By Roxanne Noronha
Late one evening in 1974, my mum, her siblings and their mother gathered around their sitting room table, in Bandra, Bombay, readied their transistor radio and tuned into a broadcast by Johnny Rodricks and His Jewels hosted by Hubert Poswaity, live on All India Radio. The oldest sibling, Mark, was put in charge of recording this to their cassette player for Johnny to listen to once he was back home later that night from the studios.
I am so grateful that after all these years, that tape ended up in my hands because today, the September 17, 2023, on what would have been his 96th birthday, I not only get to restore and immortalise my grandfather Johnny’s genius but also introduce a whole new generation to his music: the music I was brought up on and love.
The broadcast featured Johnny Rodricks on saxophone and clarinet. His band, The Jewels, consisted of Rita Alphonso (vocals), William Mcrae (piano), Cajie Alphonso (drums), Keith Pereira (guitar) and Christopher Bartley (bass).
My grandfather lived only a short 56 years but contributed so much to the city’s early jazz scene, playing music
that made the city of Bombay what it was back then. I am so thrilled to finally put out this spellbinding broadcast in its entirety.
Born September 17, 1927 in Sanvordem, Goa, Johnny Rodricks was trained in music by his father, the noted choir master Diogo Rodrigues.
As an alto saxophonist and clarinet player, Johnny Rodricks was active from around 1945 all the way to his untimely passing in 1983. He performed original compositions as well as covers; playing not only jazz but also Western dance music and for Konkani tiatrs, all the while contributing to the Indian film industry.
After making his home in Bombay in 1952, Johnny joined the leading bands of Hal Green and Pete D’’Mello. With his rising popularity in 1957, Johnny was invited aboard SS Kenya and SS Uganda on cruises through England. Here he had the opportunity to study the orchestrations of Ted Heath and other big band leaders.
On his return to Bombay in 1958, he formed and led his own groups Johnny Rodricks and His Jewels, Innerlight and Silverbird Band. He was part of the Band Leaders Syndicate that Included Goody Seervai, Nelly and Johnny Baptist.
Playing Frank Fernand’s orchestrations, Johnny performed in two classic Konkani movies, Amchem Noxib (1963) and Nirmon’(1966). He made brief appearances in Amchem Noxib and this Hindi films Raeeszada (1976), Insaf Ka Tarazu (1980) and Katha (1982/83).
Johnny Rodricks’ saxophone solo played a key role in the song Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche from the movie Brahmachari (1968) starring Shammi Kapoor, Mumtaz and Pran. which was a box office hit and won several awards.
Here is a compilation of his appearances in the movies.
The bandleader Maurice Concessio described Johnny Rodricks, as “the only man in India who can laugh on his sax.”
What stood out most was Johnny’s versatility; his ability to excel and fit in with not only jazz but various other styles of music. Johnny Rodricks lived only a short 56 years but contributed so much. As he lives on through the rich music he played and has passed down to his family. we remember him and say thank you.
Here’s a link to a set recorded by Johnny Rodricks’s band Innerlight on January 10, 1982, at the Centaur in Bombay. The band consisted of Johnny Rodricks on alto sax and clarinet, Benny Soans on drums. Donald Pereira on guitar and vocals, Kelly Carvalho on bass and vocals, and Elena D’souza on vocals. Click here.
