Tito Puente facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tito Puente
Puente in 1996
Background information
Birth name	Ernest Anthony Puente Jr.
Born	(1923-04-20)April 20, 1923 New York City, U.S.
Died	May 31, 2000(2000-05-31) (aged 77) New York City, U.S.
Genres	Latin jazz Cuban jazz mambo
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter record producer
Instruments	Timbales drums percussion vibraphone
Years active	1946–2000
Labels	Tico Fania Sony Discos RMM Concord Picante
Children	3, including Audrey Puente

Ernest Anthony Puente Jr. (born April 20, 1923 – died May 31, 2000), known to everyone as Tito Puente, was an amazing American musician. He was a talented songwriter, a lively bandleader, and a master of the timbales. He also played the vibraphone and worked as a record producer. Tito Puente created exciting mambo and Latin jazz music that made people want to dance. Many called him “El Rey de los Timbales,” which means “The King of the Timbales.”

Tito Puente's music and even he himself appeared in movies. These included The Mambo Kings and Calle 54. He was also a guest star on popular TV shows. You might have seen him on Sesame Street or in The Simpsons episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns?".

Tito Puente's Early Life and Musical Start

Tito Puente was born on April 20, 1923, in Harlem Hospital Center in Manhattan, New York City. His parents, Ernest and Felicia Puente, were from Puerto Rico. They lived in a part of New York City called Spanish Harlem. His family moved often, but Tito spent most of his childhood there. His father worked as a foreman in a razor blade factory. His family called him Ernestito, a Spanish nickname for 'Ernest', which later became "Tito."

Tito first discovered music by listening to the radio. As a child, he was very energetic. Neighbors sometimes complained about seven-year-old Tito banging on pots and window frames. So, his mother sent him to piano lessons for 25 cents. By age 10, he switched to playing percussion instruments. He was inspired by jazz drummer Gene Krupa. In the 1930s, he formed a song-and-dance duo with his sister Anna. He dreamed of becoming a dancer. However, an ankle injury stopped him from pursuing dance as a career.

Tito also learned from the music played at Plaza San Jose in old San Juan. He heard mambo music, which is now often called salsa. He loved its Afro-Cuban rhythms. By the time he was 13, people saw Tito as a musical genius. At 16, he played with Ramon Oliver’s band. When the drummer for Machito's band joined the army, Tito took his place.

Tito Puente's Amazing Musical Career

Puente performing at the Village Gate in the 1980s.

His Unique Musical Style and Inspirations

Tito Puente had special Asian influences in his music. These influences came after his time serving in the Navy during World War II. After his service, Tito went to the Juilliard School of Music. There, he studied how to conduct and arrange music for orchestras. His conducting teacher was Japanese, which further added to the Asian elements in his songs. Throughout his career, Tito traveled to Japan many times while on tour. He believed that without his experiences during that time, he would never have discovered their music and culture. He once said, “Even in war, [the power of] music, art, dancing, food… always eventually wins.”

Tito's first introduction to drumming was through jazz. He learned from an African American show drummer he remembered as Mr. Williams. During this time, he also learned acrobatic tap and ballroom dancing. Tito brought new ways of playing to percussion instruments. This helped change how they were used in music. For example, when learning the vibraphone and marimba, he used piano techniques. He also applied his jazz training to the timbales. This was a new approach and helped make the timbales a solo instrument.

Music and Service in the Navy

Tito Puente served in the Navy for three years during World War II. He was drafted in 1942. He was honored with a Presidential Unit Citation. This was for serving in nine battles on the escort aircraft carrier USS Santee (CVE-29). On the ship, he played alto saxophone and clarinet in the ship's big band. He also sometimes played drums and piano. He was even the ship's bugler and a machine gunner in battles like Leyte and Midway.

The G.I. Bill helped him study music at the Juilliard School of Music. He completed his formal education in conducting, orchestration, and music theory in three years. Tito described his Navy training as, “What you normally study in a four-year music conservatory, but in three months… And it was all done with military discipline… it was intense.”

As the ship's bugler, Tito would often warm up by playing general quarters. One day, he forgot to turn off his microphone. This made everyone think there was an attack. He had to hide below deck for a few days because the crew members were upset about the false alarm. Tito said his most difficult time in the Navy was playing taps for those who had died.

While on the Santee, Tito improved his skills in composing music. He learned how to arrange music for big bands during his extra time. Lieutenant Sweeney coached him, and they became friends. Sweeney called Tito “Lil’ Ernie” because of his height. The first song Tito arranged was ‘El Botellero’. He sent it to Machito and Mario Bauza in New York City.

After the Navy: New Music and His Own Band

After his Navy service, Tito Puente had a special opportunity. He was offered a delayed return to his ship. This allowed him to visit different parts of Asia. He spent several months in various port cities. There, he learned about music, food, and local customs. During this time, he learned a lot about Asian music. He experienced the culture and saw how they used music theory. He discovered they used special chord voicings and wrote melodies based on scales. These experiences influenced his songs like "Hong Kong Mambo," “Mambo Buddha," and "Picadillo." After his Navy service, Tito attended the Juilliard School of Music. He studied orchestration and conducting there.

Bands wanted Tito to play at the front of the stage, not hidden in the back. He played in a unique and exciting way. He also put on a great show for the audience. Sometimes, he was the main attraction. Tito was also a popular music arranger. This was thanks to his background and the guidance of his mentors. By 1948, Tito Puente started his own musical group. He once said, "We play jazz with the Latin touch, that's all, you know."

During the 1950s, Tito Puente was incredibly popular. He helped bring Cuban and Caribbean sounds to a wider audience. These sounds included mambo, son, and cha-cha-chá. His famous album Dance Mania was released in 1958.

One of his most famous songs is the cha-cha-chá "Oye Cómo Va" (1963). This song became very popular thanks to Latin rock musician Carlos Santana. Many other artists have also performed it, including Julio Iglesias and Celia Cruz. In 1969, he received the key to New York City from Mayor John Lindsay. In 1992, his achievements were recognized in the National Congressional Record. In 1993, he received the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal. This award came from the Smithsonian Institution.

Tito Puente's timbales are on display at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix.

The Exciting Palladium Era and Mambo Music

Tito Puente is a key figure in La Época – The Palladium Era. This documentary is about the Palladium era in New York. It explores Cuban music, mambo, and salsa as both dances and music. The film highlights Tito Puente's contributions. It also features interviews with musicians who recorded with him.

Starting in the 1950s, Americans fell in love with mambo music. In New York City, the Palladium Ballroom became known as the “Home of the Mambo.” It was originally the Alma Dance Studio. Tommy Morton turned it into a nightclub in 1946.

Machito, a popular musician who sold many records, was hired. He and other musicians played all kinds of music for dancers. Machito wanted to attract Black and Latino customers from Harlem. These customers usually went to the Savoy or Park Place Ballroom. Machito and Morton hired Federico Pagani, leader of the Happy Boys. His job was to promote Latino dance events.

Their next idea was a Sunday event called the Blen Blen Club. They gave out discount cards at subway stations and bus stops. On the first Sunday, a huge crowd was waiting in line by four o’clock in the afternoon. Six bands played that night, with Noro Morales and Jose Curbelo as the main acts. These bands brought together Latino, Black, and White people. This event started the famous Palladium era.

Afro-Cuban bands were the first to play at the Palladium. They brought exciting uptown beats and dancing to Broadway. This was the first place where children of immigrants could dance to music different from what their parents listened to. The lines were so long that Broadway and 7th, 53rd and 54th streets had to be closed. Wednesdays and Friday through Sunday were dedicated to Latin music. After World War II, people were happy to spend money. The economy was booming, and everyone wanted to have a good time.

The Palladium needed many bands to keep the Blen Blen Club going. Machito was not always available. Pagani knew Tito Puente from the Happy Boys. He heard an "arousing" tune Tito was working on that "made [his] blood turn cold." Machito hired Tito to play on Sundays. He asked Tito to put together a group called the Picadilly Boys.

People also loved watching the friendly rivalry between Machito, Tito Puente, and Tito Rodriguez. Puente and Rodriguez always wanted to outdo each other. This competition pushed them to become even better musicians. The Palladium remained the home of mambo until it closed in 1966.

Tito Puente's Family and Lasting Legacy

Tito Puente had three children. His oldest son, Ron Puente, was from his first marriage to Mirta Sanchez. Richard "Richie" Puente was a percussionist in the 1970s and 1980s funk band Foxy. Tito Puente Jr., his youngest son, has performed and recorded many of his father's songs. His daughter, Audrey Puente, is a television meteorologist for WNYW and WWOR-TV in New York City.

Tito Puente was highly praised when he performed in 1999 in Trinidad. This was at the World Beat Concert. He shared the stage with famous artists like South Africa's Hugh Masakela and Senegal's Baba Maal.

After a show in Puerto Rico on May 31, 2000, Tito Puente had a serious heart attack. He was flown to New York City for surgery to fix a heart valve. However, complications arose, and he passed away later that night. In 2003, he was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award after his death. His community in New York City celebrated him. He was well-known for being involved with local musicians. He would often join people playing street music. He even called himself a street musician.

Awards and Honors for a Music Legend

Tito Puente's timbales on display at the Smithsonian.

Tito Puente's handprints at Ritmo Latino's San Fernando Mall.

• In 1995, Tito Puente received the Billboard Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award.
• On September 10, 2007, a United States Post Office in Spanish Harlem was named after him.
• An amphitheater at Luis Muñoz Marín Park in San Juan, Puerto Rico was named in his honor. It is next to the Roberto Clemente Coliseum.
• In 1995, Puente was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music.
• Puente performed at the closing ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. The timbales he used are now displayed at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
• In 1997, he received the National Medal of Arts.
• In 1990, he earned a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• In 1984, he received an honorary Decree from the Los Angeles City Council.
• On June 5, 2005, Union City, New Jersey honored Puente with a star on the Walk of Fame at Union City's Celia Cruz Park.
• In 1999, he was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.
• On May 19, 1999, he received an honorary Mus.D degree from Columbia University.
• On August 20, 2000, East 110th Street in Spanish Harlem was renamed 'Tito Puente Way.' He always said he came from 110th street.
• In 2011, the US Postal Service issued a commemorative postage stamp with his image. This was part of their Latin Legends series.
• On October 11, 2022, Puente was honored with a Google Doodle. This celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month.
• In 2025, Puente was inducted into the DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame.

Tito Puente's Albums

As a Guest Musician

With Dizzy Gillespie

• Rhythmstick (1990)

With Benny Golson

• Remembering Clifford (Milestone, 1998)

With Quincy Jones

• Quincy Plays for Pussycats (Mercury, 1959–65 [1965])

With Hilton Ruiz

• Rhythm in the House (RMM, 1976 [1998])

With Sonny Stitt

• The Matadors Meet the Bull (Roulette, 1965)

With Bobby Sanabria

• ¡NYC Aché! (Flying Fish Records, 1993)

Tito Puente in Movies and TV

Selected Feature Films

• Armed and Dangerous (1986) as Band Leader
• Radio Days (1987) as Latin Bandleader
• The Mambo Kings (1992) as Himself

Documentaries

• Tito Puente: The King of Latin Music (2000)
• Profiles Featuring Tito Puente Jr. (2007)
• Latin Knights (2005)
• Calle 54 (2000)

Concert Films

• Tito Puente – Live in Montreal (Montreal Jazz Festival) (1983) (2003)
• Tito Puente – Palladium Days (Newport Jazz Festival) (1997)
• Tito Puente - The Mambo King - 100th LP Live [DVD] (1997)

Tito Puente on The Simpsons!

Tito Puente appeared in a special two-part episode of The Simpsons in 1995. The episodes were called "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" and were the finale of the sixth season and the premiere of the seventh season. In the story, Tito Puente joins Springfield Elementary School as a music teacher. This happens after the school discovers it is built over an oil well. However, Mr. Burns manages to pump the oil first. This makes him the legal owner of the well. The school then faces money problems, and the music department loses its funding. This causes Tito Puente to lose his job.

When Mr. Burns is later shot, Tito Puente becomes one of the main suspects. But he proves his innocence by playing one of his songs for Chief Wiggum. Seven different endings were filmed showing various characters shooting Burns. Tito Puente was one of the alternate shooters. Although all endings were animated, the ending where Maggie Simpson shoots Burns was chosen to air.

The song "Señor Burns" from the episode was nominated for an Emmy Award. It is featured on the 1997 album Songs in the Key of Springfield and the 1999 album Go Simpsonic with The Simpsons.

See also

In Spanish: Tito Puente para niños