Pete Rodriguez was the bandleader and pianist for Pete Rodriguez y Su Conjunto, known for their 1967 boogaloo hit, “I Like it Like That.”
- Died: March 7, 2024 (Who else died on March 11?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 89.
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Pete Rodriguez’s legacy
Born in New York City, Rodriguez grew up steeped in Latin music, and his own work helped bring that music into the mainstream. After serving in the U.S. Navy in the 1950s, he came home to form Pete Rodriguez y Su Conjunto (Pete Rodriguez and His Orchestra). They played the emerging style of boogaloo, which merged Latin rhythms with American R&B and soul.
Rodriguez and his band turned out one of the best-known and most enduring hits of boogaloo when they recorded “I Like It Like That.” Rodriguez’s piano anchors the catchy, danceable tune, sung by trumpeter Tony Pabon. The song has been widely covered and heard in movies, TV shows, and video games, including “Chef” and “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.” Its success was part of what led to Rodriguez being crowned “The King of Boogaloo.”
Rodriguez and his band recorded more than a dozen albums, mostly in the 1960s but with a few coming in later years. Rodriguez performed sporadically after the band’s early fame, and he said he appreciated the long-lasting popularity of his biggest hit.
Rodriguez on the boogaloo era
“It was a great time, you know? It was a free dance, a free-for-all dance that anybody can do, and the music was pretty catchy.” —from a 2017 interview for DNA Info
Tributes to Pete Rodriguez
Full obituary: Caracol Radio
