Barry Rogers

Barry Rogers
Background information
Born
Barron W. Rogers

(1935-05-22)May 22, 1935
New York City, US
DiedApril 18, 1991(1991-04-18) (aged 55)
New York City, US
GenresJazz, pop, salsa
OccupationMusician
InstrumentTrombone

Barron W. "Barry" Rogers (May 22, 1935 – April 18, 1991) was an American jazz and salsa trombonist.

Career

Born in The Bronx, he descended from Polish Jews and was raised in Spanish Harlem. His family (original name: Rogenstein) possessed a strong musicality. His father and several of his uncles sang in the choir of Joseph Rosenblatt, and his mother taught in Africa and Mexico, inspiring an interest in music from other nations. Rogers attended Bronx Vocational High School, and during this time he began playing in small Latin bands. Shortly thereafter, he started playing with saxophonist Hugo Dickens, who introduced him to a number of influential musicians including Pete La Roca, Larry Harlow (musician), Hubert Laws, and many others.

As a student of the playing of jazz trombonists Jack Teagarden, Lawrence Brown, and J. C. Higginbotham, Rogers began to play Latin music in the mid-1950s and would be most associated with it from then on. He developed his style while working with Puerto Rican bandleader Eddie Palmieri. The two performed in the style of the Cuban conjunto, or small ensembles generally consisting of bass, rhythm, a singer and trumpet, but with emphasis on two trombones rather than trumpet.

Willie Colón regarded Rogers as his strongest musical influence and would feature him in many of his productions. Bobby Valentín would feature Rogers in his song "El Jíbaro y la Naturaleza", which led Marvin Santiago to nickname him "El Terror de los Trombones" for the record.

Rogers worked with Israel "Cachao" López, Machito, Manny Oquendo, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Cheo Feliciano, Johnny Pacheco, Chino Rodríguez, and the Fania All-Stars. Although known as a salsa trombonist and studio musician, he worked with jazz, soul, and pop musicians.[citation needed] He was a founding member of the band Dreams with Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, and Billy Cobham. He also worked with George Benson, David Byrne, Ron Carter, Aretha Franklin, Don Grolnick, Bob James, Elton John, Chaka Khan, Bob Moses, Todd Rundgren, Carly Simon, Spyro Gyra, James Taylor, and Grover Washington Jr. The father of trumpeter Chris Rogers, Barry Rogers died suddenly, of unknown causes, in Washington Heights, Manhattan at the age of 55.

The opening song from 1992's Return of the Brecker Brothers, "Song for Barry", was written as a tribute by his former band member and friend Michael Brecker after his passing.

Discography

Note: he is credited as "Barry Rodgers" on several records.

With Average White Band

With Fania All-Stars

With Jun Fukamachi

With Chaka Khan

With Herbie Mann

With Eddie Palmieri

With Esther Phillips

With Ismael Quintana

With Todd Rundgren

With Dr. Lonnie Smith

With James Taylor

With Bobby Valentin

With others

References

  1. 1 2 3 Lapidus, Benjamin (2020). New York and the International Sound of Latin Music, 1940-1990. University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 9781496831309.
  2. ↑ Archived 2006-10-28 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ Aviles, Hector. "Barry Rogers: Remembering His Legacy to Latin Music". Latino Music Cafe. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  4. ↑ Carp, David. "Barry Rogers: Salsero, Searcher, World Musician". Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  5. ↑ https://somethingelsereviews.com/2010/08/07/one-track-mind-the-brecker-brothers-song-for-barry-1992/