R.I.P: Emmanuel “Rico” Rodriguez, 1934-2015

Words by Saxon Baird

Rico Rodriguez, a founding father of modern Jamaican music and prolific trombonist, has died at the age of 80.

Born to a Cuban father and a Jamaican mother, Emmanuel “Rico” Rodriguez grew up in poverty-stricken area of downtown Kingston. At a young age, Rodriguez would first cut his teeth on the trombone at Jamaica’s now famous Alpha Boys School — a Catholic charitable institution that has trained some of Jamaica’s most famous musical legends. Rodriguez’s classmates included other key players in the development of Jamaica music including Tommy McCook and fellow trombonist Don Drummond. Rodriguez would graduate to become a mainstay in the Kingston’s burgeoning, pre-ska music scene in the ‘50s, where R&B and Jazz still ruled. But ska would soon take over. It was also around this time that Rodriguez also converted to Rastafarianism and began working with a fellow Rasta, drummer Count Ossie.

Rodriguez became much sought after for his unique, improvisational flourishes, seamlessly transitioning in and out of bands with the rise of ska, while becoming a staple session player in Kingston’s growing recording industry before relocating to England in the early 1960s. He worked for every big-name Jamaican producer up until that time, such as Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid, The Kong Brothers and many more.

In David Katz’s Solid Foundation: An Oral History of Reggae, Rodriguez noted that the sound of ska which Rodriguez and his contemporaries helped shape was rooted in their humble beginnings.

“People who don’t suffer like us can’t play this sound,” noted Rodriguez. “It’s a ghetto sound we play out of instruments, real suffering ghetto sound. It sounds happy, yes, but it’s for relief!”

Following in the footsteps of many Jamaicans in search of work and opportunity, Rodriguez traveled to the UK where he began recording for Island Records’ Chris Blackwell and recording singles for fellow expats Laurel Aitken, Prince Buster and later Dandy Livingstone. Not content to remain in the foreground, Rodriguez cut a number of excellent solo records including 1969’s “Reco in Reggae Land,” 1970’s “Blow Your Horn” under Rico and the Rudies, and the jazz-laden reggae masterpiece “Man from Warieka” featuring a young Sly and Robbie.

Rodriguez continued to stay active through the ‘70s, supporting Bob Marley during his 1978 European tour and cutting tracks with Linton Kwesi Johnson and Steel Pulse in the UK. Rodriguez was also featured on the first two albums from second-wave ska revivalists The Specials, including their signature single, “A Message to You, Rudy.”

In the ‘80s, Rodriguez returned to Jamaica where he continued to record, cutting two LPs: That Man Is Forward (1981) and Jama Rico (1982). Eventually, Rodriguez returned to the UK where, in 2007, he was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire). He also served as a member of Jools Holland’s Orchestra from 1996 until 2012.

Rodriguez played a foundational role in Jamaica’s rich musical heritage. To celebrate his life and body of work, we’ve singled out some celebrated tracks as a testament to Rodriguez’s legacy.

Theophilus Beckford – “Easy Snapping” (1959)

Recorded in 1956 by Coxsone Dodd but not released until 1959, this proto-ska hit featured a young Rico Rodriguez on trombone. The single was No. 1 for eighteen months in Jamaica and even found popularity in the U.K. when it was still rare for music from the Caribbean to find traction across the Atlantic.

Derrick Morgan – “Lover Boy” (1959)

Rodriguez was the trombonist of choice to offer a playful solo when ska legend Derrick Morgan entered the studio for the first time at age 19 to cut this shuffle-boogie single for sound system boss Duke Reid.

Clue J and His Blues Blasters – “Shufflin Jug” (1960)

Considered by many to be the first ska single, “Shufflin Jug” was cut by Coxson Dodd as an adaptation of Glenn Miller’s “Little Brown Jug,” and features Rico Rodriguez once again at a pivotal moment of Jamaican musical history.

The Folkes Brothers – “Oh Carolina” (1960)

Rodriguez featured on The Folkes Brothers’ pioneering, Prince Buster-produced “Oh Carolina.” The track also featured Count Ossie on drums, essentially bringing the burru drums used by Rastafarians at the time into the popular music scene of Kingston. The single was first banned for its sound on the airwaves but demand for it forced the hand of the DJs. That demand returned when Shaggy covered it in 1993. Rodriguez would go on to work with Prince Buster on over 100 songs.

Rico Rodriguez – “Let George Do It” (1963)

Another hit recorded by the legendary Duke Reid during the golden-era of ska, this was a top single in Jamaica upon its release on the Treasure Isle label. To this day, the track is often mistakenly credited to fellow Jamaican trombonist Don Drummond but it was actually Rodriguez who blew on the recording.

Derrick Harriott – “Over the River” (1961)

The fruitful and prolific relationship between producer Coxsone Dodd and Rico Rodriguez continued on this No. 1 hit featuring Derrick Harriott on vocals. The track’s doo-wop style with a heavy guitar backbeat makes it another precursor to ska and showcases Rodriguez’s impressive flexibility and range as a musician.

Prince Buster – “Wash Wash” (1963)

One of the many excellent Prince Buster singles that Rodriguez would work on, this fun ska track prominently features Rico’s trombone. The popularity of the song at the time was timelessly captured in this live performance of the single at a Club Sombrero hosted by a young Edward Seaga.

Dandy Livingstone – “A Message To You” (1967)

Having left Jamaica in 1961, Rodriguez quickly found work with fellow expats in the UK, including Dandy Livingstone for this Trojan single. The song would be made famous 12 years later when it was covered by The Specials.

Rico & The Rudies: “Jumping the Gun” (1969)

Originally on featured on Rodriguez’s debut LP for Trojan, Blow Your Horn, this song was also the opening track on the Trojan’s highly influential Tighten Up Vol. 2 compilation that helped bring the sounds of Jamaica to a wider audience in the UK.

Rico Rodriguez – “Lumumba” (1977)

This is just one of the many excellent tracks off Rodriguez’s seminal 1977 Man From Wareika LP. In addition to seamlessly blending jazz and roots reggae for an infectious and unique sound, the album exhibits Rodriguez’s own Rastafarian beliefs, held by a strong undercurrent of African-inspired themes as the title of this cut suggests. The album was eventually picked up for distribution by the legendary American jazz label, Blue Note.

The Specials – “A Message to You, Rudy” (1979)
The Specials – “Ghost Town” (1981)

Rodriguez would go onto be a major contributor to the short-lived, but highly popular 2 Tone U.K. ska revival, featuring on a number of albums, including these two massively popular singles, the first of which Rodriguez recorded years earlier with Dandy Livingstone. Check out Rico playing with The Specials in this music video for the single.

Bonus!
Max Romeo – “Wet Dream” (extended version) (1969)

True, the original 7-inch single doesn’t feature any brass. However, check out the 12-inch extended-version of this scandalized, slack single from Jamaica’s biggest troublemaker and you’ll also be treated to a Rodriguez solo.