X-Nico

4 unusual facts about Arsenio Rodríguez


Arsenio Rodríguez

As David García points out, the first four beats of the actual break have a rhythm below which was used repeatedly in the subsequent decades, most famously by Tito Puente and later Carlos Santana in "Oye Como Va"—Moore (2007).

When the pattern is used as a type of block chord guajeo, as in "Oye Como Va," it's referred to as ponchando.

Starting in the late 1990s, jazz guitarist Marc Ribot recorded two albums mostly of Rodríguez' compositions or songs in his repertoire:Marc Ribot y los Cubanos Postizos (or Marc Ribot and the Prosthetic/Fake Cubans) and Muy Divertido!.

Folkloric Feel

Another non-album track is "The Wristwatch of the Shepherdess", an interpretative cover of the Cuban traditional "El Reloj de Pastora" by Arsenio Rodríguez.


Alfonso Joseph

Historians and fans of this era as well as the older generation of Latinos, will remember most of these artists such as Arsenio Rodríguez, Candido, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Machito, Johnny Pacheco, Yomo Toro, Cachao, Miguelito Valdez, Doc Cheetham, Alfredo "Chocolate" Armentero, Mauricio Smith, Richie Ray, Marcelino Guerra and many others.


see also

Alfonso Joseph

After the death of his mentor, Arsenio Rodríguez, Joseph partially retreated from performing and relocated to the Litchfield Hills of northwestern Connecticut, dedicating most of his time to composing and orchestrating.