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His genuine smile and enthusiasm is contagious...
This portrayal of an Albuquerque salsa conguero is more
than a description of an artist. Rather, it is an
interesting insight to a musician’s experiences both
inside as well as outside the salsa world. The Latin
flavors encompassing Victor Rodriguez represents a
fusion of passions.Representing a tumbadora of talents
from his very Latin roots, Victor’s uniqueness spans
from having been a world class athlete to the
electrifying beat he so masterly performs on his congas.
Victor Rodriguez was born the son of a bongo player. He
grew up performing in Puerto Rican street percussion
performances, called Bembés. In 1972, he joined the
Freddie Melendez Group, a Puerto Rican música jíbara
(folk music) quartet. Victor has performed with salsa
bands in Albuquerque for the last twenty years. In 1992
he was invited to perform with world renowned cuatro
player Yomo Toro. In addition, Victor was a founder of
Salsa Suite. In 1994 he formed Tá-Bení, an Afro-Cuban
Percussion Ensemble which features dancers and batá
drums.
The conguero is not a “starving” artist by any means in
the typically tough music business. In his “day job” he
is a successful professional. A Maestro of his own
endeavors, the very likeable and top notch quality
person Victor Rodriguez is being interviewed from
Albuquerque, New Mexico:
Les Rivera: How did you become a conguero, where
did you learn to play, and how long have you played the
congas?
Victor Rodriguez: Interestingly enough, I am
really a bongo player. My father taught me how to play
“martillo” and to place my hands and fingers. I took it
seriously for many years; then I started getting into
the conga drums and I fell in love with the sound and
the combinations. I’m still learning how to play,
believe me. I have been playing congas in the front line
now for about seven years, that’s all; I’m still a baby,
hah! But I take it very seriously, too serious perhaps.
I am not a show-off type of player.
I was taught to keep the marcha where it needs to be to
make the overall rhythm-machine work. You must put the
‘golpes’ where they are the most effective in terms of
complimenting the melodies. That’s what makes the dancer
move! Cesar (the bandleader) teaches us that it is not
how many hits you can put inside a measure but how
effective they are. It is not about speed and soloing,
but about playing with the other musicians in the group.
It is about having the chops to play all night with the
same flavor.
LR: What band are you with now?
VR: The name of the band is Son Como Son, which
means ‘they are as they are’. That is truly what it is;
we are as we are. The band has been around for nearly 13
years, I have been with them about 10.
LR: Tell us about Son Como Son, the band leader
and what his background is.
VR: Well, Son Como Son is basically a school.
Weird, huh? It truly is. If you look at our backgrounds,
although very nice, they are not all big league. Most of
us have played with several groups and we have solid
experience. But, it is not like we have played with the
big names in salsa or anything like that, except for
Cesar, our bandleader. Cesar is a world renowned
musician. So what he has done is taking us to school,
but not to first grade. He has taken us to higher levels
than where we were. As a result of that, we have become
a solid band who is very aware of what it takes to get
the job done.
Cesar is the most sensitive individual I have ever met.
Don’t confuse sensitivity with not being tough. They
don’t come any tougher than him. Believe me, we all
know. At the same time, he’s got the biggest heart. He
will teach you if you are serious about music. If you’re
not, he won’t. I have not seen the talent that he
possesses in anyone else. His ears are like a
stethoscope and they function like an MRI machine. He
hears and sees everything. He’s the watchman, he is the
protector. His talent has not been recognized in full by
the New Mexico musicians.
LR: What makes Son Como Son unique, and what’s
the appeal of this salsa band?
VR: We are a group of people who deeply care for
how the music is presented and how it affects the
audience. We are unique in many ways, you have to
experience it. No fancy foot work or flashing wardrobe,
just plain old ‘afinque’. We get
down to business, regardless of where we are playing. We
play just as hard for a small and unrecognized show as
we do for a big show. We owe it to the audience and to
the culture. You must have cojones to play this music
and we do; especially the girls in the band (not
literally). They are fantastic! They are the ones that
give the band the right fascination. 
LR: Tell us about the CD releases of Son Como
Son.
VR: We have released two CD’s. The first called
“Aqui no falta mas nadie”, which is basically a
dedication to ‘those’ who did not believe in us when we
needed them the most. Those who are affected by this
will know in their heart when they read this interview.
Despite the musicians leaving us hanging we still came
ahead. No need to name anyone. Our theme song "Son Como
Son" is all about this, and the coro says “Son Como Son
y aqui no falta mas nadie, Son
Como Son”.
This was our first CD and it took a year to complete for
various reasons. But it got done, thanks to Cesar’s
perseverance. The other CD, “Corazon”, speaks for
itself. We poured our hearts into this one. Besides, the
word “Corazon” is mentioned over 35 times throughout the
CD. This was not planned at all. It was meant to be
named “Corazon”. We are very proud of the work that was
done, but we can do better. We also have enough material
to do two more CD’s if we want to, but it takes finances
to do that.
LR: Has Son Como Son taken on any tours outside
of your local area of Albuquerque yet?
VR: Yes, very short tours. The place we love the
most is Durango, Colorado. I hope that Los Angeles will
be like that when we go there someday.
LR: How would you describe the popularity of
salsa in Albuquerque?
VR: It is actually quite good. In fact, if you
look around us, Albuquerque has more salsa than many
other much bigger cities, which are supposed to have
more ‘Latinos’. That includes Phoenix and Denver. We
have at least three salsa bands in the city, which as I
said, is more than what many other cities in the South
West has.
LR: How did you end up in Albuquerque?
VR: I came here as a transfer student from the
University of Puerto Rico. I had a partial scholarship
in track & field and I also played baseball.
LR: At one time you were in the world’s spotlight
as an athlete. Tell us about that.
VR: As I mentioned before, I was a track & field
athlete. I was a discus thrower for the UNM Lobos in the
extinct Western Athletic Conference. I had participated
in Central American Games at a young age, but the
highlight was at age 31. At that time I made the
National team of Puerto Rico, which competed in the Los
Angeles Olympic Games in 1984. As a young baseball
player from Puerto Rico, I played in the Babe Ruth World
Series where we became World Champions. I also enjoyed a
very nice and short profession, playing semi pro
baseball after I finished college.
LR: Are the fans admiring a salsa artist
different from the fans admiring an athlete’s
appearance? If there are differences, what are they?
VR: I think they are the same. The hard-core fans
know what it takes to be there, whether they are on
stage or on the field. It seems, however, that salsa
fans now are also looking at appearance as well. Not
that they didn’t before, but it’s happening more so
nowadays. They are both loyal and protective.
LR: What do you do as a busy professional in your
“day job”?
VR: I am an account representative for a company
that supplies high voltage electrical systems to
utility-power generating companies, as well as to
specialized contractors. I also have a small company of
my own that sells an emission-gas saver device, and its
website is www.ecofuelsystems.com.
LR: How do you balance the time required for your
“day job” versus the time required for your show biz
artist career?
VR: I do that very carefully and methodically.
Band leader Cesar calls me quite a bit to remind me of
rehearsals mostly, and I do appreciate that!
LR: What do you like about being a salsa artist?
VR: I like the fact that it gives me the
opportunity to carry on a tradition and spread the
culture wherever we go.
LR: What do you dislike about being a salsa
artist?
VR: Well, I don’t dislike this, man. But it is a
lot of work, especially in areas where salsa is not
supported as a majority genre. We set the example. We
give much more than we take.
LR: Where did you grow up and what were your
early years like?
VR: I grew up in Puerto Rico, specifically in the
areas of Bayamon and Guaynabo. I grew up in music and
sports. My dad, the late Cheguan Rodriguez, was a bongo
player who sided with El Gran Combo. I remember that
there were lots of rehearsals in the big living room we
had. He was also a baseball player at the University of
Puerto Rico, in Rio Piedras, and he also played the
Double A baseball league. So we were very busy playing
and watching, as well. It was fun and it kept me out of
trouble. We also went to the beach and ate lots of great
food; can’t you tell (laughter)?
LR: Great speaking with you again Victor. How can
people get in touch with you or inquire about booking
Son Como Son?
VR: People can get in touch with me by email at
vicrodriguez54@msn.com at any time. For the band, you
can go to: www.soncomoson.com, or you can contact Cesar
at cesarbau@nmia.com. Thanks Hermano!
Author’s remark: Victor got married shortly
after the interview, now adding a happy family life to a
happy artist career! |
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