BIO

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Willy Rodriguez is a Latin Grammy-winning drummer, percussionist, and bandleader. Since serving as a musical director and drummer at 21 with Latin American Idol, he has gone on to become a versatile sideman and bandleader in contemporary music genres including Latin pop, prog rock, reggae and jazz. In 2024, he released Seeing Sounds, his leader debut, an album that cut across modern classical music, Latin, and vanguard jazz. In 2026 he returned with In the Unknown (I Will Find You) on Sunnyside.

Rodriguez was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and began playing drums at 13. He became good enough to get pick-up gigs and played in several bands. At 21 he auditioned for and became the musical director and drummer for Latin American Idol's touring band. After that experience, he won a scholarship to attend the Berklee School of Music in Boston. He studied with Terri-Lyne Carrington, Yoron Israel, and Ralph Peterson, Jr. and played gigs across Boston with musicians who included Jason Palmer and Andre Heyward. He graduated with a bachelor's of music degree and went on to attend the New England Conservatory of Music, where he earned his master's degree in Jazz Drum Performance in 2014. A year earlier he'd taken part in his first recording session, with the Francesco Marcocci Quintet, on the album Folklorico, released in 2014. Now nearly a household name on Boston's jazz scene, he began playing tours and club gigs wherever he could.

In 2018 he played drums on Mon Laferte's global hit album Norma and won a Latin Grammy for his effort on the recording. 

In 2022, he won the drum chair in Mars Volta in time for their self-titled reunion album. In March 2024, Rodriguez released his leader debut, Seeing Sound. Crossing numerous genres and styles, his lineup included trumpeter Jason Palmer, saxophonist Hery Paz, pianist Leo Genovese, bassists John Hébert and Kenneth Jimenez, and special guests Dave Liebman and sound designer Tehn Vega. In addition to touring, he also made a return appearance with Mars Volta on 2025's Lucro Sucio Los Ojos Del Vacio.

Well-received in the jazz press at home and abroad, the album provided international touring opportunities. In 2025 he also signed with revered jazz label Sunnyside. He entered the studio with Genovese on piano & Rhodes, Ingrid Laubrock on tenor saxophone, and Allan Harris providing spoken word assistance. The completed album, In the Unknown (I Will Find You), was released in March 2026.

Willy is endorsed by Big Fat Snare Drum.

Bio written by Thom Jurek, AllMusic.com