Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez

Who was Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez?

Pedro Juan Rodríguez Ferrer, better known as Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez was a salsa singer born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. His son, also named Pete Rodriguez, is also a salsa and jazz musician.

Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez was a percussionist who started playing bongos at the age of five. After working with local groups in Ponce, Puerto Rico, he moved to The Bronx during the 1950s. While singing and playing the congas in a Bronx bar, he was spotted by legendary bandleader Johnny Pacheco. His first album was titled Suavito, which was released in 1963.

Just a year later in 1964, Pacheco and his lawyer Jerry Masucci founded The Fania All-Stars, a combination of the best Latin singers and musicians at that time. Pete's first album under the Fania label was Canonazo. Between 1964 and 1973, Rodriguez and Pacheco recorded seven albums including La Perfecta Combinacion, Los Compadres, and Tres De Cafe Y Dos De Azucar.

In 1974, Rodríguez left the Fania All-Stars and concentrated on a successful solo career. His solo debut album El Conde was an award winner. His 1976 album Este Negro Si Es Sabroso was rated ninth in best Salsa records at that time.