It has just been confirmed to me by Johnny Pacheco that Pete "el Conde" Rodriguez,one of Latin Music's great soneros and lead vocalist with the Fania All-Stars, passed away last evening, Dec.1st 2000, in his sleep, in his apartment in the Bronx NY.

This great singer from Ponce , Puerto Rico is survived by his wife Francis, a son and a daughter and his grandchildren. My deepest sympathy go out to his family and friends.

Larry Harlow

PENGUIN:

Rodríguez, Pete 'El Conde' (b Pedro Juan Rodríguez, 31 Jan. c. '35, Ponce, Puerto Rico) Noble-looking sonero (improvising salsa singer) with a distinctive smoky voice; nicknamed El Conde ('The Count'). Performed with local groups in Ponce; moved to NY, there recruited by Johnny Pacheco to sing on his Pacheco y su Charanga Vol.IV - 'Suav'ito' c. '63 on Alegre, inaugural Fania release Cañonazo '64 and Pacheco at the N. Y. World's Fair '64; departed to provide lead vocals on Swing '65 by Conjunto Sensación led by Cuban Rey Roig. Returned to Pacheco for Pacheco y su Charanga - By Popular Demand '66; duo made five more albums together '67-'73 incl. their finest Tres de Café y Dos de Azúcar '73. El Conde left to go solo, made a series of albums on Fania retaining typical Cuban two-trumpet conjunto format used by Pacheco: best-seller El Conde '74 dir. by Pacheco (LP helped him win Latin NY 'Best New Band' award '75), Este Negro Si Es Sabroso '76 incl. hits 'Pueblo Latino' ('Latin People') penned by C. Curet Alonso and Johnny Ortiz's 'Catalina La O', both arr. by José Febles, A Touch Of Class '78 incl. 'Tambo' written by Rubén Blades, arr. by Febles, Soy La Ley '79, Fiesta Con 'El Conde' '82 prod./arr. by Febles. He and Pacheco reunited for four albums '83-9 incl. Grammy nominated Salsobita '87 and 25th anniversary release Celebración '89; went solo again with Fania finale El Rey '90 prod./mus. dir. by Pacheco. El Conde broke-out of two-trumpet conjunto mould in favour of a salsa orquesta line-up of three trombones, two trumpets and alto sax, tres guitar, rhythm section and voices (incl. his son Pete Emilio Rodríguez and daughter Cita Rodríguez singing chorus and sharing lead vocals) for the refreshing Generaciones '93 on Marcas, prod./mus. dir./70% arrs./keyboards by Isidro Infante. Named Padrino (Godfather) of the Bronx's Puerto Rican Day Parade '96 to mark his 35 years in music; shared lead vocals with Junior González, Melcochita, Ray de la Paz and Carlos Santos on Gozando! '96 on Asefra by Mascara Salsera's Gold Stars; teamed-up with Papo Lucca for Pete y Papo '96 on Fania covering songs from album Romance '91 by Mexican singer Luis Miguel. He also performed and recorded with the Fania All Stars from their inception, also with Larry Harlow (LP Hommy - A Latin Opera '73), Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, others.

GUINNESS:

Rodríguez, Pete "El Conde"

b. Pedro Juan Rodríguez, 31 January c. 1935, Ponce, Puerto Rico. Golden voiced salsa vocalist Rodríguez has a cool and inspired singing style and a regal stage presence that befits his nickname of "El Conde" (The Count). Pete worked with local groups in Ponce before relocating to New York. Johnny Pacheco hired him for Pacheco y su Charanga Vol.IV - "Suav'ito" (c. 1963), Cañonazo (1964, the first release on the Fania Records label) and Pacheco at the N. Y. World's Fair. In 1966 he sang lead vocals on Swing by Conjunto Sensación, a three-trumpet group led by Cuban Rey Roig, who also wrote the arrangements. Roig was a former member of Conjunto Casino in Havana. The pianist with Sensación was Alfredo Rodríguez.

El Conde reunited with Pacheco in 1966 on Pacheco y su Charanga - By Popular Demand. Between 1967 and 1973 they recorded a further five albums together, including probably their best, Tres de Café y Dos de Azúcar, which contained the marvellous "El Piro De Farra". They produced several hits which became classics, such as C. Curet Alonso's composition "La Esencia Del Guaguancó" (from La Perfecta Combinación) and "Dulce Con Dulce" (from Los Compadres).

In 1974, Pete went solo under the new management of his wife, Frances, and made a series of albums which used the same typical Cuban trumpet and tres (six or nine-string Cuban guitar) conjunto format that he had worked in with Pacheco. The recording of his debut, El Conde, was directed by Pacheco, who also sang in the coro (chorus). The album was a best seller and won him the Latin NY magazine award for "Best New Band" in 1975. José Febles arranged the hit tracks "Catalina La O" (written by Johnny Ortiz) and "Pueblo Latino" (composed by Alonso) on his 1976 follow-up Este Negro Si Es Sabroso. Louie Ramírez produced this album and El Conde's 1977 release, A Touch Of Class, which contained the Rubén Blades composition "Tambo", arranged by Febles. Frances took over the role of producer on Soy La Ley in 1979. Febles handled all production and arrangement on Fiesta Con "El Conde" (1982).

A decade after Tres de Café y Dos de Azúcar, Rodríguez and Pacheco teamed up again for four albums between 1983 and 1989, which included their 25th anniversary release Celebración. Johnny was in the background as producer and musical director on El Conde's salsa romántica-oriented El Rey in 1990. Pete was a founder member of the Fania All Stars and performed an exciting version of his hit "Pueblo Latino" on their Live At Yankee Stadium Vol. 1 (1975). He recorded two interpretations of the Beny Moré classic "El Conde Negro", first in 1974 on El Conde, and then on Tito Puente's second tribute album to Moré in 1979.