Born: May 22, 1935 | Died: April 18, 1991 Primary Instrument: Trombone
Barry Rogers - trombone (1935 - 1991)
Barry Rogers is widely recognized as being the most influential trombone soloist in New York's formative Salsa scene from the early 1960's through the late 80's. The sound which he created transformed the way the trombone has been used in Latin music and still resonates today as his influence on contemporary players is evident.
He developed his style during several years with Eddie Palmieri, a collaboration that resulted in over a dozen recordings, some stellar arrangements, and one Grammy award. He also lent his talents to albums by The Fania All-Stars, Machito, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Charlie Palmieri, Cheo Feliciano, Johnny Pacheco, Manny Oquendo's “Libre”, and many more.
Barry was also a founding member of the ground-breaking jazz-rock band DREAMS which included Mike and Randy Brecker, and had a jazz and studio recording career that saw him work with artists like James Taylor, Aretha Franklyn, Chaka Khan, Todd Rundgren, Grover Washington Jr., Ron Carter, George Benson, Carly Simon, David Byrne, Bob James, Spyro Gyra, Bob Moses, Elton John and Don Grolnick.
This is an excerpt from an article on Barry Rogers by David Carp:
The life and work of Barry Rogers is fraught with irony. Not a Latino, he changed the face of Hispanic Caribbean music. Not a scion of the African Diaspora, he felt, mastered, performed and taught Afro-Atlantic music as if it were part of his genetic makeup. A man who worshipped John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins and who began and ended his life playing jazz, he is best known as a salsero. The de facto leader of almost every band fortunate enough to count him as a member, he never officially led a band or had a hit record. His role (however vaguely formulated or insufficiently understood) in shaping the sounds of 60's salsa, 70's fusion extending into Latin jazz today, masks another achievement, possibly even greater: Barry Rogers can be considered to be one of the first world musicians. The clouding of this achievement is probably the greatest irony of all.
Source: Chris Rogers and David Carp
