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Percussionist,
Johnny Rodriguez, Sr. passed away at the age of
70 on November 25, 2000. The apparent cause of
death was a heart attack.
Johnny Rodriguez was one of my first contacts
in Latin music. I met him in 1962 while I was
still working a day job as an engineer and building
and repairing drums at night and on weekends.
I had just met Vitin Gonzalez who was working
with the Tito Rodriguez Orchestra. Vitin told
Johnny that I could build bongo shells. Johnny
had broken his Cuban-made bongos. One evening
he brought the hardware that remained from his
set to my house in Maywood, New Jersey. I recreated
the bongos and cemented a close friendship that
lasted many years.
Johnny's impact on my company, Latin Percussion, and on the world of Latin Music was enormous.
He plays bongos on albums by Charlie Palmieri,
La Playa Sextette, Tito Puente, and Tito Rodriguez--he
had joined Tito Rodriguez in Stan Kenton's band.
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The
Rodriquez Family-1964
Jeanette seated in front, Lucy, Tati, Johnny
Sr. and
Marilyn Cohen with Midnight (cat) in Maywood,
NJ.
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Fun
time at a gas station in the Bronx with
Johnny playing one of my early cowbells.
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Johnny "La Vaca" Rodriguez, the
father of Johnny
"Dandy" Rodriguez, Jr.,
Virgilio
Marti and Antar
Dali jamming in my photo studio
in Hillsdale, New Jersey. Approx 1974.
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