Tito Puente - Born Ernest Anthony Puente, Jr. on April 20, 1923 in New York City, to parents who had just arrived from their native Puerto Rico, young Tito was nurtured in East Harlem’s “El Barrio” neighborhood that served as a cultural crossroads for Latino youth. Surrounded by the urban sophistication of the world’s most cosmopolitan city, Puente and his friends were none-the-less strongly influenced by an island culture that maintained its love of tropical music and the mother tongue. 

Puente's father, Ernest Sr., was a foreman in a razor blade factory. His mother called her son "Ernestito", Little Ernest, then shortened the name to Tito. “Ernestito” grew up with one ear tuned to boleros and rumbas while the other one strained to hear the great swing bands of the day and an emerging jazz tradition.

Puente's mother noticed his musical talent and enrolled him in a piano class at 7. He studied drums for years before switching to timbales. His musical education began with twenty five cent piano lessons, followed by a study of the drum set. Singing with a local barbershop quartet followed, as did dancing lessons. With his younger sister Anna, Puente performed in a child song and dance team in the early 1930’s. “I pride myself on being one of the few band leaders who really knows how to dance,” he says. The background in dance cemented his sense of rhythm. It also encouraged the development of the extroverted personality and flamboyant stage presence, for which he would soon be known, traits that helped lift him from the ranks of sidemen to star status by the late 1940’s.

It was clear from an early age that percussion would become Puente’s dominant form of musical communication. He learned the basics from the afro-Cuban drummer of a band called “Los Happy Boys.” His first big break came when the United States entered WWII and the regular drummer of Machito’s famous big band was drafted into military service, allowing Puente to take his place. Tito’s skill and technical competency paid off right away. For perhaps the first time in Latin music history, the timbales were brought to the front of the bandstand, and Puente played the drums standing, not seated, as it had been the custom. That simple change of routine liberated the rhythm section and opened the door for the flashy style of performance that in time would become the norm.

Puente spent three years in the US Navy during World War II. He returned to Manhattan and studied conducting, orchestration and theory at the famous Julliard School of Music from 1945 to 1947 thanks to the GI Bill.

Prolific as he is famous, Tito Puente’s hit records and compositions have become classic gems to Latin music aficionados. Oye Como Va and Para Los Rumberos have been recorded by the rock music legend, Carlos Santana. His albums Top Percussion, Dance Mania, Puente in Percussion, Cuban Carnival, El Rey and El Número Cien are essentials on any collectors list.

Throughout his illustrious career Tito Puente has been awarded 5 Grammies as well as 8 nominations. In addition Puente has Including his most recent for Best Tropical Latin Recording for the 1999 release “Mambo Birdland” In addition Puente has received a Presidential Commendation for his tour of duty in W.W.IIthe Eubie Blake Award from the National Academy of Arts and Sciences, the ASCAP Founders Award and the Washington D.C.'s Hispanic Heritage Committee Award for the Arts. He has had the honor of performing for 4 Presidents of the United States and countless foreign heads of state. In July 1996, Tito performed before the largest gathering in history of the International Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA. He has a "Star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and four honorary doctorate degrees, one from each of the following: State University of New York at Old Westbury, Long Island University, Bloomfield College in New Jersey and Hunter College in New York City. The Caribbean division of the United States Postal Service put out a cancellation stamp in honor of Puente in response to requests made by the "Unión De Músicos De Puerto Rico.

The Smithsonian National Museum presented Tito Puente with the Medal of Honor and their Lifetime Achievement Award in a ceremony entitled "Oye Como Va" on October 9, 1996. During this ceremony, Tito donated the timbale he used at the 1996 Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta to the museumhis instrument will be displayed with their collection of Cultural History.

On September 29, 1997, Puente was awarded the Medal of the Arts by the National Endowment For The Arts of the United States of America. This ceremony took place at the White House where President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton presented this prestigious award to the "King of Latin Music." Jane Alexander, Chairperson of the National Endowment For The Arts, said: "The individuals we honor today, have enlightened us with their vision. They have uplifted us with their art, music, dance, and theater, and strengthened America with their extraordinary contributions to our culture." On November 20, 1997 Tito Puente was inducted into the International Jazz Hall of Fame. Among the elite inducted during the ceremony were: Nat King Cole, Miles Davis, Ray Charles, and Anita O'Day.

To the general public, Tito Puente is well known for his various television and motion picture appearances. He has been featured on television programs like: "The Bill Cosby Show,""The Simpsons,""The Late Show with David Letterman,""New York Undercover" and "Sesame Street." He has also appeared in the feature film based on the award winning novel by Oscar Hijuelos, "The Mambo Kings" and in Woody Allen's "Radio Days."

After reaching his 50 year career milestone, which was rewarded with proclamations from Governor George Pataki, Mayor Rudolph Giulianni and Borough President Ruth Messinger, and achieving an endless list of recognitions and awards, Tito Puente showed no signs of creative fatigue.

Puente's last concert appearance was in Puerto Rico, on April 29, 2000, completing the last of his series of performances with Puerto Rico's Orquesta Sinfónica. After finishing that show, he was rushed to a nearby hospital due to breathing problems. Puente left the hospital and returned to New York to continue his treatment. He died May 31st, 2000. 

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Mambo Birdland (RMM, 2000) Grammy Winner for Best Tropical Latin Recording

The Best of the Concord Years, double CD (Concord Picante 4391, 2001)

Tito Puente books:

• Tito Puente: When the Drums Are Dreaming
• Tito Puente's Drumming With the Mambo King
• Tito Puente - King of Latin Music
• Tito Puente and the Making of Latin Music
• Recordando a Tito Puente