Chino Rodriguez

Rodriguez was born as James Mui on February 2, 1954 in the Little Italy/Chinatown area of Manhattan, New York City, to a Chinese father, Chueng Mui (Chinese: 梅莊, Méi Zhuāng), who obtained U.S. citizenship by joining the Merchant Marines during World War II, and a third-generation Puerto Rican mother, Gloria Figueroa Rodríguez.Lapidus, Benjamin. "Chinita Linda: portrayals of Chinese and Asian identity and culture by Chinese and non-Chinese in Spanish Caribbean dance music." Chinese America: History and Perspectives, annual 2015, pp. 17+. Gale Literature Resource Center,

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Rodriguez studied music at Junior High School 65 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. In his late teens, he joined Orchestra Dee Jay in Brooklyn, originally as a band boy, then later as an occasional coro (chorus) singer. He formed his first band, Chino Rodriguez and his Orchestra, 1968–69, playing at weddings, birthdays, and private parties. Through the local musician's union, American Federation of Musicians 802, he found work playing music for the New York City Department of Parks arts program, from 1970-74.

Rodriguez recorded two albums for Ismael Maisonave's label, Salsa Records: Maestro De Kung-Fu,{{cite web|url=http://salsacanal.blogspot.com/2009/08/chino-rodriguez.html|title=Salsa Canal blog|publisher=Blogger|accessdate=2013-01-11}} produced by Andy Harlow, and Si Te Vas Mi China,{{cite web|url=http://lplatinisalsaymerengue.blogspot.com/2010/04/eduardo-chino-rodriguez-y-la.html|title=LP Latini... Salsa y merengue blog|publisher=Blogger|accessdate=2013-01-11}}{{cite web|url=http://lamelodiadelneco.blogspot.com/2012/09/chino-rodriguez-y-la-consagracion-si-te.html|title=Mi Melodia blog|publisher=Blogger|accessdate=2013-01-11}} produced by Larry Harlow.

File:chino5.jpg

Maestro de Kung-Fu contained "La Computadora", the first Latin recording using a MOOG synthesizer, played by Larry Harlow.{{Cite web |title=Chino Rodriguez "Cheung Mui"* Y La Consagracion* – Maestro De Kung Fu |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/1008737-Chino-Rodriguez-Cheung-Mui-Y-La-Consagracion-Maestro-De-Kung-Fu |website=Discogs}} Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez played on "Moonlight Serenade." Chino Rodriguez y La Consagración was nominated for Latin New York Magazine's award for Best New Band.Izzy Sanabria, Latin NY, May 1975 Rodriguez's second album, Si Te Vas Mi China, was recorded in 1976 after a year's worth of daily rehearsals. It produced two hits upon its release in 1977 and, like his debut album, achieved gold status.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}

Rodriguez began working part-time at Fania Records as a teenager, when Fania was about to purchase Salsa Records. At the record label, Chino Rodriguez recorded and began helping with the booking of the Fania All-Stars.{{Cite book |last=Muriel |first=Tommy |title=Fania All-Stars: Salsa, Inc.: [Cuatro décadas (y pico) de Nuestra Cosa Latina] |publisher=Fania |year=2006 |isbn=9781618872364 |pages=189}} Later, he worked as an independent booking agent representing many of the Fania artists.

He returned to the business side of the music industry in 1991, becoming Senior Vice President and General Manager of the newly formed Hidden Faces Records. After organizing business operations for Hidden Faces, he opened his own artist management company, Chino Rodriguez Management (C.R.M.), and booking agency, OMNI Latino Entertainment (OLE). His offices were opened in Brooklyn, New York. In 2011, Rodriguez represented Latin hip hop artists Proyecto Uno, bachata artist Domenic Marte, reggaetón duo Edgardo y D'niel, and bachata artist Alfred Martinez. Chino presently worked with many reggaetón and rap artists and lived in Florida.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

• Maestro De Kung-Fu, SALSA Records, 1976. Re-released on CD in 2004 by Mary Lou/SALSA Records.
• Si Te Vas Mi China, SALSA Records, 1977. Re-released on CD in 2004 by Mary Lou/SALSA Records.

{{Reflist}}

• Flores, Juan. From Bomba to Hip Hop: Puerto Rican Culture and Latino Identity. New York: Columbia University Press, 2000; {{ISBN|978-0-231-11077-8}}
• Leymarie, Isabelle. Cuban Fire: The Story of Salsa and Latin Jazz. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2002; {{ISBN|978-0-8264-6566-5}}
• Washburne, Christopher. Sounding Salsa: Performing Latin Music in New York City. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2008; {{ISBN|978-1-59213-316-1}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100910015146/http://www.passiondiscs.co.uk/e_pages/salsa_e/mrlcd716.htm Review and samples of Maestro de Kung-Fu]
• [http://www.musicofpuertorico.com/index.php/artists/chino_rodriguez Music of Puerto Rico] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205045311/http://www.musicofpuertorico.com/index.php/artists/chino_rodriguez/ |date=2012-02-05 }}
• [http://www.descarga.com/cgi-bin/db/archives/Interview50?L7BEChkE;;893 Andy Harlow interview for Descarga]
• [https://www.pbs.org.latinmusicusa Latin Music USA PBS documentary]{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• [http://ChinoRodriguezLMB.blogspot.com Chino Rodriguez's Personal Blog]

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Category:Musicians from New York City

Category:American music industry executives

Category:Music promoters

Category:People from Chinatown, Manhattan

Category:Salsa musicians

Category:1954 births

Category:2022 deaths

Category:American musicians of Puerto Rican descent

Category:American musicians of Chinese descent

Category:Businesspeople from New York City