Doble-R: A legacy in every note

Born on December 31, 1950, Rignald Silvestre Recordino, known as Doble-R, is a revered composer, musician and arranger from Curaçao. Rignald is celebrated for giving a voice to Papiamentu in his music, creating a repertoire that has become part of the island’s cultural DNA.

A multi-instrumentalist, Doble-R plays piano, wiri, chapi, and kueru, each note shaped by a deep connection to the traditions and rhythms of his homeland. Since the 1970s, he has steadily released singles and records, building a body of work that spans over 700 original compositions.

His songs such as “E mundu ta lora,” “Tula Warda,” “Salomon,” and “Un Pueblo Mansu” have not only earned him recognition across the Dutch Caribbean but have become cornerstones of Antillean musical heritage. In 1982, he reached the Dutch airwaves with the hit “Zullen we maar weer” further solidifying his cross-continental appeal.

Though he now performs only occasionally with his group, Doble-R Klásiko, his influence continues to resonate. In 2010, a tribute to his music was held at the royal concert hall in Amsterdam, where the Metropole Orkest, accompanied by artists including Karin Bloemen, performed selections of his arrangements. A year later, he returned to the Dutch spotlight through the VPRO documentary “Het uur van de wolf”, directed by Ivette Forster, and toured alongside Edgar Burgos of Trafassi fame.

Doble-R’s contributions have not gone unnoticed. He is a Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau and has received the Cola Debrot Prize (1987), the Tapushi di Oro (2004) and the Krus di Mérito Kòrsou (2023). In 2014, a section of the Santa Rosaweg linking Santa Rosa to Montaña Abou was renamed Kaminda Rignald Recordino in his honor.

More than a musician, Doble-R is a storyteller whose melodies speak to the identification, memory and spirit of the people. Through decades of dedication, he has preserved and elevated the soundscape of Curaçao, note by note.