THE FATHER OF SALSA MUSIC

Submitted by ub on

Arsenio Rodríguez was a Cuban musician who played the tres in son-based music, and congas in folkloric rumba. In the 1940s and 50s Rodríguez reorganized the son conjunto and developed the son montuno, the basic template of modern-day salsa. There is an effort underway to honor this “Father of Salsa Music" by having the corner of Intervale and Dawson named after him Bronx.

He was a great Cuban bandleader, who reached the height of his formidable powers during the late 1940s and 1950s. He was blinded as a young boy by a kick in the face from a mule. Arsenio was known as "El Ciego Maravilloso," Marvelous Blind Man.

By reinventing the traditional Cuban son, Arsenio gave birth to a thoroughly rhythmic dance music, the precursor to salsa, which has since taken over the airwaves of much of the western hemisphere.

Despite his artistic and commercial success during the '40s and '50s, Arsenio died in almost complete obscurity in Los Angeles, California in the early 1970s.

Buena Vista Social Club was a shelter for Cubans of African descent and people of color to protect themselves from segregation and social conflict. In 1959 these societies disappeared with the desegreation process which was then inaugurated. Arsenio Rodriguez Scull Cuba's outstanding composer, lyricist and tres guitar player pays hommage with a popular cuban rythm guaguancoson in the song entitled precisely, BUENA VISTA EN GUAGUANCO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddKqtbqAAEw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV6xoS1WdOE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYwe0KsVxWo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oCudVfHZ88

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azMcL3L5QcY&feature=related