328 10-in. before 7/5/1945 Nadie más que tú Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1329 10-in. before 7/5/1945 Timbilla Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1330 10-in. before 7/5/1945 Agonía Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1331 10-in. before 7/5/1945 Yeyey Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1379 10-in. before 11/27/1945 Deuda Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1380 10-in. before 11/27/1945 No hay yaya sin guayacán Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal duet composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1381 10-in. before 11/27/1945 Ya lo verás Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1382 10-in. before 11/27/1946 Canta, montero Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trés, leader, composer  
Victor CU-1383 10-in. before 11/27/1945 Inspiración Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1384 10-in. before 11/27/1945 El último amor Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1431 10-in. before 6/21/1946 Chicharronero Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1432 10-in. before 6/21/1946 Una experiencia más Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1433 10-in. before 6/21/1946 Dame un cachito pa' huelé Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1434 10-in. before 6/21/1946 El reloj de pastora Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1435 10-in. before 6/21/1946 Cero guapos en yateras Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble leader, instrumentalist, trés  
(Results 101-125 of 139 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Rodríguez, Arsenio," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105970.

Rodríguez, Arsenio. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105970.

"Rodríguez, Arsenio." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105970

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