Remembering Tito Puente
Here at LP we remember another side of Tito; the Tito Puente who used to visit our office in Garfield, NJ, without any need for an entourage or a car to pick him up. He drove himself here, met his “fans” at our company (for whom he’d accommodate every autograph request he received), and would joke around with company Founder Martin Cohen and the rest of the LP family.
Those of us who were lucky enough to meet and work with this legend will never forget him or his contribution to the genre and to our music instruments. To us, he was more than Tito Puente. He was LP. “Para Siempre El Rey Del Timbal.”
Please help us remember Tito by sharing your thoughts on this blog!
Please visit our Tito Tribute section for videos, photos and stories!
I saw Tito Puente many times in Boston— but the most memorable time was a concert with Celia Cruz in the Boston Commons outside—
It was fantastic— they were both fabulous –
They always gave l00%
PLUS!!
They are both missed——-
My Uncle Leo Fleming played bass with Tito. They are gone but will always be remembered. The Last time I saw Tito play was at Magens Bay on my Island Home St. Thomas. The Band was swinging.
The Legendary bandleader composer Tito Puente, with his-octane powerful rhythmic force of salsa @ latin jazz is elevated to it’s ultimate heights all over the world.I had the pleasure to play with him numerous time.And he will be miss but in my heart his music will alway’s live.
Besides, of course, for his legendary timbales playing and his role as a bandleader/arranger, I remember and admire Tito Puento for his broad-minded vision on music, which resulted more than once in a challenging fusion of genres. I recall, for instance, a live recording of Tito’s orchestra transforming the opening theme of Richards Strauss’ “Also sprach Zarathustra” into a fiery rhumba – spectacular!
El Rey lives on!
Tito was special!
I can remember meeting him at Martin Cohen’s house in Maywood NJ many years ago. He was a regular guy. Even though he was famous and so talented. He would be real with everyone. Tito loved all folks no matter who they were.
God Bless his Soul.
With Love
Woody Page
”not a day goes by without me thinking about tito puente,he was and is an inspiration to me and anyone that picks up a pair of timbale sticks,in the last century,this century and the one to come”….mario grillo,machito orchestra.
Tito was in a class by himself, I love to listen to his music and watch him preform on stage from his old Concerts. His music and style crossed over to the point where he could play with anyone. LP keep his dream alive, he was one of the legends.
I’m from N.C. I never saw Mr. Puente perform in person but his music changed my life years ago. I started playing the congoes at 12 I listened to his music all the time. I loved his energy and I try to play with that same passion.
I knew Tito from my days at Riverdale Country School (1955-57), when I was only a teenager; and we became friends. I helped him a lot when he played in Caracas, starting at the Macuto Sheraton Hotel (when he perfomed with La Lupe)and at the algo unforgettable carnivals at the Hotel Tamanaco. In 1971, when Aldemaro Romero and myself organized the 1st. Onda Nueva World Festival (also in Caracas), we presented him with a special plaque. He competed with singer Sophie Hernández and also played his “Oye cómo va” as a guest number, for which he got tremendous applauses.
Tito recorded my “La salve plena” with La Lupe and “La última palabra” with Sophie, which catapulted her to fame.
I have great memories of our friendship and always considered him THE GREATEST.
I know he was very fond of Martin Cohen, both as a person and as a great entrepeneur in the field of latin percussion.
ELEAZAR LÓPEZ-CONTRERAS – Caracas, Venezuela
Maestro Tito Puente earned his title of El Rey. He was brilliant, brutally honest, hilarious, and warm underneath the hard exterior. He was a human clock who redefined the concept of the timbales and the role of the percussionist. the thre albums I had the honor of recording with him in the 1980s will always be the highlight of my career. We all owe him a great debt.
I saw Tito at the House of Blues in New Orleans in 95 or 96. I will never forget it. The band played for a long time and the show was outstanding! I was in college at the time and had to make a special effort to make it, but I am so glad I did. I can forever say I saw one of the all time greats!
Martin, & LP Staff:
Thank you for your sincere tribute to my father. You have always supported him and his endeavors. People like you perpetuate his musical legacy and thus provide future generations with a forum to learn about latin american music and it’s impact on the music of today. On behalf of his personal legacy, I thank you again for all that you, Martin, and LP has done for my dad.
Ron Puente
I only saw Tito one time in Atlanta Georgia. The crowd was for the most part rich Atlanta snobs with no manners and no soul. They just sat there eating watercress and sipping bubbly. In spite of the dead from the neck up crowd Tito and his band played an amazing show. I felt like I was seeing God. Tito ribbed the crowd a little asking “Doesn’t this music move you? Why aren’t any of you dancing?” Well it turned out that the morons in charge had said it was a no dancing show. I was with other musicians and we danced and tried to make up for the lack of applause.
Tito asked one of his crew if the had been paid. When the guy said yes he said “All right now get up and dance!” This actually shook some of the people up and they danced. Tito made some very uptight people let go at the risk of looking foolish. That was a beautiful thing to see.
God bless his spirit forever.
El rey del timbal: Tito Puente! Gracias a Dios por su musica que es inspiracion para muchos musicos profesionales y para estudiantes the musica y aficionados! Uno de los mejores musicos de la musica latina en el mundo entero! Gracias LP por recordarlo y perpetuarlo!
Lissette Torres,
Violinista Boricua
Tito is wonderful. I will be unhappy is he didn’t make the eternal gig with El Senor Jesus.
Check out the youtube video with Tito and Sheila E. I never saw musicians having so much FUN!
IT IS A SCANDAL that Tito has never been voted into the Hall of Fame in Modern Drummer magazine.
I saw first hand how hard Maestro Puente worked when he came to Fresno to do a clinic for the Roosevelt Performing Arts High School in between gigs at Yoshi’s in Oakland in the mid 1980’s. He worked late, got up early, flew to Fresno, inspired the students and made sure yet another generation would love and live the music.
He fell asleep in the van on the ride back to the airport and I realized at that moment we enjoy this music because he and so many others worked hard for many years to make the music a living vital expression of our collective cutlture.
We are eternally in his debt.
Viva Puente!!
-Felix Contreras
Washington DC (formerly of Fresno)
muy buen video ese …lastima que esten esos dos fantoches al lado …
I always new who T.P. Was but I got into Latin jazz at my late 30’s I never hear all his like take five and other great music. Many time I saw him at MSG on 33st and 7 ave but he will close the show with the grand combo and that was it I wish I got see and hear his music in person (live) but he pass on ten years ago but I buy his music. C.D. Or iTunes and boy he was great my favorite is take five and ran kan kan
I have been playing drums in various styles since I was 12 years old. But Latin music is my favor style of music ever since I heard Senor Tito Puente on my Dad’s LP album. I’m now in my Sixties and still jammin on my timbles. Miss you Tito.
As a teenager growing up in N.Y. I didn’t consider Tito Puente wonderful as I was more into listening to smaller cojuntos where the drummers could be heard better on my primitive “hi-fi” equipment. Besides, he was an “old guy”. I did venture into The Palladium Ballroom on Broadway not so much to hear Tito’s band as to learn how bongo drums were played in a big band setting. Now since I am an “old guy” I have come to appreciate all that made Puente great. As with all the great musicians who have passed on I hope to see him on the other side. What a triumphant descarga that will be.
Tito Puente is one of the primary reasons I started playing percussion 16yrs ago. I still remember the show where he and Sheila E. went back and fourth trading riffs (in the early 90’s). I never knew Tito personally but everything I’ve ever seen of his work always showed him as a person walking in an ora of light very personable and kind. He seemed like a true lover of music and not only just a great overall percussionist but also a showman to be studied forever. We will always remember you Tito R.I.P
It is really great that you are giving so much of prominence in
remembering the Great `KING` of Timbale, Latin Jazz Music- The One
Only TITO PUENTE. I really love to watch his DVD`s etc and in our
Country, SRI LANKA, it is very rare to find such material. The few I
have are kept very preciously and each time I watch / listen to his
music, I love it more & more. I usually play my Congas/Bongos other
hand percussion items along with his music.
When I was a little Negro boy, the Timbales only existed on TV when I watched Tito Puente. HE is the reason why I play Timbales and a huge influence on my playing. Here’s a clip of one of my favorite Timbale Solos.
I met Tito Puente in 1973 after returning from Vietnam. I am a drummer and he became such a inspiration to me over the years, both he and Tito, Jr. I still follow Tito, Jr.’s career even today. Tito Puente was one of those rare celebrities who always took time out for his fans, and I’m so glad to see Tito, Jr. following in his shoes. There is a very special place in my heart for Tito Puente.
Thank You – Ed Cook
Tito Puente was a mentor and pioneer for many musicians on this globe. He did not only play latin music, but his music reached the people around the globe. His happiness and brilliant soli are outstanding!
God bless him, Hakim Ludin
Friends were talking about Tito Puente in 1997. That’s when I first heard of him. How fortunate we were when he performed that year at the 1st Annual Brownsville Latin Jazz Festival. Unforgettable South Texas event!
I got to meet Tito & Patato at a record store call Discomat in 1979 in N.Y.C. A friend and myself went there after hearing that the both would attend. The album Just like magic had came out and Martin Cohen was also there to promote the album. Can you believe no one was there at the beginning and when we saw both of them walk up the stairs we were like this is too good to be true! We were besides ourself. Both Tito & Patato sign the album,It was the best day in my percussion life!
Charlie(Bongo)Santiago, Miami FL.
I met the Master, back in 77 and played with him at a fundraiser for The Greats, rest in Peace Legend Singer Santitos Colon’s wife.
We all need to thank Tito Puente not only for his legacy also for bringing the percussion section to the front stage.
My Respect.