Rico's Combo

Rico's Combo
OriginEngland
GenreSka
LabelPlanetone
Past membersRico Rodriguez
Lovett Brown
Mike Elliott
Jackie Edwards

Rico's Combo were a studio band, that recorded on the Planetone label in the early 1960s.

History

Rico's Combo recorded for the Planetone record label that was founded by Sonny Roberts in 1961 who would also release recordings by Mike Elliott, George Bailey, Jackie Foster, and Zephies Group. The group, which was led by the Jamaican trombonist Rico Rodriguez, recorded some ska records for the label in the early 1960s. When Rodrigues was not present on the recordings, the group would go by the name of The Planets.

They were also the house band for the Planetone label. Artists such as Dandy Livingstone, Tito Simon aka Sugar & Dandy and the Marvels recorded at the Planetone studio. This made Rico Rodriguez happy as he was given the opportunity to play Ska again.

It appears that the first release which was credited to Rico's Combo as a stand-alone band was "London Here I Come" bw "Midnight in Eihiopia".

Two tracks from this group, "London Here I Come" and "Hitch and Scramble", appeared on the Rodriguez's Trombone Man Anthology 1961-1971 CD.

Later years

Mike Elliott would join The Foundations around 1967. In 1972, he had his own single released on the Ackee Record label. The record was "Milk and Honey", credited to Mike Elliot, backed with "Burst a Shirt" which is credited to Mike Elliot with Harvey & Errol.

Rodriguez would release his Man from Wareika album in the mid 1970s and play on the "Ghost Town" single by The Specials.

Rodriguez died on 4 September 2015 at age 80.

Members

Discography

References

  1. ↑ DJ Mag, 25 July 2023 - NEWS, Sonny Roberts, Jamaican producer who opened Britain’s first Black-owned recording studio, to be honoured with blue plaque
  2. ↑ Marmoset - Rico's Combo
  3. ↑ Tighten Up!: The History of Reggae in the UK, Michael De Koningh, Marc Griffiths · 2003 - ISBN 978-1-86074-559-1 - Page 19
  4. ↑ Bass Culture When Reggae Was King, By Lloyd Bradley · 2001 - ISBN 978-0-14-192817-3 - (page unknown)
  5. ↑ 45Cat - Rico's Combo - London Here I Come
  6. ↑ Tighten Up!: The History of Reggae in the UK, Michael De Koningh, Marc Griffiths · 2003 - Page 20
  7. ↑ "SKA, ROCKSTEADY AND JAMAICAN MUSIC: August 2010". Skaandjamaicanbeat.blogspot.com. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  8. ↑ Disc and Music Echo, 4 November 1967 - Page 11 Eight faces that laid the FOUNDATIONS of a hit!
  9. ↑ Tighten Up!: The History of Reggae in the UK, By Michael De Koningh, Marc Griffiths · 2003 - ISBN 9781860745591 - Page 20
  10. ↑ 45 Cat Artist: Mike Elliot Milk And Honey
  11. ↑ Reggae Label Art Archives - Ackee ACK 151 # Mike Elliott – Milk & Honey / Mike Elliott & Errol – Bust A Shirt (Ackee) 1972 UK 7”
  12. ↑ Ancient to Future - THE MAN FROM WAREIKA HILLS: RICO RODRIGUEZ 1934 -2015
  13. ↑ The Guardian, Mon 7 Sep 2015 - Obituary, Rico Rodriguez obituary - David Katz
  14. ↑ Tighten Up!: The History of Reggae in the UK, Michael De Koningh, Marc Griffiths · 2003 - ISBN 978-1-86074-559-1 - Page 19
  15. ↑ "PLANETONE 7"S". Xs4all.nl. 14 November 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2014.