Page 24 - STM-2015-04-EN
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The Artist: Irwin ‘Wito’ Rodriguez
Today I went through my collection and 16 he already sang in the band in which
came across a vinyl I haven’t listened to Chacon played and returned to Chicago
for ages: La Conexion Latina’s ‘Un Poco one year later.
Loco’. The German group was popular
when I started my DJ career some Soon after his return he joined Orquesta
decades ago and the voice of Irwin ‘Wito’ La Justicia, the number one band of
Rodriguez on the track ‘Salsa Jazz’ still Chicago at that time. At the age of 18 he
gives me the creeps. pulled up stakes in Chicago trying to get
a bigger gig, to sing with Gran Combo
Chicago & Puerto Rico de P.R. Unfortunately this didn’t work
Wito Rodriguez is a Puertorriqueño out as they had already chosen Charlie
born in Chicago. He started singing in Aponte and had left for a 30-day tour
a rock’n roll group at the age of 13 and before Wito reached P.R. He was
was sent to Puerto Rico the same year disappointed, spend a couple of months
when his parents split up. So there he in P.R. and finally joined the Army. In 1973
was in a country he hasn’t been before. he went to South Carolina for training
On La Isla he got into a band and met and expected to be sent to Vietnam, but
the percussionist Chacon who taught he was sent to Baumholder in Germany
him all about ritmos y clave. At the age of instead.
