b. 30 August 1911, Gira de Macurije, Matanzas Province, Cuba, d. 31 December 1970, New York City, New York, USA. Rodr¡guez was the third generation descendant of a slave from the Congo region of Africa. When he was seven years old he lost his eyesight and in his adult years he became known as "El Ciego Maravilloso" (The Marvellous Blind Man). He is reputed to have begun his professional career at the age of eight, starting with African-derived bass instruments and the conga. Later on, street soneros (performers of the Afro-Cuban form called son) helped him learn the tres (six or nine-string Cuban guitar), which he favoured and became a celebrated exponent.

Listen to Arsenio Rodriguez/Su Conjunto at Finetune.

• (1999)  Tocoloro

• Arsenio Rodriguez
• 50 Cent
• Aretha Franklin
• Changing Faces
• Godspeed You Black Emperor
• Hart Hollman & The Motown Romance Orchestra
• James Brown
• Jane Birkin
• Jeff Mills
• K-Ci & JoJo
• Lou Reed
• Parliament
• R. Kelly
• Smashing Pumpkins
• The Beach Boys
• The Velvet Underground
• Tim Buckley
• Youssou N'Dour
• Eddie Palmieri
• Ibrahim Ferrer

• YoeFSantos
• KingMike