Tito Puente
Encyclopedia
Tito Puente, born Ernesto Antonio Puente, was a Latin jazz
and Salsa music
ian. The son of native Puerto Ricans Ernest and Ercilia Puente, of Spanish Harlem
in New York City
, Puente is often credited as "El Rey de los Timbales" (The King of the timbales
) and "The King of Latin Music". He is best known for dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz compositions that helped keep his career going for 50 years. He and his music appear in many films such as The Mambo Kings
and Fernando Trueba's Calle 54
. He guest starred on several television shows including Sesame Street
, The Cosby Show
and The Simpsons
.
after being drafted in 1942. He was discharged with a Presidential Unit Citation for serving in nine battles on the escort carrier USS Santee (CVE-29)
. The GI Bill allowed him to study music at Juilliard School of Music, where he completed a formal education in conducting, orchestration and theory. In 1969, he received the key to the City of New York from former Mayor John Lindsay
. In 1992, he was inducted into the National Congressional Record, and in 1993 he received the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal from the Smithsonian.
During the 1950s, Puente was at the height of his popularity, and helped to bring Afro-Cuban and Caribbean sounds, like mambo, son
, and cha-cha-cha
, to mainstream audiences (he was so successful playing popular Afro-Cuban rhythms that many people mistakenly identify him as Cuban). Dance Mania
, possibly Puente's most well known album was released in 1958. Later, he moved into more diverse sounds, including pop music
, bossa nova
and others, eventually settling down with a fusion of Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz genres that became known as "salsa" (a term that he disliked). In 1979, Puente won the first of five Grammy Awards for the albums A Tribute to Benny Moré, On Broadway, Mambo Diablo, and Goza Mi Timbal. In 1990, Puente was awarded the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal. He was also awarded a Grammy at the first Latin Grammy Awards, winning Best Traditional Tropical Album for Mambo Birdland. In 1995, he appeared as himself on the Simpsons episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" In early 2000, he shot the music documentary Calle 54
, wearing an all-white outfit with his band. After a show in Puerto Rico on May 31, he suffered a massive heart attack and was flown to New York City for surgery to repair a heart valve
, but complications developed and he died during the night of May 31 – June 1, 2000. He was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
in 2003.
Tito Puente's name is often mentioned in a television production called La Epoca, a film about the Palladium era in New York, Afro-Cuban music and rhythms, Mambo and Salsa as dances and music and much more. The film discusses many of Tito Puente's as well as Arsenio Rodriguez's contributions, and features interviews with some of the musicians Puente recorded with such as Alfonso "El Panameno" Joseph
, Luis Mangual, Julian Lianos and others.
Puente's youngest son, Tito Puente, Jr.
, has continued his father's legacy by presenting many of the same songs in his performances and recordings, while daughter Audrey Puente
is a television meteorologist for WNYW
and WWOR-TV
in New York City.
Latin jazz
Latin jazz is the general term given to jazz with Latin American rhythms.The three main categories of Latin Jazz are Brazilian, Cuban and Puerto Rican:# Brazilian Latin Jazz includes bossa nova...
and Salsa music
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
ian. The son of native Puerto Ricans Ernest and Ercilia Puente, of Spanish Harlem
Spanish Harlem
East Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem and El Barrio, is a section of Harlem in the northeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. East Harlem is one of the largest predominantly Latino communities in New York City. It includes the area formerly known as Italian Harlem, in which...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Puente is often credited as "El Rey de los Timbales" (The King of the timbales
Timbales
Timbales are shallow single-headed drums with metal casing, invented in Cuba. They are shallower in shape than single-headed tom-toms, and usually much higher tuned...
) and "The King of Latin Music". He is best known for dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz compositions that helped keep his career going for 50 years. He and his music appear in many films such as The Mambo Kings
The Mambo Kings
The Mambo Kings is a 1992 drama film starring Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas. Directed by Arne Glimcher in his directorial debut, the film is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love by Oscar Hijuelos...
and Fernando Trueba's Calle 54
Calle 54
Calle 54 is a 2000 documentary film about Latin jazz by Spanish director Fernando Trueba. With only minimal introductory voiceovers, the film consists of studio performances by a wide array of Latin Jazz musicians. Artists featured include Chucho Valdés, Bebo Valdés, Cachao, Eliane Elias, Gato...
. He guest starred on several television shows including Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
, The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
and The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
.
Career
Tito Puente Sr. served in the Navy for three years during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
after being drafted in 1942. He was discharged with a Presidential Unit Citation for serving in nine battles on the escort carrier USS Santee (CVE-29)
USS Santee (CVE-29)
The second USS Santee was launched on 4 March 1939 as Esso Seakay under a Maritime Commission contract by the Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company at Chester, Pennsylvania, sponsored by Mrs...
. The GI Bill allowed him to study music at Juilliard School of Music, where he completed a formal education in conducting, orchestration and theory. In 1969, he received the key to the City of New York from former Mayor John Lindsay
John Lindsay
John Vliet Lindsay was an American politician, lawyer and broadcaster who was a U.S. Congressman, Mayor of New York City, candidate for U.S...
. In 1992, he was inducted into the National Congressional Record, and in 1993 he received the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal from the Smithsonian.
During the 1950s, Puente was at the height of his popularity, and helped to bring Afro-Cuban and Caribbean sounds, like mambo, son
Son (music)
The Son cubano is a style of music that originated in Cuba and gained worldwide popularity in the 1930s. Son combines the structure and elements of Spanish canción and the Spanish guitar with African rhythms and percussion instruments of Bantu and Arará origin...
, and cha-cha-cha
Cha-cha-cha (music)
The Cha-cha-chá is a style of Cuban music. It is popular dance music which developed from the danzón in the early 1950s.- Origin :As a dance music genre, cha-cha-chá is unusual in that its creation can be attributed to a single composer, Enrique Jorrín, then violinist and songwriter with the...
, to mainstream audiences (he was so successful playing popular Afro-Cuban rhythms that many people mistakenly identify him as Cuban). Dance Mania
Dance Mania (album)
-Track listing:# "El Cayuco" – 2:33# "Complicacion" – 3:18# "3-D Mambo" – 2:23# "Llego Mijan" – 3:10# "Cuando Te Vea" – 4:10# "Hong Kong Mambo" – 3:42# "Mambo Gozon" – 2:44# "Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembe" – 3:55# "Varsity Drag" – 2:48...
, possibly Puente's most well known album was released in 1958. Later, he moved into more diverse sounds, including pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
and others, eventually settling down with a fusion of Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz genres that became known as "salsa" (a term that he disliked). In 1979, Puente won the first of five Grammy Awards for the albums A Tribute to Benny Moré, On Broadway, Mambo Diablo, and Goza Mi Timbal. In 1990, Puente was awarded the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal. He was also awarded a Grammy at the first Latin Grammy Awards, winning Best Traditional Tropical Album for Mambo Birdland. In 1995, he appeared as himself on the Simpsons episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" In early 2000, he shot the music documentary Calle 54
Calle 54
Calle 54 is a 2000 documentary film about Latin jazz by Spanish director Fernando Trueba. With only minimal introductory voiceovers, the film consists of studio performances by a wide array of Latin Jazz musicians. Artists featured include Chucho Valdés, Bebo Valdés, Cachao, Eliane Elias, Gato...
, wearing an all-white outfit with his band. After a show in Puerto Rico on May 31, he suffered a massive heart attack and was flown to New York City for surgery to repair a heart valve
Heart valve
A heart valve normally allows blood flow in only one direction through the heart. The four valves commonly represented in a mammalian heart determine the pathway of blood flow through the heart...
, but complications developed and he died during the night of May 31 – June 1, 2000. He was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded by the Recording Academy to "performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording."...
in 2003.
Tito Puente's name is often mentioned in a television production called La Epoca, a film about the Palladium era in New York, Afro-Cuban music and rhythms, Mambo and Salsa as dances and music and much more. The film discusses many of Tito Puente's as well as Arsenio Rodriguez's contributions, and features interviews with some of the musicians Puente recorded with such as Alfonso "El Panameno" Joseph
Alfonso Joseph
Alfonso "El Panameno" Joseph was born in the Republic of Panama, and immigrated to New York at 11 years of age, where he studied music and became one of the forefront bassists of Cuban legend Arsenio Rodríguez...
, Luis Mangual, Julian Lianos and others.
Puente's youngest son, Tito Puente, Jr.
Tito Puente, Jr.
Tito Puente, Jr., is a bandleader. He is the son of legendary mambo musician Tito Puente and the brother of local New York City meteorologist Audrey Puente. Puente, Jr. carries on his father's legacy by presenting, in his performances and recordings, much of his father's repertoire.-External...
, has continued his father's legacy by presenting many of the same songs in his performances and recordings, while daughter Audrey Puente
Audrey Puente
Audrey Puente is a meteorologist for WWOR-TV in New York City. She is the daughter of legendary Latin percussionist Tito Puente and the sister of musician Tito Puente, Jr.. Puente succeeded WWOR veteran meteorologist Storm Field in January 2007 as the station's main meteorologist...
is a television meteorologist for WNYW
WNYW
WNYW, virtual channel 5 , is the flagship television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in New York City. The station's transmitter is atop the Empire State Building and its studio facilities are located in the Yorkville section of Manhattan...
and WWOR-TV
WWOR-TV
WWOR-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the flagship station of the MyNetworkTV programming service, licensed to Secaucus, New Jersey and serving the Tri-State metropolitan area. WWOR is owned by Fox Television Stations, a division of the News Corporation, and is a sister station to Fox network flagship...
in New York City.
Awards and recognition
- During the presidency of Sen. Roberto Rexach BenítezRoberto Rexach BenítezRoberto Rexach Benítez is a Puerto Rican politician, and former Senator and Representative. Rexach Benítez served as the tenth President of the Senate of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 1996...
, Tito Puente received the unique honor of having both a special session of the Senate of Puerto RicoSenate of Puerto RicoThe Senate of Puerto Rico is the upper house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico. The Senate is composed of 27 senators, representing eight constituent senatorial districts across the commonwealth, with two senators elected per district; an...
dedicated to him, and being allowed to perform in his unique style on the floor of the Senate while it was in session. - On September 10, 2007, a United States Post Office in HarlemHarlemHarlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
was named after him at a ceremony presided by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY) and Rep. José SerranoJosé SerranoJosé Enrique Serrano is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1990. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
(D-NY). - An amphitheatreAmphitheatreAn amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
was named in his honor at Luis Muñoz MarínLuis Muñoz MarínDon José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist, and politician. Regarded as the "father of modern Puerto Rico," he was the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. Muñoz Marín was the son of Luis Muñoz Rivera, a renowned autonomist leader...
Park, next to the Roberto Clemente ColiseumRoberto Clemente ColiseumThe Roberto Clemente Coliseum is a sporting events and concert arena in San Juan, Puerto Rico.It was, for many years, Puerto Rico's largest indoor event facility, and it continues being one of the largest....
, in San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. - Puente performed at the closing ceremonies at the 1996 Summer Olympics1996 Summer OlympicsThe 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta, Georgia. The timbales he used there are on display at the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. - In 1997, he was awarded the National Medal of ArtsNational Medal of ArtsThe National Medal of Arts is an award and title created by the United States Congress in 1984, for the purpose of honoring artists and patrons of the arts. It is the highest honor conferred to an individual artist on behalf of the people. Honorees are selected by the National Endowment for the...
. - In 1990 he received a Star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. (ref Hollywood Chamber Of Commerce)
- In 1984 he received an honorary Decree from the Los Angeles City Council.
- On June 5, 2005, Puente was honored by Union City, New JerseyUnion City, New JerseyUnion City is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. According to the 2010 United States Census the city had a total population of 66,455. All of the city is on land, an area of...
with a star on the Walk of Fame at Union City's Celia CruzCelia CruzCelia Cruz was a Cuban-American salsa singer, and was one of the most successful Salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums...
Park.
As leader
- Puente In Percussion (1956)
- Dance ManiaDance Mania (album)-Track listing:# "El Cayuco" – 2:33# "Complicacion" – 3:18# "3-D Mambo" – 2:23# "Llego Mijan" – 3:10# "Cuando Te Vea" – 4:10# "Hong Kong Mambo" – 3:42# "Mambo Gozon" – 2:44# "Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembe" – 3:55# "Varsity Drag" – 2:48...
(1958) - El Rey: Bravo (1963)
- El Rey: Tito Puente & His Latin Ensemble (1984)
- Percussion's King (1997)
- Selection of Mambo & Cha Cha Cha (1997)
- 50 Years of Swing (1997)
- Tito Meets Machito: Mambo Kings (1997)
- Cha Cha Cha Rumba Beguine (1998)
- Dance Mania '98: Live at Birdland (1998)
- The Very Best of Tito Puente (1998)
- Timbalero Tropical (1998)
- Yambeque (1998)
- Absolute Best (1999)
- Carnival (1999)
- Colección original (1999)
- Golden Latin Jazz All Stars: In Session (1999)
- Latin Flight (1999)
- Latin Kings (1999)
- Lo mejor de lo mejor (1999)
- Mambo Birdland (1999)
- Special Delivery featuring Maynard FergusonMaynard FergusonMaynard Ferguson was a Canadian jazz musician and bandleader. He came to prominence playing in Stan Kenton's orchestra, before forming his own band in 1957...
(1999) - Rey (2000)
- His Vibes & Orchestra (2000)
- Cha Cha Cha for Lovers (2000)
- Homenaje a Beny Moré. Vol. 3 (2000)
- Dos ídolos. Su música (2000)
- Tito Puente y su Orquesta Mambo (2000)
- The Complete RCA Recordings. Vol. 1 (2000)
- The Best of the Concord Years (2000)
- Por fin (Finally) (2000)
- Party with Puente! (2000)
- Obra maestra (2000)
- Mambo Mambo (2000)
- Mambo King Meets the Queen of Salsa (2000)
- Latin Abstract (2000)
- Kings of Mambo (2000)
- Cha Cha Cha for Lovers (2000)
- The Legends Collection: Tito Puente & Celia Cruz (2001)
- The Complete RCA Recordings, Vol. 2 (2001)
- RCA Recordings (2001)
- Puente caliente (2001)
- The Best of... (2001)
- King of Mambo (2001)
- El Rey: Pa'lante! Straight! (2001)
- Cocktail Hour (2001)
- Selection. King of Mambo (2001)
- Herman Meets Puente (2001)
- Undisputed (2001)
- Fiesta (2002)
- Colección Diamante (2002)
- Tito Puente y Celia Cruz (2002)
- Live at the Playboy Jazz Festival (2002)
- King of Kings: The Very Best of Tito Puente (2002)
- Hot Timbales! (2002)
- Dr. Feelgood (2002)
- Carnaval de éxitos (2002)
- Caravan Mambo (2002)
- We Love Salsa (2006)
Selected Feature Films
- Radio DaysRadio DaysRadio Days is a 1987 comedy film directed by Woody Allen. The film looks back on an American family's life during the Golden Age of Radio using both music and memories to tell the story.-Plot:...
(1987) - Armed and Dangerous (1986)
Documentaries
- Tito Puente: The King of Latin Music (2000)
- PROFILES featuring Tito Puente Jr. (2007)
- Latin Knights (2005)
- Calle 54Calle 54Calle 54 is a 2000 documentary film about Latin jazz by Spanish director Fernando Trueba. With only minimal introductory voiceovers, the film consists of studio performances by a wide array of Latin Jazz musicians. Artists featured include Chucho Valdés, Bebo Valdés, Cachao, Eliane Elias, Gato...
(2000)
Further reading
- Steven LozaSteven LozaSteven Joseph "Steve" Loza is professor of ethnomusicology at UCLA and Lecturer III in music at the University of New Mexico. He is an author of two books and editor of four anthologies in Latin music, including the first in-depth biography of Tito Puente.Steven Loza has B.A. in music from...
(1999) Tito Puente and the Making of Latin Music, University of Illinois PressUniversity of Illinois PressThe University of Illinois Press , is a major American university press and part of the University of Illinois system. Founded in 1918, the press publishes some 120 new books each year, plus 33 scholarly journals, and several electronic projects... - Josephine Powell (2007) "Tito Puente:When The Drums Are Dreaming", (Authorhouse 2007)
External links
- Tito Puente at NPR Music
- Tito Puente on the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- "Tito Puente: The Complete 78s (1949-1955)" by Ted Giorgia (Jazz.com)
- Tito Puente - King of Latin Music, by Jim Payne and Tito Puente