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 - 1956

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

Notes: Arsenio Rodríguez was born Ignacio Arsenio Travieso Scull.

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 141 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-95552 10-in. 10/22/1935 No he mentido Aida Cuarteto Machín Vocal and instrumental quartet composer  
Victor BS-95556 10-in. 10/22/1935 Amargos sufrimientos Cuarteto Machín Vocal and instrumental quartet composer  
Victor BS-95582 10-in. 10/25/1935 No vuelvas por aquí Cuarteto Machín Vocal and instrumental quartet composer  
Victor BS-98021 10-in. 11/1/1935 Pobre mi Cuba Septeto Machín Vocal and instrumental septet composer  
Victor BS-010933 10-in. 6/17/1937 Bruca manigua Orquesta Casino de la Playa ; Miguelito Valdés Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Victor BS-010937 10-in. 6/17/1937 Ben acá tomá Orquesta Casino de la Playa ; Miguelito Valdés Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-017383 10-in. 12/9/1937 Bruca maniguá Alfredito Valdés ; Xavier Cugat Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor BS-021961 10-in. between 4/1/1938 and 4/11/1938 Yo soy macuá Orquesta Casino de la Playa ; Miguelito Valdés Dubbed recording : Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-021968 10-in. between 4/1/1938 and 4/11/1938 Funfuñando Orquesta Casino de la Playa ; Miguelito Valdés Dubbed recording : Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor B-027836 10-in. 9/19/1938 Yo son gangá Orquesta Casino de la Playa ; Miguelito Valdés Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor B-027837 10-in. 9/19/1938 Se vá el caramelero Orquesta Casino de la Playa ; Miguelito Valdés Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-035550 10-in. before 4/3/1939 Adiós Africa Orquesta Casino de la Playa ; Miguelito Valdés Re-recording : Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-037049 10-in. 7/13/1939 Mirar subyugante Boricuas ; Augusto Coén Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor MBS-079445 10-in. before 2/2/1945 Yo saluda Conjunto Casino ; Alfredito Valdés Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor MBS-091076 10-in. before 12/16/1948 La vida es una sueño Hermanos Martínez Gil ; Orquesta Miguel Angel Pazos Male vocal trio, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor MBS-092764 10-in. before 5/1/1951 Qué pasará Beny Moré ; Orquesta Rafael de Paz Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor CU-37[b] 10-in. before 2/27/1948 Lo dicen todas Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble leader, instrumentalist, trés, composer  
Victor CU-38[b] 10-in. before 2/27/1948 La vida es una sueño Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, trés, composer  
Victor CU-39[b] 10-in. before 4/8/1948 El tabernero Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trés, leader  
Victor CU-40[b] 10-in. before 4/8/1948 El cerro tiene la llave Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trés, leader  
Victor CU-41[b] 10-in. before 4/8/1948 Te esperaré Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trés, leader  
Victor CU-42[b] 10-in. before 4/8/1948 No vuelvo a moron Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trés, leader  
Victor CU-85[b] 10-in. before 6/22/1948 A Puerto Rico Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio composer, instrumentalist, trés, leader  
Victor CU-86[b] 10-in. before 5/26/1948 Esa china tiene coimbre Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer, leader, instrumentalist, trés  
Victor CU-87[b] 10-in. before 6/22/1948 No toque el guao Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer, instrumentalist, trés, leader  
(Results 1-25 of 141 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Rodríguez, Arsenio," accessed November 25, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105970.

Rodríguez, Arsenio. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105970.

"Rodríguez, Arsenio." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105970

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