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 76-100 of 141 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor CU-507 10-in. beofre 3/6/1951 Caminante y labore Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez instrumental ensemble composer, leader  
Victor CU-509 10-in. before 2/13/1951 Me dijo que sí y le dije que no Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor CU-561 10-in. before 9/12/1940 Eu pirulero no veulve más Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio instrumentalist, trés, leader, composer  
Victor CU-562 10-in. before 9/12/1940 Ya tá enamorá Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal quartet instrumentalist, trés, composer, leader  
Victor CU-611 10-in. before 10/16/1940 Yo 'ta namorá Orquesta Casino de la Playa ; Miguelito Valdés Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor CU-641 10-in. before 1/2/1941 Desvarío Conjunto Marcano Vocal and instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor CU-723 10-in. before 3/31/1941 Corazón de hielo Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal quartet instrumentalist, trés, leader, composer  
Victor CU-724 10-in. before 3/31/1941 Yo tuve la culpa Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal quartet instrumentalist, trés, leader, composer  
Victor CU-725 10-in. before 3/31/1941 No hace na' la mujer Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trés, leader  
Victor CU-726 10-in. before 3/31/1941 Todos seguimos la conga Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio instrumentalist, trés, leader, composer  
Victor CU-878[b] 10-in. before 2/27/1942 Llora timbero Roberto Duany ; Muchachos Pimienta ; Orquesta Mariano Mercerón ; Camilo Rodríguez Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet composer  
Victor CU-928[b] 10-in. before 4/16/1956 Me quedé sin ti Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez ; Estela Rodríguez Scull Female vocal solo, with vocal and instrumental ensemble composer, leader  
Victor CU-930 10-in. before 4/16/1956 Ayaca de maiz Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez ; Estela Rodríguez Scull ; Wiche ; Wito Instrumental ensemble, with vocal trio leader  
Victor CU-945[a] 10-in. before 6/18/1942 Sediento de amor Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trés, leader  
Victor CU-948[a] 10-in. before 6/18/1942 Como traigo la yuca Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble composer, instrumentalist, trés, leader  
Victor CU-949[a] 10-in. before 6/18/1942 Con un solo pie Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trés, leader  
Victor CU-950[a] 10-in. before 6/18/1942 Intranquilidad Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, trés, leader  
Victor CU-997 10-in. before 3/19/1943 Triste lucha Hermanas Márquez Female vocal trio songwriter  
Victor CU-1044 10-in. before 8/4/1943 Dile a Catalina... Orquesta Belisario López Instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Victor CU-1077 10-in. before 9/14/1943 Sin tu querer Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio instrumentalist, trés, leader  
Victor CU-1079 10-in. before 9/14/1943 Sandunguera Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trés, leader  
Victor CU-1080[a] 10-in. before 9/14/1943 So caballo! Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trés, leader, composer  
Victor CU-1081 10-in. before 9/14/1943 Triste lucha Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trés, leader, composer  
Victor CU-1082 10-in. before 9/21/1943 Ñaña secré Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trés, leader, songwriter  
Victor CU-1101 10-in. before 11/23/194 A buscar camarón Conjunto Arsenio Rodríguez Instrumental ensemble composer, instrumentalist, trés, leader  
(Results 76-100 of 141 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Rodríguez, Arsenio," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105970.

Rodríguez, Arsenio. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105970.

"Rodríguez, Arsenio." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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