From the album Rise and Shine:
It’s an album that came into being shortly before David Rodriguez (1952), then residing in The Netherlands, passed away. Rodriguez, born and raised in Texas, had already made a name for himself in his homeland as a singer-songwriter. Destiny had him alight in the monumental town of Dordrecht , where he acquainted a group of youthful musicians , who at that moment were about to start (what later turned out to be) an impressive musical career.
In 2015 the Rhythm Chiefs (young lads back then) recorded the album ‘Rise and Shine’ together with their idol David Rodriguez.
Band members Dusty Ciggaar (guitar and vocals), Danny van ’t Hoff (bass and vocals) and Rafael Schwiddessen (drums and vocals) wereindeed aware of David’s fragile health, but they could never have surmised that that their hero was to pass away shortly after those recordings.

Out of respect for David and his family The Rhythm Chiefs left the project ‘on the shelf ’ for a long time, but now, nearly a decade later, they deem this the right moment to release the album.

David Rodriguez
David Rodriguez was born and grew up in Houston, Texas. His roots on his father’s side were in Mexico. At the age of two he contracted polio, as a consequence of which he wore a legbrace for the rest of his life, using a walking stick as well. Beacuse of his restricted mobility, his parents bought him a guitar.Yet he opted for a career as a lawyer at first; before his twenty-first birthday he graduated in Law and Economics and settled in Austin, Texas.

In 1992, 1993 en 1994 Rodriguez was voted best songwriter of Texas in a poll by renowned music magazine Third Coast Music. His song ‘The Ballad Of The Snow Leopard’ was recorded by Lyle Lovett for his album ‘Step Inside This House’ from 1998 and again ten years later by Melissa Greener for her album ‘Dwelling.’

Although David Rodriguez never acquired world fame, he was well-known among insiders . Amongst others Lucinda Williams en Butch Hancock lauded his crafsmanship,
In his American years Rodriguez shared stages with icons from the music world, such as the aforementioned Williams en Hancock, but also with John Prine, Townes Van Zandt en Blaze Foley, to name just a few. Rodriguez’ Mexican roots were reflected in his original work.

In 1994 Rodriguez decided to settle in the Netherlands, where he resided until his death in 2015.


The Rhythm Chiefs
For over 20 years The Rhythm Chiefs have been ‘on the road’ and at present their music is best described as Contemporary Roots Music… it’s a cocktail of original Amerian music styles: blues, country, rockabilly, soul en jazz, but clearly contemporary. The Rhythm Chiefs are continually on tour ‘across the globe’ accompanying world star Ian Siegal, or with their side projects Minko, The Dawn Brothers, Dry Riverbed Trio and Big Dave and the Dutchmen.

Band members are: Dusty Ciggaar (guitar and vocals), Danny van ’t Hoff (bass and vocals) and Rafael Schwiddessen (drums and vocals).

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