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Arsenio Rodríguez

Arsenio Rodríguez, born Ignacio Arsenio Travieso Scull on August 31, 1911, in Güira de Macurijes, Cuba, was a seminal figure in the evolution of Cuban popular music. Blind from an early age due to a horse accident, Rodríguez's adversity did not impede his musical journey; instead, it fueled a pioneering spirit that led to significant contributions in the realm of Afro-Cuban music, particularly in son montuno, which is a subgenre of son Cubano. Often referred to as "El Ciego Maravilloso" (The Marvelous Blind Man), Arsenio's sound was distinguished by a robust blend of African rhythms and jazz-inspired brass arrangements, creating a foundation for what would eventually evolve into salsa.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Arsenio Rodríguez and his conjunto revolutionized Cuban music, expanding the traditional son sextet into a conjunto by adding piano, congas, and multiple trumpets, which gave birth to a fuller, more vibrant sound. His innovations also included incorporation of the tumbadora (conga drum) into the ensemble, thus bringing the deep, resonant rhythms of Afro-Cuban music to the fore. Arsenio's influence extends beyond the structure of the music; he was a prolific composer and tres player, who wrote and arranged scores of songs that became standards in Latin music. After moving to New York in the early 1950s, his work continued to inspire countless Latin musicians. Though he passed away on December 30, 1970, his legacy endures, immortalized by the generations of musicians he influenced and the timeless recordings that continue to resonate with audiences across the globe.

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