Barry Rogers: remembering his legacy to Latin Music

15

Barry Rogers was probably the most influential trombonist in Latin music from the 1960s to the 90s. His work with Eddie Palmieri and the Fania All Stars earned him the respect and admiration of Latin music fans and colleagues.

My first memory of Barry Rogers was from his participation in the Fania All Stars’ “Live at the Cheetah” albums.  (Note: here’s a short blog on Fania’s Cheetah album, HERE). A few years later he participated in some recordings with Bobby Valentín’s band. In one of those, “El Sonero del Pueblo” Marvin Santiago baptized him as “El Terror de los Trombones” (the terror of trombones). For me, the trombone solo he did in “Prestame Tu Caballo” with Bobby Valentín’s band, was one of the best trombone solos in Salsa. He did another great solo in “Mi Gente” with the Fania All Stars.

Note: I originally posted this blog in June 10, 2011, and I’m re-posting on what would’ve been Barry’s 82nd birthday.

I bring up Barry Rogers because last month I read an article about Barry regarding the anniversary of his birthday. He was one of the duo of trombones for Eddie Palmieri’s “La Perfecta” band. Barry would have been 76 this month. It also happens that this year marks the 20th anniversary of his passing. I therefore want to share some of my thoughts regarding this excellent musician who made a big impact in Latin music.

Barry Rogers’ Time with Eddie Palmieri’s “La Perfecta”

Barry Rogers with Eddie Palmieri
Barry Rogers was one of the key pieces in Eddie Palmieri’s “La Perfecta”.

I’m not going to cover Barry’s bio here, it’s impossible to remember Barry Rogers and not talk about how he was one of the originals of Eddie Palmieri’s “La Perfecta”. With “La Perfecta”, Eddie Palmieri started experimenting with a new sound. He kept the flute, which his brother Charlie Palmieri used in his Charanga Duboney. But Eddie decided to add two trombones. Mark Weinstein and Barry Rogers where the 1st pair, but that later evolved to Jose Rodrigues and Barry. In either case, they where a fantastic trombone duo that set the standard for others to follow.

One of Barry Rogers early followers was Willie Colon. Still in his teens, Willie later decided to form an all trombone band, and cited that Barry was one of his musical inspirations.

Barry Rogers honed his playing style while at “La Perfecta”. Eddie Palmieri was one of the musicians who pursued Latin Jazz from the ‘60s along with his popular Salsa repertoire. Barry was a key contributor to all of these projects.

Contributions with the Fania All Stars and Bobby Valentín

Besides his unique contributions to “La Perfecta”, Barry Rogers is perhaps best remembered for his contributions with the Fania All Stars. He is also well remembered for his participation in some recordings with Bobby Valentín’s band. His solos in the Fania All Stars albums “Live at the Cheetah” and “Live at Yankee Stadium”, cemented him as an icon of Latin music.

Around this same time of the mid-70’s, Bobby Valentín decide to leave the Fania record label to form his own. For the first recording of his newly formed Bronco record label, Bobby Valentín reinforced his band with Barry Rogers. This 1st recording was to be done “Live” at the “Oso Blanco Penitentiary” in Puerto Rico.

One of my most vivid memories of a Barry Rogers solo, and his talent as a musician where cemented in the solo he did in the song “Préstame Tu Caballo”. Barry played the trombone with a power that was simply amazing. His trombone also had this “hollow” sound to it, that combined with the power he gave it, would completely fill the brass section of a band. In “Préstame Tu Caballo”, the first single from Bobby Valentín’s “Va a La Carcel” dual albums, Barry Roger’s solos sounded much more powerful perhaps due to the acoustics of the venue where they were performing.

The next album by Bobby Valentín, “Afuera”, also featured Barry Rogers on the trombone. It was in this album that Marvin Santiago baptized him “El Terror de los Trombones” during a solo in the album’s 1st single hit “El Jíbaro y La Naturaleza”.

Barry Rogers: The Most Influential Trombonist in Latin Music

Barry Rogers with trombone
Barry Rogers had a unique full sound on the trombone.

Rogers was a very solicited trombonist and left a mark everywhere he played. Besides Palmieri and the Fania All Stars, Barry also performed with many great bands and artists. These included Manny Oquendo’s Conjunto Libre, Cheo Feliciano, Celia Cruz, and Tito Puente. Outside of Latin music he also performed with James Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Grover Washington, Jr., Ron Carter, George Benson, Carly Simon, David Byrne, Bob James, Spyro Gyra, Bob Moses, Elton John and Don Grolnick, among others.

It’s a big statement to say Barry Rogers was the most influential trombonist in Latin music. There have been other excellent trombonists in Latin music during his time. José Rodrigues and Mark Weinstein are two of the great ones. Reinaldo Jorge, Leopoldo Pineda, Papo Vazquez, Jimmy Bosch are among many great trombonists. The influence Barry had on Willie Colon, not a great trombonist, but a great bandleader, should also be considered. And yet, it’s clear to me that the influence he had, propelled by his participation in La Perfecta and the Fania All Stars, left a mark in Latin music that no other trombonist can claim.

I will always remember Barry Rogers as one of the greatest in Latin music.

You might also like
15 Comments
  1. Chris Rogers says

    Thanks Hector for remembering my Dad on the 20 anniversary of his passing, and this week was the 22nd anniversary.
    Maybe we can talk sometime – thanks for your insightful
    commentary…
    …Chris Rogers

    1. Hector Aviles says

      Hi Chris,
      I would love to talk to you about your dad’s career. In my opinion he was the best trombonist in Latin music! If you want to arrange something, pls email me at [email protected].

      Best regards,

      Hector

  2. Warren Tesoro says

    Nothing was more exciting than watching & listening to Barry build the trombone lines and leading to his solo with Eddie Palmieri’s La Perfecta, especially at the Village gate on Monday nights in the ’60’s.

    1. Hector Aviles says

      Warren,
      Thanks for sharing your experience about Barry Rogers playing with Eddie Palmieri. Be that Mark Weinstein or Jose Rodrigues, Palmieri always had a great 2nd trombone that made a great team with Barry and the rest of La Perfecta!

  3. Héctor L González says

    ***Barry Rogers, one of my favorites and one of the best Trombonist of all time.
    If not the best in any genre.
    He was around to teach those who later did not mention His name as a mentor and maestro of the Trombone. Solicited by the best for the best and most outstanding musical projects.
    ***Ever since I was in Junior High School as a youngster in the Bronx and developed
    an affinity for Latin Music(salsa) I became a fan of His .He was probably in his early 20’s, mentioned almost every night in the Symphony Sid radio show .
    It was then when he was really heard in almost every famous Latin musical compositions, that made history of the time. I think He left us in the early 90’s, Great loss .
    ***With out a doubt He was the man, talented, versatile musically innovative and available for the best recognized musical pieces of Salsa .
    He left a musical legacy that’s very hard to challenge, very big shoes to fill in every genre but especially in Latin music as it was called in the 60’s .
    The best among the best. In my opinion definitely, one of the best from the 60’s to the time of his death..

    1. Hector Aviles says

      Thanks tocayo! Barry Rogers had a significant impact in Salsa music, starting with Eddie Palmieri, Fania All Stars, Conjunto Libre, and guest appearances with many bands, including Bobby Valentin.
      Thank you for you insights!

  4. Anonymous says

    Barry Rogers was and will always be thee crem de la crem of trombone players.His sound was unique and powerful. As evident in the Eddie Palmieri LP known simply as the white album. Barry was also a fine producer as well. Who can.forget Orquestra Broadways, Pasa porte LP.

    1. Hector Aviles says

      I totally agree. Bary Rogers was the best of many great trombonist that have played Latin music.

  5. Anonymous says

    Como dijo Marvin ahi viene el terror de los trombones Barry Rogers Barry Rogers puso el standard del trombon dentro de la salsa,. Esa era es historica cuando nuestra musica era un collage de musicos de todas las razas, culturas idiomas y paises del mundo ese es el legado y mensaje que nos dejaron Que cuando aceptamos diferiencias algo magico sucede. Gracias

    1. Hector Aviles says

      Gracias por tus comentarios. Barry Rogers ciertamente estableció el estándar para trombones en la Salsa.

  6. Juan says

    Great article Thanks

    1. Hector Aviles says

      Gracias Juan!

  7. Job Verweijen says

    hello there,
    Great article about a great musician! Do you happen to know the cause of death? He died way too early, only 55 years old, so I take it it was probably a heartache. Nothing is written anywhere about it. Thanks.

    Best from Germany, Job Verweijen

    1. Hector Aviles says

      Thanks Job and good question. I don’t know the reason for his premature death. I read something vague about his health, but that’s it.
      Certainly a great musician respected by all his peers.

Leave a Comment or Reply