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 126-139 of 139 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor CU-1436 10-in. before 6/21/1946 Cangrejo fué a estudiar Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1568 10-in. before 12/13/1946 Tengo que olvidarte Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1569 10-in. before 12/13/1946 Celos de mujer Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1570 10-in. before 12/13/1946 Juventud amaliana Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1571 10-in. before 12/13/1946 Semilla de caña brava Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1594 10-in. before 12/13/1946 ¿Por qué la trajiste? Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1595 10-in. before 1/10/1947 Mi convicción Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1596 10-in. before 1/10/1947 Adivínalo Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-1597 10-in. before 1/10/1947 Soy el terror Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, trés, composer  
Columbia CO16421 10-in. 12/14/1934 El vacilón : Bolero son Fallito y su Grupo Vocal duet with instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia CO16423 10-in. 12/14/1934 Caramelero : Pregón Son Fallito y su Grupo Vocal duet with instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia CO21851 10-in. 10/12/1937 Bruca maniguá : Son Cuarteto Caney Vocal and instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia WCO24814 10-in. 6/26/1939 Dame el ultimo adiós : Bolero son Orquesta Hermanos Moráles Jazz/dance band, with vocal solo composer  
Columbia CO31110 10-in. 8/26/1941 Adios Africa Xavier Cugat ; Miguelito Valdés ; Xavier Cugat Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo songwriter  
(Results 126-139 of 139 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Rodríguez, Arsenio," accessed May 2, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105970.

Rodríguez, Arsenio. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 2, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105970.

"Rodríguez, Arsenio." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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