| Profile |
Stage Name: Tito Rodriguez
Real Name: Pablo Rodriguez Lozada
Date of Birth: Jan. 4th 1923
Place of Birth: Santurce, Puerto Rico
Date of Deceased: Feb. 28th, 1973
Real Name: Pablo Rodriguez Lozada
Date of Birth: Jan. 4th 1923
Place of Birth: Santurce, Puerto Rico
Date of Deceased: Feb. 28th, 1973
Tito Rodriguez a.k.a. "El Inolvidable" (The Unforgettable) (January 4, 1923-February 28, 1973)
born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, was a popular 1950's singer and bandleader.
Tito RodriguezTito (born: Pablo Rodriguez Lozada) became interested in music as a child. He
was always surrounded by musical toys, such as guitars, pianos and trumpets. His older brother,
Johnny Rodriguez, was a song composer and bandleader, who inspired Tito to become a
musician. In 1936, 13 year old Tito joined the group of Ladislao (El Maestro Ladis) Martinez,
"Industrias Naticionales" as a singer and when he was 16 years old, he participated in a recording
with the Mayari Cuartet. In 1940, Tito immigrated to New York City shortly after his parents,
Jose and Severina died. He went to live with his brother Johnny, who had been living there since
1935.
In New York, Tito found a job as a singer and bongo player for the orchestra of Eric
Madriguera. In 1941, he recorded "Amor Guajiro", "Acercate Mas" (Get Closer) and "Se Fue la
Comparsa". In 1942, Tito joined the band of Xavier Cugat, and recorded "Bin, Bam, Bum" and
"Enslada de Congas" (Conga Salad).
Tito joined and served in the U.S. Army for one year. After he was discharged, he returned to
New York where he joined the orchestra of Jose Carbelo. On one occasion, the band performed
at the China Doll Cabaret. There he met a young Japanese chorus girl by the name of Tobi Kel,
who was to become his wife.
In 1947, Tito made his "solo" debut and finally organized his own band, which he named "Los
Diablos del Mambo". In 1950, he enrolled in The Juilliard School of the Performing Arts, where
he studied the vibrophone, xylophone and percussion. He renamed his band "Los Lobos del
Mambo" and later he dropped the name altogether. That's when he decided to go with the name
"The Tito Rodriguez Orchestra". The first song that he recorded under the bands new name
which became a "hit" was "Besame La Bemba" (Kiss My Big Lips). In 1952, he was honored for
having developed his own unique singing style by the "Century Conservatory of Music of New
York". His orchestra won the "Gran Trofeo Award" for two consecutive years.
In 1953, Tito heard a percussionist, by the name of Cheo Feliciano. So impressed was Tito that
he offered Cheo a job in his band and hired him. Tito discovered that Cheo also knew how to
sing and gave him an opportunity to sing at the Palladium Ballroom. Eventually, Cheo went to
work for another band but, the friendship between them lasted for the rest of their lives. Among
the other orchestras that played at the Palladium, where the Charlie Palmieri and Tito Puente
orchestras. A rivalry which was to last for years, quickly developed between the two Tito's. The
popular latin music craze at the time was the cha-cha and the merengue. With the beginning of
the 1960s, all that was going to change with the popularity gained by rock music. Latino bands
began to switch their styles and started playing more salsa and boogaloo, which was more
attractive to the latin youth.
Tito decided to try his luck with boleros and recorded an album titled "Inolvidable"
(Unforgettable), which is considered by many to be his greatest "hit". It sold over a million and a
half copies world wide. He also produced records for other groups, such as Los Hispanos and
Los Montemar.
The feud between the two Tito's was reflected on some of Rodriguez's recordings. "Avisale a Mi
Contrario Que Aqui Estoy Yo" (Tell My Counterpart That I Am Here) and "Que Pena Me Da" (I
Pity You), are just two examples of the bad feelings between both of them.
Tito returned to Puerto Rico in 1970 and built a Japanese style house in Santurce, where he lived
with his family. Tito produced his own television show called "El Show de Tito Rodriguez"
which was transmitted through channel 7. Among the special guest stars which appeared in his
show were, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett and Shirley Basey. Tito also founded his own
recording studio called TR Records.
Tito's last public appearance was with Machito and his Band on February 2, 1973 at Madison
Square Garden in New York. Tito Rodriguez died of leukemia on February 28, 1973, in his Coral
Gables, Florida home where he had recently moved with wife.
On April 1999 Tito Rodriguez was represented by his son, Tito Rodriguez Jr., in the induction
ceremonies of the International Latin Music Hall of Fame. Tito Rodriguez's Japanese style house
in Puerto Rico is a tourist attraction. Cheo Feliciano recorded a tribute to Tito honoring his
memory.
Article by Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, was a popular 1950's singer and bandleader.
Tito RodriguezTito (born: Pablo Rodriguez Lozada) became interested in music as a child. He
was always surrounded by musical toys, such as guitars, pianos and trumpets. His older brother,
Johnny Rodriguez, was a song composer and bandleader, who inspired Tito to become a
musician. In 1936, 13 year old Tito joined the group of Ladislao (El Maestro Ladis) Martinez,
"Industrias Naticionales" as a singer and when he was 16 years old, he participated in a recording
with the Mayari Cuartet. In 1940, Tito immigrated to New York City shortly after his parents,
Jose and Severina died. He went to live with his brother Johnny, who had been living there since
1935.
In New York, Tito found a job as a singer and bongo player for the orchestra of Eric
Madriguera. In 1941, he recorded "Amor Guajiro", "Acercate Mas" (Get Closer) and "Se Fue la
Comparsa". In 1942, Tito joined the band of Xavier Cugat, and recorded "Bin, Bam, Bum" and
"Enslada de Congas" (Conga Salad).
Tito joined and served in the U.S. Army for one year. After he was discharged, he returned to
New York where he joined the orchestra of Jose Carbelo. On one occasion, the band performed
at the China Doll Cabaret. There he met a young Japanese chorus girl by the name of Tobi Kel,
who was to become his wife.
In 1947, Tito made his "solo" debut and finally organized his own band, which he named "Los
Diablos del Mambo". In 1950, he enrolled in The Juilliard School of the Performing Arts, where
he studied the vibrophone, xylophone and percussion. He renamed his band "Los Lobos del
Mambo" and later he dropped the name altogether. That's when he decided to go with the name
"The Tito Rodriguez Orchestra". The first song that he recorded under the bands new name
which became a "hit" was "Besame La Bemba" (Kiss My Big Lips). In 1952, he was honored for
having developed his own unique singing style by the "Century Conservatory of Music of New
York". His orchestra won the "Gran Trofeo Award" for two consecutive years.
In 1953, Tito heard a percussionist, by the name of Cheo Feliciano. So impressed was Tito that
he offered Cheo a job in his band and hired him. Tito discovered that Cheo also knew how to
sing and gave him an opportunity to sing at the Palladium Ballroom. Eventually, Cheo went to
work for another band but, the friendship between them lasted for the rest of their lives. Among
the other orchestras that played at the Palladium, where the Charlie Palmieri and Tito Puente
orchestras. A rivalry which was to last for years, quickly developed between the two Tito's. The
popular latin music craze at the time was the cha-cha and the merengue. With the beginning of
the 1960s, all that was going to change with the popularity gained by rock music. Latino bands
began to switch their styles and started playing more salsa and boogaloo, which was more
attractive to the latin youth.
Tito decided to try his luck with boleros and recorded an album titled "Inolvidable"
(Unforgettable), which is considered by many to be his greatest "hit". It sold over a million and a
half copies world wide. He also produced records for other groups, such as Los Hispanos and
Los Montemar.
The feud between the two Tito's was reflected on some of Rodriguez's recordings. "Avisale a Mi
Contrario Que Aqui Estoy Yo" (Tell My Counterpart That I Am Here) and "Que Pena Me Da" (I
Pity You), are just two examples of the bad feelings between both of them.
Tito returned to Puerto Rico in 1970 and built a Japanese style house in Santurce, where he lived
with his family. Tito produced his own television show called "El Show de Tito Rodriguez"
which was transmitted through channel 7. Among the special guest stars which appeared in his
show were, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett and Shirley Basey. Tito also founded his own
recording studio called TR Records.
Tito's last public appearance was with Machito and his Band on February 2, 1973 at Madison
Square Garden in New York. Tito Rodriguez died of leukemia on February 28, 1973, in his Coral
Gables, Florida home where he had recently moved with wife.
On April 1999 Tito Rodriguez was represented by his son, Tito Rodriguez Jr., in the induction
ceremonies of the International Latin Music Hall of Fame. Tito Rodriguez's Japanese style house
in Puerto Rico is a tourist attraction. Cheo Feliciano recorded a tribute to Tito honoring his
memory.
Article by Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
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In Memory of Tito Rodriguez