Johnny "Dandy" Rodríguez

John Rodríguez Jr. (born 1945), better known as Johnny "Dandy" Rodríguez, is an American bongo player of Puerto Rican descent. He was the long-time bongosero for Tito Puente, and also played with Tito Rodríguez, Ray Barretto and Alfredo de la Fe. He belonged to several popular bands of the salsa era such as Tico All-Stars, Fania All-Stars and Típica 73.

John Rodríguez Jr.
Also known asJohnny "Dandy" Rodríguez
Born1945
New York City, U.S.
GenresAfro-Cuban jazz, salsa, son cubano, pachanga
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)percussion, bongo, cowbell
Years active1962–present

Life and career

Rodríguez grew up in El Barrio (Spanish Harlem), New York, being interested in stickball (street baseball), rather than music.[1] Nonetheless, influenced by his father, 17-year old Johnny earned a position playing bongos in the Tito Puente Orchestra. Johnny spent over 30 years with the orchestra, also working with Tito Rodríguez from 1965 to 1968 and with Ray Barretto from 1970 until the end of 1972. Johnny went on to form Típica 73, of which he remained a member until 1979. He then returned to Tito's band, playing alongside him until the time of Tito's death in May 2000.[2]

He has recorded with Ray Barretto, Willie Bobo, Cheo Feliciano, Wade Marcus, Orlando Marin, Gene Harris, Charlie Palmieri, Roberto Torres, Willie Rosario, Ralfi Pagan, Celia Cruz, Johnny Pacheco, The Cesta All-Stars, Pupi y Su Charanga, David Newman, Louie Ramirez, Ismael Quintana, The Manhattan Transfer, Vitin Aviles, Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz, David Amram, Fania All-Stars, Conjunto Clasico, Tito Nieves, Junior Gonzalez, Miguel Quintana, Henri Guédon, Charlie Rodriguez Y Su Conjunto, Henry Fiol, Tito Allen, Alfredo De La Fé, Johnny Rodriguez y Su Orquesta, Hector Ramos, Ray Martinez Y Su Sabor Criollo, Judy Kreston, David Lahm, Paquito D'Rivera, Lionel Hampton, La India, Cayuco, Angelo Vaillant, Ernest Alvarez, Frankie Morales, Orestes Vilató, Joe Cuba, Jimmy Sabater, Adalberto Santiago, Johnny Cruz.[3]

Percussion instrument manufacturer LP (Latin Percussion) markets a bongo set in his name called LP Johnny Rodriguez, Jr. Legend Bongos Standard[4] as well as two cowbells entitled LP John "Dandy" Rodriguez Signature Low Pitch Hand Held Cowbell and LP John "Dandy" Rodriguez Signature High Pitch Hand Held Cowbell .[5] Rodrguez currently leads the Mambo Legends Orchestra along with Mitch Frohman and directed by Jose Madera.

Personal life

He is the son of Johnny "La Vaca" Rodríguez (1930-2000), prolific conguero and bongosero of Puerto Rican ancestry who played in the bands of Noro Morales, Xavier Cugat, Machito and Tito Puente and Tito Rodríguez (preceding his son in both cases) among others.[6] He was nicknamed "La Vaca" (The Cow) by Machito's trumpeter Mario Bauzá in 1943, because of the young percussionist's large appearance.[7]

Discography

Dandy's Dandy– A Latin Affair... (Latin Percussion Ventures 1979)

See also

References
  1. "Johnny "Dandy" Rodríguez Jr.: Growing Up in Latin Dance Music and Jazz". Afro-Latin Jazz Alliance. January 25, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  2. "Tito Puente: Sensacion". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
  3. "Discography of John Rodriguez". Discog.com. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  4. "LP® LEGENDS JOHN "DANDY" RODRIGUEZ SIGNATURE BONGOS". LP We Are Music. LP Music. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  5. "BELLS AND BLOCKS". LP We Are Music. LP Music. 2005-04-30. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  6. Conzo, Joe; Pérez, David A. (2010). Mambo Diablo: My Journey With Tito Puente. Bloomington, IN: Authorhouse. p. 218.
  7. Salazar, Max (February 1, 2001). "Johnny "La Vaca" Rodriguez: 1930-2000". Latin Beat Magazine. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017.
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