Performance

Monthly Listeners

Current

Followers

Current

Streams

Current

Tracks

Current

Popularity

Current

Top Releases

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Roots To The Bone

6.8M streams

6,779,644

Wareika Vibes

2.1M streams

2,119,640

Jungle Music

677.4K streams

677,410

Jungle Music

677.4K streams

677,410

Jungle Call

422K streams

422,008

Sea Cruise

405.1K streams

405,102

Jama Rico

315K streams

314,990

Man From Wareika / Wareika Dub

220.7K streams

220,725

That Man Is Forward

197.3K streams

197,265

You Must Be Crazy

152.2K streams

152,163

Biography

One of the most prolific session players of Jamaica's pre-ska era, trombonist Rico Rodriguez later emerged as a catalyst behind the UK's 2-Tone movement of the late 1970s, recording both as a solo artist and as a member of the legendary Specials. While attending Kingston's Alpha Cottage School, an institution for wayward boys, he studied trombone under the legendary Don Drummond. In the years to follow, Rodriguez emerged as one of Jamaica's most highly regarded session musicians, often working under the direction of the renowned producer Duke Reid. While his forte remained jazz, he adapted brilliantly to any environment, and applied his improvisational skills to productions from notables including Sly & Robbie. In 1977, Rodriguez also cut a solo LP, Man from Wareika, credited to simply "Rico; " it was followed a year later by Midnight in Ethiopia. In 1979, he appeared on the Specials' cover of "A Message to You Rudy," and soon joined the band as a full-time member; for the group's 2-Tone label, Rodriguez also helmed his own outfit, Rico and the Rudies, to yield the albums Blow Your Horn and Brixton Cat. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi