Born in Cuba in 1933, Rico Rodriguez migrated to Jamaica at an early age. A graduate of the famous Alpha School for Boys, Rico Rodriguez has played trombone on countless recordings from the early days of Jamaican ska and R&B. Before migrating to England in 1961, Rico recorded hundreds of tracks for all the cornerstones of the Jamaican recording industry, including Prince Buster, Duke Reid, Coxsone Dodd, and Leslie Kong.
Living in England, Rico played on many records produced in the UK in the '60s for Prince Buster, Laurel Aitken, Derrick Morgan and Harry Palmer. In the 1970s, Rico played with London-based bands such as The Undivided, and continued to record as a session musician.
Rico's solo career really took off in 1976 with the release of his landmark "Man From Wareika" album. At the end of the '70s, Rico became a member of The Specials. His membership in the band took him around the world on tour, and led to the release of his 1981 solo album, "That Man is Forward".
In 1983, Rico Rodriguez left the UK to return to Jamaica. For the next eight years, he lived again where he had been based from 1958 to 1961, with a Rastafarian community in the Wareika Hills. This seems to be the place dearest to Rico's heart, a place from which he draws much inspiration and inner peace. Returning to England in 1991, Rico played solo again for a while before becoming a member of the highly successful Jazz Jamaica band. Since the early 90s he has been featured with leading British music presenter Jools Holland's Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, touring and making nationwide television appearances.
- David Katz