James Mui, known professionally as Chino Rodriguez (February 2, 1954 — November 5, 2022), was an American musician and

impresario An impresario (from Italian ''impresa'', 'an enterprise or undertaking') is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, Play (theatre), plays, or operas, performing a role in stage arts that is similar to that of a film producer, film or ...

who specialized in

Latin music Latin music (Portuguese language, Portuguese and ) is a term used by the music industry as a catch-all category for various styles of music from Ibero-America, which encompasses Music of Latin America, Latin America, Music of Spain, Spain, Mu ...

, salsa and

Latin jazz Latin jazz is a genre of jazz with Latin American rhythms. The two main categories are Afro-Cuban jazz, rhythmically based on Cuban popular dance music, with a rhythm section employing ostinato patterns or a clave (rhythm), clave, and Afro-Brazil ...

Biography

Rodriguez was born as James Mui on February 2, 1954 in the

Little Italy Little Italy is the catch-all name for an ethnic enclave populated primarily by Italians or people of Italian ancestry, usually in an Urban area, urban neighborhood. The concept of "Little Italy" holds many different aspects of the Italian cul ...

Chinatown Chinatown ( zh, t=唐人街) is the catch-all name for an ethnic enclave of Chinese people located outside Greater China, most often in an urban setting. Areas known as "Chinatown" exist throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, O ...

area of

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New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, to a Chinese father, Chueng Mui (Chinese: 梅莊, ''Méi Zhuāng''), who obtained

U.S. citizenship Citizenship of the United States is a legal status that entails Americans with specific rights, duties, protections, and benefits in the United States. It serves as a foundation of fundamental rights derived from and protected by the Constit ...

by joining the Merchant Marines during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, and a third-generation Puerto Rican mother, Gloria Figueroa Rodríguez.

Early music career

Rodriguez studied music at Junior High School 65 on the

Lower East Side The Lower East Side, sometimes abbreviated as LES, is a historic neighborhood in the southeastern part of Manhattan in New York City. It is located roughly between the Bowery and the East River from Canal to Houston streets. Historically, it w ...

. In his late teens, he joined Orchestra Dee Jay in

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

, originally as a band boy, then later as an occasional coro (chorus) singer. He formed his first band, Chino Rodriguez and his Orchestra, 1968–69, playing at weddings, birthdays, and private parties. Through the local musician's union,

American Federation of Musicians The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM/AFofM) is a 501(c)(5) trade union, labor union representing professional instrumental musicians in the United States and Canada. The AFM, which has its headquarters in N ...

802, he found work playing music for the New York City Department of Parks arts program, from 1970-74.

Recording career

Rodriguez recorded two albums for Ismael Maisonave's label, Salsa Records: ''Maestro De Kung-Fu'', produced by Andy Harlow, and ''Si Te Vas Mi China'', produced by Larry Harlow. ''Maestro de Kung-Fu'' contained "La Computadora", the first Latin recording using a MOOG synthesizer, played by Larry Harlow. Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez played on "Moonlight Serenade." Chino Rodriguez y La Consagración was nominated for ''Latin New York Magazines award for Best New Band. Rodriguez's second album, ''Si Te Vas Mi China'', was recorded in 1976 after a year's worth of daily rehearsals. It produced two hits upon its release in 1977 and, like his debut album, achieved gold status.

Latin music impresario

Rodriguez began working part-time at Fania Records as a teenager, when Fania was about to purchase Salsa Records. At the record label, Chino Rodriguez recorded and began helping with the booking of the Fania All-Stars. Later, he worked as an independent booking agent representing many of the Fania artists. He returned to the business side of the music industry in 1991, becoming Senior Vice President and General Manager of the newly formed Hidden Faces Records. After organizing business operations for Hidden Faces, he opened his own artist management company, Chino Rodriguez Management (C.R.M.), and booking agency, OMNI Latino Entertainment (OLE). His offices were opened in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

. In 2011, Rodriguez represented Latin hip hop artists

Proyecto Uno Proyecto Uno (from Spanish into English: Project One) is a Dominican-American Hip hop/ Merengue house group which helped popularize a style of music that blends merengue with techno, dancehall, hip-hop/ rap and reggae music. The band was found ...

bachata Bachata may refer to: * Bachata (music), a musical genre which originated in the Dominican Republic ** Traditional bachata, a subgenre of bachata music ** Bachata (dance), a dance form * Bachatón, a hybrid bachata/reggaeton music style * "Bach ...

artist

Domenic Marte Domenic Marte (also known as Domenic M and D. Marte) is an American singer. In 2004, he released his debut album titled ''Intimamente'' (''Intimately''). Its lead single "Ven Tú" ("Come") peaked at #9 on the ''Billboard'' Tropical Chart; his duet ...

reggaetón Reggaeton (, ) is a modern style of popular and electronic music that originated in Panama during the late 1980s, and which rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s through a plethora of Puerto Rican musicians. It has evolved fr ...

duo Edgardo y D'niel, and bachata artist Alfred Martinez. Chino presently worked with many reggaetón and rap artists and lived in Florida.

Discography

*''Maestro De Kung-Fu'', SALSA Records, 1976. Re-released on CD in 2004 by Mary Lou/SALSA Records. *''Si Te Vas Mi China'', SALSA Records, 1977. Re-released on CD in 2004 by Mary Lou/SALSA Records.

References

Sources

*Flores, Juan. ''From Bomba to Hip Hop: Puerto Rican Culture and Latino Identity''. New York: Columbia University Press, 2000; *Leymarie, Isabelle. ''Cuban Fire: The Story of Salsa and Latin Jazz''. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2002; *Washburne, Christopher. ''Sounding Salsa: Performing Latin Music in New York City''. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2008;

External links

Review and samples of ''Maestro de Kung-Fu''

Music of Puerto Rico

Andy Harlow interview for ''Descarga''

''Latin Music USA'' PBS documentary

Chino Rodriguez's Personal Blog
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodriguez, Chino Musicians from New York City American music industry executives Music promoters People from Chinatown, Manhattan Salsa musicians 1954 births 2022 deaths American musicians of Puerto Rican descent American musicians of Chinese descent Businesspeople from New York City