Albertico Rodriguez, the man behind Celia Cruz's unreleased recordings
Those who lived in or visited the city of the Sun between the seventies and eighties still remember the songs of Carlos Oliva and Los sobrinos del juez, or the voice of the likeable Titti Sotto with his Chipi-Chipi and the Atomic Pomp. The Miami sound dominated the radio stations and there was no hit that did not go through the most listened to of all: Super Q FM 108.
In 1974 around eighty thousand people attended the Fania concert in Zaire (Republic of Congo). In the United States, the Miami Latin Boys - later identified as the Miami Sound Machine - became known and Albertico Rodríguez, at the age of 14, began his professional career as a broadcaster on WRHC AM with the experienced Enriquito de la Maza.
His passion for music and the world of communication allowed him to quickly establish friendships with different artists and show business producers at an international level. This is the beginning of his story.
"When I started in radio I met Celia Cruz; she was interviewed on the station. Celia was the most simple you could see, despite her worldwide fame. We shared repeatedly and I interviewed her several times," she recalls.
Photos Courtesy of the interviewee.
Five years later, in November 1979, Albertico was already on the stages of some clubs as master of ceremonies introducing top figures, among them the Fania All-Stars who arrived in Miami eight months after Johnny Pacheco (1935-2021) and some other musicians performed in Havana as part of the Havana Jam cultural event, barely announced by the island's media.
If in the seventies salsa had lowered the charanguera fever to the point of almost disappearing, in the eighties soloists and orchestras triumphed that swept inside and outside the United States, even reaching Europe and Japan.
For the fans, discotheques were inaugurated in Colombia, Peru, Panama... which were known worldwide, and other groups were born, such as Grupo Niche, under the leadership of Jairo Varela (1949-2012).
From the Miami radio station, our interviewee received in his programs both new and established artists. He could be seen at Casanova's club as well as at the Hialeah Hippodrome in front of 12,000 people who enjoyed, among others, Ray Barreto (1929-2006), Pete the Count Rodríguez (1933-2000) and Celia herself with the Orquesta Inmensidad conducted by Raúl Gallimore.
"I had the good fortune to introduce the greatest in music such as Julio Iglesias, Michael Jackson, Roberto Carlos, Willy Chirino, Héctor Lavoe, Hansel y Raúl and many more, but Celia was special," he acknowledges.
At over fifty years old, La Reina was the most successful figure of the salsa movement and she sang and danced with almost the same energy of a twenty-year-old. How did she do it? Cristóbal Díaz Ayala explains it masterfully:
"... based on a combination of natural faculties: a very powerful mezzo voice that has not diminished over the years, a unique musical and rhythmic sense, an iron discipline in her life (she has never smoked or drunk), the character of a young girl in her optimistic attitude towards life, and the professional pride of a classical concert pianist".
On one of those nights in 1986 Celia performed in Miami and as always happened in her concerts, the venue was packed with people of different nationalities.
Albertico introduced her: "Well, well, here she is: La Guarachera de Cuba, Celia Cruz..."; and she broke out, shuddering. She sang to Havana, to Pinar del Río and she did not miss QuimbaraJunior Cepeda's song that everyone hummed and allowed her to show off as an improviser.
Celia continued singing and interacting with the audience, while in the Super Q studios her voice was recorded.
Photos Courtesy of the interviewee.
The discovery...
Thirty-eight years later and ready to organize his archive, Albertico Rodríguez found that tape whose existence he himself did not know about. Between astonishment and enthusiasm, he realized that he had in his hands a treasure: unreleased live recordings! with the unmistakable voice of the best known and most recognized female figure of Cuban music worldwide.
"I had it stored in a closet with others and I almost didn't remember exactly what I had in there. I called Omer Pardillo and told him: I have something that could be interesting," he says.
From that moment on, an extensive process began that included the careful preservation, restoration and remastering of the nine tracks that finally made up the album. Live: 100 Years of Sugar, produced by Loud And Live Studios and curated by Grammy and Latin Grammy award winners Nelson Albareda and Omer Pardillo-Cid, respectively, and broadcaster Albertico Rodríguez.
The limited commemorative edition is numbered and the packaging design is one of its greatest attractions: each album is covered in a sequined embroidered fabric, inspired by one of the famed costumes Celia wore, accompanied by a booklet containing one hundred photographs celebrating the life of the legendary artist. Each copy includes printed and numbered plates of special photos, which may eventually become collector's items.
Omer, Celia's former manager and universal executor of her legacy, describes the recording as a true gem, as he recalls the raw energy and power Celia had on stage.
The "unveiling" marks the beginning of activities to celebrate Celia's centennial in 2025 and until the end of 2026. There will be shows, exhibitions, conferences and the expansion of the scholarship program where it is planned to include an international singing competition honoring her memory, among other surprises.
Today, the man behind the unreleased recordings of the musical icon celebrates half a century devoted entirely to radio, his companion. According to him, he plans to compile the stories and anecdotes of the greats of music on those nights in Miami.
Until the book arrives, he can be heard "on the air" Monday through Friday from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Exitos 107.1 FM. Of course, talking about music.
Photos Courtesy of the interviewee.
