EDGARD RODRIGUEZ Profession: Producer Instrument: Percussion Born in Humacao, Puerto Rico. Raised in a small town called Las Piedras. Because his parents owned car dealerships, real estate, and organized baseball teams; Edgar grew up in a business environment and in the baseball circuit. He started to work and play when he was eight years old. At that age the music was constantly in his spirit and mind. He always visited the dance ballroom "Club Civico", town festivals, and musical activities with his parents so he had the opportunity to get to know the musician life and fall completely in love with music. He got his first instrument when he was 10 years old. A traditional Cuban model conga drum thanks to his grandmother "Matea Costa" who was a big influence in his personal and spiritual life. Later he met several famous percussionists, among them, Frankie Rodriguez, Sabu Martinez, and Tony Jimenez who inspired him to keep playing percussion and learn more of traditional Caribbean rhythms. Always playing rumbas and studying Cuban and Puerto Rican Music, Salsa and Jazz from such greats as Los Papines, Munequitos de Matanzas, Fania All Star, Rafael Cortijo, Ismael Rivera, Hermanos Cepeda, Mon Rivera, Tito Puente, Machito, Tito Rodriguez, Charlie Palmieri, Cal T'Jader, Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, and from "Ragtime" Jelly Roll Morton, Louie Armstrong, Dizzy, Miles, Dexter Gordon to Mingus, and Chick Correa. But his mentor, teacher and spiritual father always was Mr. Ray Barretto. In 1988 he became the owner of his family business and started to work hard, but always visiting and contributing to music life. In 1992 he decided to involve himself completely in the music business by moving to Miami, Florida, and working on productions such as gDescarga Boricuah with Frank Ferrer, and by also contributing to creating The Latin Legends Band with Larry Harlow and Ray Barretto. In 1993 he started managing Cuban Trombonist, Juan P. Torres, and contributed to the new era of "Latin Jazz" and the rebirth of "Salsa Clasica (Classic Salsa)" producing concert series like gNoches de Nueva Yorkh in San Juan, P.R., "Miami Trail Latin Jazz" in Miami, FL, "Latin Jazz A La Carte" and "Latin Legends Nights" in Orlando, FL. In 1997 he created his own agency "WERMUSICA" and began several world tours which included musicians such as Ray Barretto, Tania Maria, Hamad Jamal, Steve Turre, Gilberto Gil, Bobby Mac Ferrin, Hilton Ruiz, Dave Valentin, Batacumbele, Giovanni Hidalgo, Juan P. Torres, Patato Valdez, Cachete Maldonado, Juancito Torres, Johnny Pacheco, Larry Harlow, Ismael Miranda, Eddie 'Guagua' Rivera, Santos Colon, Menique, Junior Gonzales, Justo Betancourt, Yomo Toro, Nestor Sanchez, Los Papines, Changuito, Tata Guines, Cachao, Irakere, Chucho Valdez, Pedro gPeruchinh, Justiz Jr. As a musician, consultant, and record producer, Edgard has contributed in Descarga Boricua Volumes 1 and 2, Giovanni Hidalgo, Maria Helena Lazo "Perlas de Cuba" with Tata Guines, Changuito, and Julio Padron, "Estrellas de Pueblo" with Adalberto Santiago, Luigi Texidor, Marvin Santiago, "Latin Legends Band" with Larry Harlow, Pete gCondeh Rodriguez, Johnny Pacheco, Ismael Miranda, "Trancendance New World Spirit" with Ray Barretto and Papines, "Sexteto Caribe" with Cano Estremera, Nestor Sanchez, and Juan Pablo Torres "Cuban Masters" with Cachao, Alfredo Rodriguez, Chocolate, Jose Fajardo, Rudy Calzado, Patato Valdez, and Francisco Aguabella. Edgard has toured France, Germany, Holland, England, Italy, Spain, Japan, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Martinique, Guadalupe, Colombia, USA, and South America. He is a member of the board of gFestival Latinoamericandoh in Milan, Verona, and Rome, Italy. Also he coordinated gFestival TOROS y SALSAh in Dax, France. Edgard still works booking for International Festivals in Europe and Latin America. At this moment, he is working on a concept called PERCO-LOCO "World Music" as producer and musician. He is also working on his new project of Latin World Jazz Fusion as producer and musician with Saxophonist Victor Payano, Bassist Guagua Rivera, Bongo Chuky Lopes,Percusionist.Jorge Orta, Drums Tony Escapa Jr, Keyboards Tony Escapa sr., Percussion Edgar Rodriguez, invited guest like Giovanni Hidalgo,Ray Barretto and Patato Valdez which is called The VIP LATIN WORD JAZZ. ______________________________________________________________ Education Business Administration Universidad Del Turabo, Puerto Rico; 1985 University of Tampa; 1986, 1987 |
