Biography
Pellín Rodríguez (December 4, 1926 – October 31, 1984), was a renowned salsa singer. He as born and raised in Santurce, Puerto Rico.
In the 1950's, Rodríguez joined Tito Puente's band and went on a New York City musical tour.
Read full biography ↓
In 1960, he went to work for the band of Noro Morales for a short period of time. Rodríguez joined the salsa band "Cortijo's Combo" which was directed at the time by Rafael Cortijo and Ismael Rivera.
In 1962, Rafael Cortijo and Ismael Rivera left the group. Rafael Ithier reorganized the musical group and called it "El Gran Combo", Rodríguez was to tour with the new group all over Europe and Latin America, gaining fame and popularity as a singer. He scored "hits" in the Latin Billboards with songs such as "Que Extraña Es La Vida" (How Strange Life Is), "Amor Por Tí" (Love For You) and "Arrebatadora".
Rodríguez worked with "El Gran Combo" for twelve years. During that period of time the band won many awards and international recognitions. Rodríguez departed from the band in 1972, after recording "Por El Libro" (By The Book). He went on as a solo singer and at times as co-lead singer for Oscar D'Leon's band "La Salsa Mayor".
In 1982, Rodríguez reunited with some of the former members of "El Gran Combo" under the banner of "El Gran Combo Del Ayer" (The Gran Combo of the Past). In 1983, he co-wrote the song "Homenaje (Rafael Ithier)" (Tribute to Rafael Ithier) and he also recorded a boleros album titled "12 Boleros, Collecion de Oro".
Pellín Rodríguez died on October 31, 1984 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.