Sal Cuevas’s Legacy, Presented by Ruben Rodríguez
Ruben Rodríguez
Image courtesy of the artist
Sal Cuevas
Image courtesy of the artist
Master Latin bass player Ruben Rodríguez presents a clinic about different innovations by legendary bassist Sal Cuevas.
Cuevas was an American electric bass guitarist and upright bassist who from 1978–1985 was a member of the salsa group Fania All-Stars, as well as several other top salsa groups of the time, including Johnny Pacheco, Héctor Lavoe, and Willie Colon/Ruben Blades.
At age 5, his father began helping him develop his deep love of music, and as a result Cuevas was able to stay away from negative influences in his South Bronx neighborhood. The demographics of New York City helped provide him with a tremendous array of musical influences, which he absorbed and later incorporated into his bass playing technique and style.
Rodríguez was born in New York City and grew up in East Harlem and Puerto Rico. He has been recognized as one of the best and hardest-working Latin music bass players in the United States. Rodríguez, whose father played classical guitar, taught himself the bass in junior high school, then spent time under the tutelage of esteemed bassist Victor Venegas.
Since getting his first break playing with Johnny Colon in 1979, he has worked with Grover Washington Jr., Roberta Flack, Ray Barretto, Tito Puente, and Machito. His exhaustive discography includes work with Marc Anthony, Dave Samuels, Dave Valentin, David Byrne, and Eddie Palmieri, just to name a few. Along with his producer/friend Sergio George, Rodríguez has been noted as revolutionizing the sound of contemporary popular salsa.