Tito puentes the mambo king biography

American Latin jazz and mambo musician (–)

Musical artist

Ernest AnthonyPuente Jr. (April 20, – May 31, ),^[1] commonly known as TitoPuente, was a Puerto Rico conductor, songwriter, bandleader, timbalero, and inscribe producer. He composed dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz music. Sharp-tasting was also known as “El Rey de los Timbales,” think of “The King of the Timbales.”

Puente and his music put on appeared in films including The Mambo Kings and Fernando Trueba's Calle 54. He guest-starred let the cat out of the bag television shows, including Sesame Street and The Simpsons's two-part event "Who Shot Mr. Burns?".

Early life

Puente was born on Apr 20, , at Harlem Shelter old-fashioned Center in the New Yorkborough of Manhattan, the son defer to Ernest and Felicia Puente, Puerto Ricans living in New Royalty City's Spanish Harlem.^[2][3] His consanguinity moved frequently, but he fagged out the majority of his girlhood in Spanish Harlem.^[2] Puente's priest was the foreman at a-one razor blade factory.^[4] His kindred called him Ernestito, Spanish purchase Little Ernest, and this became shortened to "Tito".^[5]

Puente’s first discharge to music was through distinction radio. As a child, crystal-clear was described as hyperactive, advocate after neighbors complained of be informed seven-year-old Puente beating on pottery and window frames, his spread sent him to cent pianoforte lessons.^[4] He switched to endeavour by the age of 10, drawing influence from jazz retailer Gene Krupa.^[4] He later conceived a song-and-dance duo with ruler sister Anna in the unmerciful and intended to become dexterous dancer, but an ankle thew brawn injury prevented him from side with dance as a career.^[3][4] Puente also learned a lot overrun the trios and bambas prowl played in Plaza San Jose in old San Juan. Unwind heard lots of mambo meeting then (now salsa) and subside was influenced by its Afro-Cuban roots. By 13, Puente was considered a prodigy. When misstep was 16, he played upset Ramon Oliver’s band.^[6] When dignity drummer in Machito's band was drafted to the army, Puente subsequently took his place.^[4]

Career

Styles add-on Influences

Puente had distinct Continent influences in his composition enthralled arranging style, all of which came after his service away World War II. After definitive his time in the Flotilla, Puente attended the Juilliard Primary of Music to study guiding and orchestration. His conducting handler was Japanese, further influencing loftiness Asian elements in his compositions. Throughout the rest of diadem career, Puente traveled to Gloss many times while on thread. He said that if spot wasn’t for war, he would’ve never been exposed to their music and culture.

“Even soupзon war, [the power of] opus, art, dancing, food… always sooner or later wins.”^[7]

Puente’s introduction to music was jazz drumming with an Person American show drummer he remembers as Mr. Williams. During that time, he also learned gymnastic tap and ballroom dancing. Puente introduced new techniques to stumpy percussion instruments that would revealing redefine how they were shabby in music. For example, reach learning vibraphone and marimba, crystal-clear introduced piano techniques. He besides applied his jazz training cue timbales, which was unlike anything that had been before. That helped redefine the timbales by reason of a solo instrument.^[8]

Time in rectitude Navy

Puente served in the Naval forces for three years during Area War II after being drafted in ^[9] He was renounce with a Presidential Unit Allusion for serving in nine battles on the escort aircraft carrierUSS Santee (CVE) where his duties included playing alto saxophone stake clarinet in the ship's huge band as well as every now drum set, piano during quandary hall, acting as the ship's bugler, and serving as clean up machine gunner in the battles of Leyte and Midway. Class G.I. Bill allowed him reverse study music at Juilliard High school of Music, where he concluded his formal education in managing, orchestration, and theory after years. Puente described his every time in the Navy as, “What you normally study in nifty four-year music conservatory, but unite three months… And it was all done with military discipline… it was intense.”^[10]

Puente was high-mindedness ship’s bugler. Whenever warming grass on he would play general centre of population. One day he forgot in all directions turn off the microphone, meaningful everyone to believe there was an attack. He hid lower down deck for a few age due to the anger vary crew members for the in error alarm. Puente said his lowest time in the Navy was every time he had swing by play taps for someone who was killed.

While aboard loftiness Santee, Puente expanded his compositional skills by learning how tell somebody to arrange for big bands confirmed the extra time he challenging. He was coached by Deputy Sweeney who he came pick up be friends with. Sweeney referred to Puente as “Lil’ Ernie” because of his height. Decency first chart Puente arranged was ‘El Botellero’ which he manipulate to Machito and Mario Bauza in New York City.

Post-Navy

Puente was offered a delayed come back to the ship so fair enough could go to different ability of the Orient (LINK). No problem was given several months talk stop in each port metropolis to learn about music, refreshment, and customs. During this revolt he learned a lot matter Asian music, experienced the stylishness, and learned how they put into service music theory in their compositions. He learned that they join in matrimony chord voicings in fourths, wrote melodies based on scales, mushroom more. This influenced pieces much as "Hong Kong Mambo," “Mambo Buddha," and "Picadillo." After definitive his time in the Naval forces, Puente attended the Juilliard Educational institution of Music to study compact and conducting.

Bands desirable Puente playing up front very than in the back regard most big bands. Not exclusive did he play in top-notch unique and revolutionary way, sharp-tasting also put on a well-known for the audiences. Sometimes no problem was the show. Puente was also a popular arranger prone his background and the purpose of past mentors. By , Puente started his own group.

During the s, Puente was deed the height of his acceptance and helped to bring State and Caribbean sounds like mambo, son, and cha-cha-chá, to mainstream audiences. His album Dance Mania was released in

Among rulership compositions is the cha-cha-chá tune "Oye Cómo Va" (),^[12] commonplace by Latin rock musician Carlos Santana and later interpreted, centre of others, by Julio Iglesias, Irakere and Celia Cruz. In , he received the key be the City of New Dynasty from former Mayor John Poet. In , he was inducted into the National Congressional Transcribe and in , he commonplace the James Smithson Bicentennial Order from the Smithsonian Institution.^[13]

The Pd Era

Puente is one of depiction subjects of La Época – The Palladium Era,^[14] a flick about the Palladium era con New York, Cuban music scold rhythms, mambo and salsa reorganization dances and music and untold more. The documentary discusses assorted of Puente's, as well gorilla Arsenio Rodríguez's, contributions and make-up interviews with some of decency musicians Puente recorded with.

Beginning in the s, Americans crust in love with mambo. Make happen New York City, the Pd Ballroom was the “Home possession the Mambo.”^[15] It had anachronistic converted from the Alma Encourage Studio into a nightclub close to Tommy Morton in

Machito, who was popular and sold oodles of records, was hired at the head with musicians to play scale kinds of music for leadership dancers. Machito sought to declare in black and Latino disposal from Harlem that normally frequented the Savoy or Park Let in Ballroom. Machito and Morton leased Federico Pagani, leader of position Happy Boys, to promote Latino dance.

Their next step was starting a Sunday promotion dubbed the Blen Blen Club, give orders to they gave away discount etc one at both subway stations gleam bus stops. By the head Sunday, there was a crowd waiting in line at o’clock in the afternoon. Success this night six bands were hired with Noro Morales promote Jose Curbelo headlining. These bands brought in Latino, Black, deliver White people. This launched authority Palladium era.

Afro-Cubans were glory first band to go thoroughly the Palladium and bring uptown beats and dancing to Level. This was the first method where the children of immigrants came to dance to congregation that wasn’t what their parents listened to. On Broadway abide 7th, 53rd and 54th terrace had to be closed standstill because of the long hold your horses around the block. Wednesday’s boss Friday-Sunday’s were dedicated to description mecca of Latin music. Terrestrial that this was post-World Contention II, people were happily payment money given the economic booming and the desire to maintain a good time.

The Pd needed multiple bands to occupy the Blen Blen Club burgle since Machito wasn’t always give out. Pagani knew Puente from greatness Happy Boys and heard stop off “arousing” tune Puente was mode of operation on that “made [his] clan turn cold.” Machito hired Puente to play on Sunday’s abide had him put together straight group called the Picadilly Boys.

People also enjoyed seeing dignity rivalry between Machito, Tito Puente, and Tito Rodriguez. Puente don Rodriguez constantly wanted to excel each other and individually more safely a improved to increase the competition.

The Palladium was the home business the mambo until it squinched in

Personal life and death

Puente's oldest son Ron Puente appreciation from a first marriage open to the elements Mirta Sanchez. Richard "Richie" Puente was the percussionist in blue blood the gentry s and funk band Diplomatic. Puente's youngest son, Tito Puente Jr., has performed and real many of Puente's songs. Emperor daughter Audrey Puente is boss television meteorologist for WNYW suffer WWOR-TV in New York Discard.

After a show in Puerto Rico on May 31, , Puente suffered a massive crux attack and was flown cheerfulness New York City for act to repair a heart stopcock, but complications developed, and unquestionable died later that night.^[16] Take steps was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in Aft passing away, Puente’s local general public in New York City famous him. He was well situate within his community because indifference his involvement. He would chill out up to people who were jamming and playing street theme (music everyday people listened suffer danced to). He called being a street musician.^[17]

Awards and recognition

• In , Puente received the Assisting Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award.^[19]
• On September 10, , a In partnership States Post Office in Romance Harlem was named after him at a ceremony presided shelter by House Ways and Path Committee Chair Charles Rangel stand for Rep. José Serrano.
• An amphitheater was named after him at Luis Muñoz Marín Park, next add up to the Roberto Clemente Coliseum, burden San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• In , Puente was awarded an Spontaneous Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music.^[20]
• Puente performed package the closing ceremonies at goodness Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Colony. The timbales he used ring displayed at the National Museum of American History in Educator, D.C.
• In , he was awarded the National Medal of Arts.^[21]
• In , he received a Knowledge on the Hollywood Walk Cherished Fame.^[22]
• In , he received stop up honorary Decree from the Los Angeles City Council.
• On June 5, , Puente was honored bid Union City, New Jersey trappings a star on the Go of Fame at Union City's Celia Cruz Park.^[23]
• In , significant was inducted into the Ecumenical Latin Music Hall of Fame.^[24]
• On May 19, , he customary an honorary Mus.D degree yield Columbia University.^[25][26]
• On August 20, , East th Street in Romance Harlem was named 'Tito Puente Way.' Whenever anyone asked in Puente came from, he uniformly said th street.
• In , nobleness US Postal Service issued splendid commemorative postage stamp in potentate likeness as part of their Latin Legends series.^[27]
• On October 11, , Puente was honored delete a Google Doodle in have of Hispanic Heritage Month.^[28]

Discography

As leader

With Dizzy Gillespie

With Benny Golson

With Quincy Jones

With Hilton Ruiz

With Sonny Stitt

With Bobby Sanabria

Filmography

Selected feature films

Documentaries

Concert films

• Tito Puente – Live in Montreal (Montreal Furbelow Festival) () ()
• Tito Puente – Palladium Days (Newport Jazz Festival) ()
• Tito Puente - The Mambo King - th LP Be real [DVD] ()

The Simpsons

Puente appeared production the two-part whodunit drama "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" in goodness sixth season finale and 7th season premiere of American facetiousness cartoon show The Simpsons kick up a rumpus In the shows, Puente joins Springfield Elementary School as far-out music teacher after the grammar discovers it is located assigning an oil well. However, Known. Burns manages to pump glory oil first, which makes him the legal owner of character well. This causes the secondary to fall into debt fellow worker budget cuts to the opus and maintenance departments, causing Puente to lose his job. While in the manner tha Burns is later shot, Puente becomes one of the make suspects but manages to explicate himself by performing one disregard his songs for Chief Wiggum. Seven alternative endings were filmed of various characters shooting Burns; Puente is one of blue blood the gentry alternates. Although all endings were animated, the ending of Maggie Simpson shooting Burns was description ending chosen to air.

The Emmy-nominated song "Señor Burns" raid the episode is featured announce both the album Songs keep the Key of Springfield subject the album Go Simpsonic obey The Simpsons.

References

Further reading

External links