Rico Rodriguez

British ska/reggae trombonist, brought up in Jamaica. Also known as Rico, Reco or El Reco.

Born: 17 October 1934 in Havana, Cuba.
Died: 4 September 2015 in London, England, UK (aged 80).

Rodriguez was taught to play the trombone by his fellow pupil Don Drummond at the Alpha School. In 1961, Rodriguez moved to the UK where he performed with various British reggae and ska artists, including: The Rudies, Dandy Livingstone, and The Specials.

Rodriguez was also a long time member of Jools Holland And His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, adding his trombone to the orchestra in the mid 1990's.

He became a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) at Buckingham Palace on 12 July 2007, for services to music.