| Chino Rodriguez | |
| Birth Name: | James Mui |
| Birth Place: | Manhattan, New York City, U.S |
| Birth Date: | 2 February 1954 |
| Instrument: | Trombone |
| Genre: | Salsa, Latin jazz |
| Occupation: | Trombonist, impresario |
| Years Active: | 1965–2022 |
| Label: | SALSA / Mary Lou Records, Oriente Music Group |
| Associated Acts: | Larry Harlow, Andy Harlow |
| Website: | Latin Music BookingOriente Music Group (OMG) |
James Mui, known professionally as Chino Rodriguez (February 2, 1954 — November 5, 2022), was an American musician and impresario who specialized in Latin music, salsa and Latin jazz.
Rodriguez was born James Mui on February 2, 1954 in the Little Italy/Chinatown area of Manhattan, New York City, to a Chinese father, Chueng Mui (Chinese: 梅莊, Méi Zhuāng), who obtained U.S. citizenship by joining the Merchant Marines during World War II, and a third-generation Puerto Rican mother, Gloria Figueroa Rodríguez.
Rodriguez studied music at Junior High School 65 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. In his late teens, he met Orchestra Dee Jay in Brooklyn, who brought him into the fold as a band boy, then later as an occasional coro (chorus) singer. He formed his first band on the Lower East Side, simply called Chino Rodriguez and his Orchestra in 1968-69, playing at weddings, birthdays, and private parties. Through the local musician's union, American Federation of Musicians 802, he found work playing music for the New York City Department of Parks arts program, from 1970-74.
Rodriguez recorded two albums for Ismael Maisonave's label, Salsa Records: Maestro De Kung-Fu,[1] produced by Andy Harlow, and Si Te Vas Mi China,[2] [3] produced by Larry Harlow.
Maestro de Kung-Fu contained "La Computadora", the first Latin recording using a MOOG synthesizer, played by Larry Harlow. Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez played on "Moonlight Serenade." Chino Rodriguez y La Consagración was nominated for Latin New York Magazines award for Best New Band.[4] Rodriguez's second album, Si Te Vas Mi China, was recorded in 1976 after a year's worth of daily rehearsals. It produced two hits upon its release in 1977 and, like his debut album, achieved gold status.
Rodriguez began working part-time at Fania Records as a teenager, after FANIA was about to purchase Salsa Records. On the record label Chino Rodriguez recorded on and began helping with the booking of the Fania All-Stars. Then Rodriguez moved on to working as an independent booking agent representing many of the Fania artists such as Larry Harlow, Ismael Miranda, Junior Gonzalez, Bobby Valentine and many other Fania Greats. Rodriguez returned to working full-time in the business side of the music industry in 1991, becoming Senior Vice President and General Manager of the newly formed Hidden Faces Records. After organizing business operations for Hidden Faces he opened his own artist management company, Chino Rodriguez Management (C.R.M.), and booking agency, OMNI Latino Entertainment (OLE). His offices were opened in Brooklyn, New York. In 2011, Rodriguez represented Latin hip hop artists Proyecto Uno, bachata artist Domenic Marte, reggaetón duo Edgardo y D'niel, and bachata artist Alfred Martinez. Chino presently worked with many reggaetón and rap artists and lived in Florida.