• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

International Salsa Magazine

  • Home
  • Previous editions
    • 2025
      • ISM / September 2025
      • ISM / August 2025
      • ISM / July 2025
      • ISM / June 2025
      • ISM / May2025
      • ISM / April 2025
      • ISM / March 2025
      • ISM / February 2025
      • ISM / January 2025
    • 2024
      • ISM / December 2024
      • ISM / November 2024
      • ISM / October 2024
      • ISM / September 2024
      • ISM / August 2024
      • ISM / July 2024
      • ISM / June 2024
      • ISM / May 2024
      • ISM / April 2024
      • ISM / March 2024
      • ISM / February 2024
      • ISM / January 2024
    • 2023
      • ISM / December 2023
      • ISM / November 2023
      • ISM / October 2023
      • ISM – September 2023
      • ISM – August 2023
      • ISM July 2023
      • ISM Edition June 2023
      • ISM – May 2023
      • ISM April 2023
      • ISM March 2023
      • ISM February 2023
      • ISM January 2023
    • 2022
      • ISM December 2022
      • ISM November 2022
      • ISM October 2022
      • ISM September 2022
      • ISM August 2022
      • ISM July 2022
      • ISM June 2022
      • ISM May 2022
      • ISM February 2022
      • ISM January 2022
    • 2021
      • ISM December 2021
      • ISM November 2021
      • ISM October – 2021
      • ISM September 2021
      • ISM August 2021
      • ISM July 2021
      • ISM May 2021
      • ISM April 2021
      • ISM June 2021
      • ISM March 2021
      • ISM February 2021
      • ISM January 2021
    • 2020
      • ISM December 2020
      • ISM November 2020
      • ISM October 2020
      • ISM September 2020
      • ISM August 2020
      • ISM July 2020
      • ISM June 2020
      • ISM May 2020
      • ISM April 2020
      • ISM March 2020
      • ISM February 2020
      • ISM January 2020
    • 2019
      • ISM December 2019
      • ISM November 2019
      • ISM October 2019
      • ISM Septembre 2019
      • ISM August 2019
      • ISM July 2019
      • ISM June 2019
      • ISM May 2019
      • ISM April 2019
      • ISM March 2019
      • ISM February 2019
      • ISM January 2019
    • 2018
      • ISM December 2018
      • ISM November 2018
      • ISM October 2018
      • ISM September 2018
      • ISM August 2018
      • ISM July 2018
      • ISM June 2018
      • ISM May 2018
      • ISM April 2018
      • ISM March 2018
      • ISM February 2018
      • ISM January 2018
    • 2017
      • ISM December 2017
      • ISM November 2017
      • ISM October 2017
      • ISM September 2017
      • ISM August 2017
      • ISM July 2017
      • ISM June 2017
      • ISM May 2017
  • Download Salsa App
    • Android
    • Apple
  • Spanish

1 New artist Wito Rodriguez “I am distinct and different”

Norte America / Estados Unidos / Florida

Wito Rodriguez. “I am distinct and different”

Irwin “Wito” Rodríguez was born in Chicago to Puerto Rican parents and got his start in the musical field as a singer and musician. During his teenage years, he performed with a Rock and Roll band as a guitarist.

In 1968 Wito Rodriguez decided to move to “La Isla Del Encanto”, Puerto Rico, in order to search for his musical roots and experience the spicy sounds of his beloved Latin Ritmo.

His first encounter in the Salsa genre was with a Puerto Rican percussionist from the 60’s called “Chacón y su Orquesta”, where Wito learned all the Latin rhythms such as Guaguancó, Boogaloo, Mozambique, etc.

Chacón was his coach in Latin percussion instruments and Wito also fell in love with maracas.

Wito Rodriguez returned to Chicago in 1971 to join “Orquesta La Justicia” a local band that opened shows for artists such as: Ismael Rivera, Ray Barreto, Willie Colón, El Gran Combo and the legendary “Fania All Stars”.

Like many young men of that time, in 1973 Wito Rodriguez decided to join the United States Army and was sent to Europe.

During his stay in Germany, Wito Rodriguez took singing lessons with the Opera singer Barbra Sutton, and at the same time he created two bands with the names of “El Conjunto Sabor” and “La Sonora Antillana”.

These orchestras accompanied artists of the Salsa genre such as: Adalberto Santiago, Ismael Miranda, Tito Allen, Santitos Colón, Pete “El Conde” Rodríguez and the queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz.

After his retirement from the army, Wito joined forces with German band leader Rudi Fuesers and created the European Salsa Orchestra “Conexion Latina”.

With Conexion Latina, Wito Rodriguez recorded two albums; “Calorcito” and “Un Poco Loco”.

He also had the great experience of recording two songs with the band of Director and Arranger Peter Herbolzheimer.

During the 80’s, Wito wanted to broaden his horizons by forming his own groups called “Wito Rodriguez y Orchestra” and “Wito Con Cache”.

Missing his family and friends, Wito “crossed the pond” to return to the United States to finish his Army career.

He never gave up his passion for music, a new big band sound was on his mind, and he returns to the spotlight with the Wito Rodriguez Salsa Jazz Orchestra under the musical direction of trumpeter and arranger, Gino Picart.

“What a wonderful world” or “What a Wonderful World” is his third album released in January 2015.

Although busy in 2016 with live performances, a new album had also been produced and recorded between South America Venezuela and Orlando, Florida.

The most recent production called “Como el Viento” will be released in 2017. This album contains a compilation of songs recorded over the years in Europe than ever for the Western Hemisphere. I hope you enjoy your first solo release… What a wonderful world!

In 2018 Wito released another CD called “The Best of Wito” which has a mix of all the songs that fans thought were the best and respected their preferences.

Wito also has four new singles that he has released from his new album, which will be available from February 2019.

Through the internet platforms you can find these releases.

Always and Forever, Soy Caribe, Yo No Te Echo La Culpa and Now and Forever are the ones that have been released so far.

“As a bilingual singer, I am blessed to contribute to the music industry in my songs, singing them in English and Spanish, unity through my music in a mix of salsa and R&B, etc.” Wito Rodriguez

In the year of 2018. Wito Rodriguez was blessed to be nominated at the Hollywood Music Media Awards (HMMA) in Los Angeles, CA in November 2018.

You can also see his certificate as an honoree at the Fox Music Awards USA, Miami in November 2018, who was nominated and honored for being the Army Veteran Salsero Singer.

The Chicago Salsa Congress was one of its great events in 2018.

In March 2019 his new bilingual production Soy Distinto Y Diferente came out with the song Soy Caribe already nominated at the Hollywood Media Music Awards on November 20, 2019 in Hollywood California.

NMJ Animal Music Records LLC. [email protected]

PQ Promotions/Management Jenny Morales [email protected]

(682-554-4851 or (813-785-3086))

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Augusto Felibertt
Augusto Felibertt
Latin America Coordinator at International Salsa Magazine LLC
[email protected]

P.O. Box 50631
Palo Alto, CA 94303
+1 408 287-9500
Augusto Felibertt
Latest posts by Augusto Felibertt (see all)
  • Charlie Sierra was a prominent Puerto Rican timbalero, recognized for his long musical career and virtuosity on the instrument - October 24, 2025
  • Anthony Carrillo The Legendary and Virtuoso Bongocero for Batacumbele and - October 23, 2025
  • “Promesa de Reyes” from the pen of Yova Rodríguez “The Jibarito of Mayagüez in New York” - October 23, 2025

International Salsa Magazine (ISM) is a monthly publication about Salsa activities around the world, that has been publishing since 2007. It is a world network of volunteers coordinated by ISM Magazine. We are working to strengthen all the events by working together.