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Rico Rodriguez

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Emmanuel Rico Rodriguez, also called Reco or El Reco, was a Cuban-Jamaican ska and reggae trombonist, born on 17 October 1934 in Havana and died on 4 September 2015. As a child he moved with his family to Jamaica and grew up in Kingston. His slightly older schoolmate Don Drummond taught him to play the trombone at the Alpha Boys School. In the 1950s he became a Rastafarian and often performed with the Rasta drummer Count Ossie. He is regarded as one of the first ska musicians.

Music and breakthrough

In 1961 he moved to England, where he played with Georgie Fame's Blue Flames and in reggae bands. With his own band Rico's All Stars and later Rico and the Rudies he recorded the albums Blow Your Horn and Brixton Cat in 1969. In 1976 he made Man from Wareika for Island Records. In the late 1970s he played with the Members on Offshore Banking Business and with the ska revival bands, including The Specials on A Message to You, Rudy. Ian Dury mentions him in Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3.

Influence

In 1982 he returned to Jamaica to end his career, but in 1987 he toured England again with the Heart Beat Band. Between 1992 and 1995 he played with Jazz Jamaica and Linton Kwesi Johnson, and from 1996 until 2012 with Jools Holland. In 2007 he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire. His trombone links jazz, ska and reggae with the British second wave of ska.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to A Message to You, Rudy by The Specials and notice the trombone. Can you hear how the brass playing gives the melody a warm, Jamaican sound?

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists