Rubén Rodriguez was born in the countryside of the Corrientes province in northeastern Argentina, near the town of Curuzú Cuatiá. He had a peaceful childhood on his father’s ranch “La Estrella†where schoolwork was mixed with rural chores. His early years gave Rubén an understanding of rural people, their customs and traditions, in addition to filling his spirit with the songs of the wild birds, the sound of the river, and the silence of the landscape.
When he was seven years old he felt drawn to music and asked his father to buy him an accordion, but his father had no intention of his son becoming a musician and flatly denied his request. Years passed and in high school, when Rubén was 16, he bought his first accordion for himself and began a long musical journey that would take him to travel thousands of kilometers across all of Argentina.
Rubén’s accordion mentor was Gualberto Sabino Panozzo who taught him the secrets of the button accordion, and with Edgar Emilio Estigarribia , the great poet from Curuzú Cuatiá, Rubén absorbed everything about poems, verses, and lyrics which took him to compose his own verses which grace his musical pieces today.
After playing dances and festivals in Curuzú Cuatiá his career launched in 1984, when he was invited to be a part of Conjunto Iverá lead by Juan Chazarretta of Ceres, Santa Fé. With them, Rubén played eight years, recorded six albums, and toured extensively in the Argentine provinces of Santa Fé, Santiago del Estero, Chaco, Corrientes, Entre RÃos, and Buenos Aires.
In 1992 Rubén became part of the famous band Conjunto IvotÃ, with whom he played for two years, touring intensely, and recording two albums. Together with Conjunto IvotÃ, Rubén played important festivals like: CosquÃn, Jesús MarÃa, and Baradero, as well as important presentations on national radio and television.
Since then Rubén Rodriguez has recorded eight albums with the “Abraham Helú†label. His musical art, which he tirelessly presents, springs from the legacy of one of the greatest chamamé artists of all time: Tarragó Ros. It is also nourished by many other wonderful chamamé artists, but Rubén’s inspiration and joy shine through his music to make it distinctly his own.
In his journeys as a musician he has covered Argentina from top to bottom, from Jujuy to Ushuaia to Misiones. He has participated in important festivals, serving as a judge for two consecutive years in the National Chamamé Festival in Federal, Entre RÃos.
In 2003 he completed a 15 day tour of Canada in the Toronto area, with a overwhelming response from the Hispanic public there.
In 2004 he did an extensive tour of the United States of America. In 42 days he covered the states of Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Texas. Some of the venues included: The Chicago World Music Festival, Lotus World Music and Arts Festival (Bloomington, Indiana), the Texas State Fair (Dallas, Texas), and the International Accordion Festival (San Antonio, Texas)
His group is composed of two accordions, two guitars, and a bass, and his music reflects all the musical styles of his region of Argentina where not only do people dance chamamé, but also chamarritas, rasguido doble, valseado, polkas, and vanerao. Ruben Rodriguez y su Conjunto brings high-energy, accordion-fueled dance music that is rarely heard in North America.
Rubén Rodriguez, “The Accordion and Poet of Curuzú Cuatiáâ€, as he is known, carries in his blood a treasure of music and poetry, a legacy of his people.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.rubenrodriguezysuconjunto.comTrack List:
1. Don Tele (chamamé)
2. Como Perro a la Osamenta (chamamé)
3. Te Deseo Lo Mejor (chamamé)
4. Mogote Monda (chamamé)
5. Boquita de Miel (chamamé)
6. Gaucho Riograndense (bugÃo)
7. Rojheyama (Ya Te Dejo) (chamamé)
8. El Gringo Curbelo (chamamé)
9. La Luz Mala (chamamé)
10. El Pangare (chamamé)
11. Dulcemente Me Recuerdas (chamamé)
12. Con Alma de Chamamé (chamamé)
13. Por Entre RÃos (chamarrita)
14. Festival del Jubilado (chamamé)
15. Pescador Correntino (chamamé)
16. La Repartija (chamamé)
Suggested CDs:
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