Bobby Rodriguez has been played on NTS in shows including If Music Presents You Need This w/ Jean-Claude, featured first on 10 July 2018. Songs played include Simply Macrame and Caramba.

There are two musicians by the name of Bobby Rodriguez:

1) (b 5 Aug. '50, Spanish Harlem, NYC, USA; d 12 Mar. '03, Mount Sinai Hospital, Manhattan, NYC) Salsa bandleader, saxophonist, flautist, clarinetist, pianist, vocalist, percussionist, arranger, composer, producer. He was musical director, arranger, composer and tenor saxophonist with his brother Ray Rodríguez' orchestra late '60s to mid-'70s; worked on Ray's LPs Introducing Ray Rodríguez And His Orchestra '68 and Delusion '69 on Alegre, Ray Rodríguez y su Orquesta '70 on Cotique, Ray Rodríguez and Duro '74 on Mericana; second album incl. the outstanding "Olvidame" (Forget Me) co-penned by Bobby and albino lead singer Nestor Sánchez "El Albino Divino". Sánchez departed to work with Tony Pabón's La Protesta '69-75, then Conjunto Candela '76, Larry Harlow '77-82, Julio Castro '84, Grupo Fascinación mid-'90s and as a solo artist. Bobby played on Joe Bataan's Fania albums Mr New York And The East Side Kids '71 and Saint Latin's Day Massacre ' 72 and his smash hit Salsoul '73 on Mericana.

He organised his own brass and flute-led band La Compañia (The Company) '74 blending típico Latin music with jazz, soul and funk influences, together with a songbook liberally peppered with English-lyric numbers; worked NYC salsa club circuit before making LP debut on Fania sister label Vaya with Lead Me To That Beautiful Band '75, including Rubén Blades penned hit "Numero 6" about subway delays. Puerto Rican born Junior Cordova (an alumnus of Nelson Feliciano, Rafael Cortijo and Kako's bands) and José Acosta provided Spanish vocals; trombonist Eddie Iglesias (b 8 June '52;d 29 June '02; aka Eddie Hernández, a second generation New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent who started with Bataan's band) sang English vocals. Bobby's live follow-up Salsa At Woodstock '76 included another Blades written hit "What Happened". Bobby, Acosta, Iglesias and La Compañia's timbalero Charlie Salinas performed on the Alegre All-Stars' 17th anniversary album Perdido '77 produced by Al Santiago. Bobby's hit single title track of Latin From Manhattan '78 was a salsa/Dixieland jazz makeover of Al Jolson's '30s hit. The album included the original recording of his classic composition "Sonero Del Barrio", which became the theme song of Los Soneros del Barrio founded in '99 by the late Martin Arroyo (an alumnus of La Compañia) and co-led by lead vocalist Frankie Vázquez. He produced, directed, arranged and played on Survival '79 on Tico by brother Ray's Orchestra Duro. Hay Que Cambiar La Rutina '80 and The Force Of The 80's '81 were his last two Vaya offerings.

Iglesias departed '84 to co-lead/co-produce (with percussionist/co-producer José Pintor) the nine-piece Los Amigos and the Bad Street Boys ("Los Amigos" was later dropped), taking Salinas and Acosta with him; also featuring a bilingual repertoire, they debuted with the popular Cheek To Cheek , followed by Taste of the Neighborhood/ Sabor del Barrio , Looking For Trouble (Buscando Problemas) and José Pintor presents The Bad Street Boys on JAP mid-'80s to '88; "best of" compiled on The Bad Street Boys '95 on JAP. Frankie Morales provided Spanish lead vocals on The Bad Street Boys first three albums, then sang briefly with the Lebron Brothers before going solo and subsequently working with Estrellas Caimán, Tito Puente and others. Iglesias went on to become a member of Los Soneros del Barrio.

Bobby made a comeback with the renamed band La Nueva Compañia (The New Company) on Mi Regreso '84 on Caimán, including a magnificent remake of "Olvidame", with guest lead vocalist Orlando Castillo "Watusi" (b 23 Mar., Marín, Yaracuy State, Venezuela; a member of Los Satélites, Porfi Jiménez y su Orquesta, Federico y su Combo Latino and other bands before relocating to NYC '79 to pursue a freelance/solo career; recorded solo albums: Ustedes, Mi Rumba y Yo '81 on Vaya, Echale Watusi! '87 on Tibiri, Siempre Pa'lante '92 on Cali [reissued Como Nunca on TTH and Barrio on Latin World]; participated in all-star Salsa Ritmo Caliente '88 on Tibiri; made UK debut with Tito Puente '90). Iglesias, Cordova and Salinas reunited with La Nueva Compañia for Caimán follow-up Juntos Otra Vez '87 (Back Together Again). Bobby assisted with sketch arrangements and performed with the Partially New Alegre All-Stars at a free reunion concert 4 July '94 at Orchard Beach in the Bronx, NYC.

It was only after Bobby's death on March 13th '03 that it was revealed he had been suffering from stomach cancer for a couple of years.

2) Born and raised in East Los Angeles, Latin legend and Grammy nominated artist Dr. Bobby Rodriguez is a trumpeter, dynamic leader, charismatic performer/entertainer, gifted composer/arranger, author, and an award-winning educator.

This Doctor of Music is a role model for young people who also come from humble beginnings. Born and raised in East Los Angeles he began studying trumpet at age ten. After serving in the US Army, he began his college education. He returned to school after twenty-one years to complete his Bachelor's degree in 1998 at California State University, Long Beach, his Master's degree in 2001 at California State University, Los Angeles, and his Doctorate in 2006 at the University of California, Los Angeles. "If Dr. Bobby can do it, so can you," is his mantra. Presently he is director of LatinJazz ensembles and jazz trumpet at UCLA, UC Irvine, and the LatinJazz Ensemble at Pasadena City College.

Rodriguez is an active speaker and clinician who has dedicated his life to help promote music. He is very active in the community. Some of the areas where his expertise has been invaluable are as a member of the Board of Governors of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS), a member of the Board of the California Institute for the Preservation of Jazz, an educator in the City of Los Angeles Jazz Mentorship Program, the Jazz Adventure, and Buddy Collette’s Jazz America.

His dedication to music has allowed him to perform and record with an illustrious array of world-class musicians including Quincy Jones, Diana Krall, Lalo Schifrin, Christina Aguilera, Arturo Sandoval, Kenny Burrell, Tina Turner, Wynton Marsalis, Tito Puente, Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock, Chaka Kahn, Willie Bobo, Maurice White (Earth, Wind & Fire), Poncho Sanchez, The Emotion, the Clayton/Hamilton Orchestra, Buddy Collette, Gerald Wilson, Don Ellis, Louie Bellson, The Brothers Johnson and many others. Rodriguez also spent four years touring on the “Love Boat,” traveling around the world.

In January of 2008 Dr. Bobby is publishing his second book "Trumpet Talk" Jazz Improvisation. This is a "how to" jazz improvisation book. His first book, “ABC’s of LatinJazz,” published in 2005, has become a standard textbook for many teachers of LatinJazz. This textbook teaches the basics of how to play LatinJazz music and how to create an ensemble based upon this music. Interspersed with explanations of descriptive terms used in this genre, musical examples, stories of personal experience, musician’s photos and the history of LatinJazz, this fun and interesting work is a first of its kind.

His latest CD release is "Celebration" featuring his 23 piece LatinJazz Orchestra. This recording is filled with 10 of Dr. Bobby's originals and 3 great cover songs. As the Doctor says,"this is a real party record." Other CD's include “Trumpet Talk” featuring Kenny Burrell and Alex Acuña, ”LatinJazz Romance” and his Grammy nominated “LatinJazz Explosion.” He has won numerous awards including the Los Angeles New Times Salsa/Tropical Artist of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award in Jazz from Drew University, KLON’s Best New Latin Jazz Artist and “Jazz Educator of the Year.” Rodriguez has earned a gold and three platinum records, produced five of his own recordings and has produced countless recordings for other artists.