senil ques Transnational Flows of Latin Popular UIST 1 5 “. A — aad ES a . » o DAS A Arsenio Rodriguez and the Transnational Flows of Latin Popular Music In the series STUDIES IN LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN MUSIC edited by Peter Manuel Arsenio Rodriguez and the Transnational Flows of Latin Popular Music DAVID F. GARCIA alk TEMPLE UNIVERSITY PRESS = Philadelphia Temple University Press 1601 North Broad Street Philadelphia PA 19122 www.temple.edu/tempress Copyright © 2006 by Temple University Press All rights reserved Published 2006 Printed in the United States of America © The paper used in this publication meets the requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data García, David F. Arsenio Rodríguez and the transnational flows of Latin popular music / David F. García. p. cm. — (Studies in Latin American and Caribbean music) Includes bibliographical references (p. ), discography (p. ), and index. Contents: Feeling son montuno : issues and theoretical approach — 1 was born of Africa : Black consciousness and Cubanidad. Formative years ; Reclaiming Africa ; Adore her as Marti did — Negro y macho: Arsenio Rodriguez’s conjunto and son montuno style. The early septetos and conjunto, 1926-1944 ; Contratiempo and the emergence of the son montuno feel ; Placing the emergence of son montuno — Who is who in mambo? Migrating to New York City ; I sell rhythm! The political economy of son montuno and mambo ; The pueblo pueblo of El Barrio and the Bronx — Remembering the past with El Ciego Maravilloso. Arsenio Rodriguez in Chicago, Curacao, and Los Angeles ; Nostalgia, exile politics, and the pre-salsa milieu in New York City ; Final performances and death — Salsa and Arsenio Rodriguez’s legacy. We were disciples of Arsenio ; Son montuno and salsa aesthetics — Conclusion : remembering Arsenio Rodriguez/remembering son montuno. ISBN 1-59213-385-1 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 1-59213-386-X (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Rodriguez, Arsenio. 2. Musicians—Cuba—Biography. 3. Popular music—Latin America—History and criticism. I. Title. II. Series. ML410.R63235G37 2006 781.64092—dc22 [B] 2005058042 All attempts were made to obtain copyright permissions for materials contained in this book. If you believe you may own copyright to material in this book, please contact the publisher at Temple University Press, 1601 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, to make arrangements in this regard. 2469 78 § 3 1 For Rose, Benicio, and Adriana Gabriela And in memory of Raul M. Travieso (1920-2001), who welcomed me into his home and shared with me his many memories of his beloved brother Contents Preface 1X Introduction “I Was Born of Africa”: Black Consciousness and Cubanidad 12 Negro y Macho: Arsenio Rodriguez’s Conjunto and Son Montuno Style 32 Who’s Who in Mambo? 64 Remembering the Past with El Ciego Maravilloso 93 Salsa and Arsenio Rodriguez’s Legacy 117 Conclusion: Remembering Arsenio Rodriguez/ Remembering Son Montuno 141 Discography 147 Notes 167 Bibliography 185 Index 203