Pete Rodriguez

Pete Rodríguez, a young man of Puerto Rican descent living in the Bronx, was considered the pioneer of this new cultural and musical movement that got dancers up on their feet. The road to being crowned “The King of Boogaloo” was a long one for Pete Rodríguez. When he returned from serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1964, he started “La Magnífica,” his first band with whom he released the album “At Last!” The record made him wildly famous, and he began performing in popular night clubs around New York City. The following year, he recorded his second album: “The King of Boogaloo.” This nickname would identify him for the rest of his brilliantly successful professional career, as part of the group Pete Rodríguez y su Conjunto. In 1971, the boogaloo had started to fade, but Pete Rodríguez was still as popular as ever. The same year, he released the album “Right On! ¡Ahí na má!” The production embraced the new prevailing genre, salsa, and received the unconditional support of his fans.