Rico Rodriguez

(Man From Wareika)

1934, 17 October:
Emmanuel Rodriguez was born in Kingston, Jamaica.

1940 - 1954:
Rico attended the Alpha Boys Cottage School in Kingston where he learned to play trombone (instead of the then maybe prefered saxophone) His tutor was another pupil, who was two years older, the now legendary Don Drummond. Many of the other important musicians from the early days of Jamaican recorded music have been his school mates. Classical music was in the center of his timetable at this school.
His school education was followed by am apprenticeship as a mechanic during 1952 to 1954.

1954 - 1958:
From 1954 to 1957 Rico continued his musical education at Stoney Hill Music School. During these years his musical influences were the two jazz trombonists J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding who released several common albums during this period.
We think that it was in 1956 when Rico (22 years old) participated as a member of Clue J. And His Blues Blasters in C.S. Dodd's very first session to record Theo Beckford's "Easy Snappin'".
During 1957 and 1958 Rico was playing three months with Eric Deans Orchestra, replacing Don Drummond (mostly in Latin and Cuban styles).
At the same time he won Vere John's Opportunity Hour.

1958 - 1961:
Rico went to live in the Rasta camp of Count Ossie in Wareika Hills and worked at a barber's shop in Kingston. With Count Ossie he learned a new approach to music.

It was the time when the Jamaican music business started to produce it's own music. Rico was from the beginning one of the most searched after studio musicians. He continued recording with various session groups, namely Clue J & The Blues Blasters, Count Ossie's Group, Smith All Stars, Drumbago And His Orchestra for all important producers, namely Clement Dodd, Duke Reid, Vincent Chin, Lloyd Daley, and as Rico's Group for Prince Buster. As for Dodd, Rico participated in the first recording sessions organised by Duke Reid (Derrick Morgan's "Lover Boy" et.al.).

1961:
Rico helped producer Vincent Chin to realise his first recording sessions while Chin produced at the same time Rico's first sides under his own name: Rico Special and later Rico Farewell, the second as his goodbye to Jamaica.
At the end of the year Rico emigrated to London /UK.

1962 - 1970:
Rico started recording for Emil Shallit and Siggy Jackson (Melodisc/Blue Beat) and all the other producers in London. His first sessions were done already in 1962 by Planetone; he played the London club scene, namely for six month with Georgie Fame's Blue Flames. Clement Dodd said in an interview from 1994 that it was Rico who inspired the Beatles to let their hair grow. It is said, that the foursome attended a lot of West Indian parties where Rico played because "he really kicked up a storm" (Hardbeatnews, 2004).
He played in the tour bands of various Jamaican guest stars, so for Prince Buster with whom he recorded "Barrister Pardon" and he participated in many recording sessions for various artists; finally in 1969 came out three LPs published with Rico as featured artist: Reco in Reggaeland (on Pama), Blow Your Horn (Trojan) and Brixton Cat (also for Trojan).


1970 - 1975:
Rico joined the Undivided, one of the best backing groups for the new reggae artists from Jamaica touring the UK.


1975:
First recording sessions for Island Records (Toots: Reggae Got Soul and Jim Capaldi: Short Cut Draw Blood).

1976:
First mayor recording contract with Island Records, followed by his first trip to Jamaica in 15 years and the seminal recording of Man From Wareika with some of the best Jamaican studio musicians; the release follows in 1977.

1978 ca.:
As a support act for Bob Marley & The Wailers he played for big audiences and built his reputation towards the European public.

1979 - 1982:
Rico's Two-Tone Era
Rico was contacted by the Specials for a remake of "Rudi A Message To You" and became a little later an associated member of the group, participating in their touring and recording activities. He played on the groundbreaking albums Specials and More Specials, contributed to The Selecter's debut and released in 1981 and 1982 two solo-album on the 2 Tone label.
"Despite the exposure he'd been given by working with The Specials, Island surprisingly did not renew his contract when it expired in January 1980, leaving him free to record for 2 Tone. They did make a half-hearted attempt to get The Specials to back Rico on a live take of "Guns Of Navarone" to be released on Island, but nothing came of it and so that it was." (George Marshall, 1990, p. 65)
So Rico was going to release his first single "Sea Cruise" on the 2 Tone label.
He was that year on tour with The Specials but left for jamaica with Dick Cuthell where he was back in the studio to record his next LP That Man Is Forward.


Later in 1980 Rico toured with his own band. On Dec. 21 he joined the Police in their concert for "So Lonely".
Ian Dury made him public to his audience while singing "... listening to Rico..." in his hit "Reasons To Be Cheerful, Pt.III)"
All these activities made him a central part of the 2 Tone story: he represented the Jamaican roots within The Specials' and the other group's music and made his instrument and his style attractive to the pop music market.

1982 - 1990:
Rico returns to Jamaica and starts again living in Wareika Hills.
Early in 1988 he went to Switzerland to record and work with the Heart Beat Band and Fizzé.

1990s:
Back in London and working with Jazz Jamaica, later with his own band and recording in Europe and Japan. Many sessions for various artists and groups from old 2 Tone collegues (Suggs, Selecter) to 3rd wave ska (Trojans, Freetown) to more adventurous projects (Peeni Waali) to recording partnerships in various countries all over the world.

1996:
Live at the North Sea Jazz Festival with Jools Holland. Rico was engaged as a member of Jools Holland's Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, until now his first "permanent job".

2000:
Rico gave concerts in Swizerland (with the Mad Lighters) and in Argentina. A new album was ready for release in Germany called Get Up Your Foot.

2001 - 2002:
These years bring more concerts with Rico, as well as some appearances on records (e.g. in a JA-13 project and Jools Holland latest releases).
Live with Jools Holland he's been described as "one of the real stars of the evening [on April, 17 at Princess Hall, Aldershot] was Jamaican-born trombone virtuoso Rico Rodriguez, who gave complete authenticity to the ska music." (Jack Larmour)
Rico joined Rude Rich, a reggea/ska orchestra in the Netherlands and he played with the Skatalites in Canada and in Japan! After so many years!


2003:
Rico was again invited to Argentina and played concerts with the Roots to the Bone band in Buenos Aires. He played on Reggae Festivals in Europe and is simply present.

2004:
Rico's still touring with live performances in clubs (Strasburg, Paris, Bern, Freiburg, London) as well as on some of the big reggae festivals. He played with his own band (feat. Eddie Thornton) as well as with young German outfil Soulfood International. A new re-issue compilation by Trojan was ready for release to coincide with his 70th birthday on Oct. 17: Trombone Man uncovers some gems never reissued before.
Not at least a surprise: Rico played on the title track of Lee Perry's latest album with Swiss group White Belly Rats: called Panic In Babylon.

2005:
Rico performs in Europe on several summerfestivals.