Tito Rodríguez
| Tito Rodríguez | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Pablo Rodríguez Lozada |
| Also known as |
"El Inolvidable" (The Unforgettable One) |
| Born | January 4, 1923 Santurce, Puerto Rico |
| Origin | Puerto Rican |
| Died | February 28, 1973 (aged 50) New York City, NY |
| Genres | Puerto Rican music, Boleros, mambo |
| Occupation(s) | Bandleader, composer, arranger, instrumentalist, television host |
| Instruments | Timbales |
| Years active | 1936–1973 |
| Labels | United Artists, Tico, Musicor, RCA, TR Records, West Side Latino |
| Associated acts | Cheo Feliciano, Tito Rodríguez, Jr. |
| Notable instruments | |
| Timbales, guitar, vibes, bongós | |
 You may listen to Tito Rodríguez's "Cara De Payaso" on YouTube. |
Tito Rodríguez (born Pablo Rodríguez Lozada, January 4, 1923 – February 28, 1973) was a popular 1950s and 1960s Puerto Rican singer and bandleader. He is known by many fans as "El Inolvidable" (The Unforgettable One), a moniker based on his most popular song, a bolero written by Cuban composer Julio Gutiérrez .
Rodríguez was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, His father was from Puerto Rico and his mother from Cuba. The vocalist, percussionist, bandleader, composer, and record producer, was equally talented as an uptempo sonero and a romantic singer. . He was always surrounded by musical toys, such as guitars, pianos and Vibes.His older brother, Johnny Rodríguez was a popular song composer and bandleader, who inspired the younger Rodríguez to become a musician. In 1936, 13-year-old Rodríguez joined the group of Ladislao (El Maestro Ladí) Martínez, "Conjunto de Industrias Nativas", as a singer and when he was 16 years old he participated in a recording with the renowned Cuarteto Mayarí. In 1940, Rodríguez emigrated to New York City shortly after his parents, José and Severina, died. He went to live with his brother Johnny, who had been living there since 1935.
In New York, Rodríguez found a job as a singer and bongó player for the orchestra of Eric Madriguera. In 1941, he recorded "Amor Guajiro", "Acércate Más" (Come Closer) and "Se Fue la Comparsa". In 1942, Rodríguez joined the band of Xavier Cugat, and recorded "Bim, Bam, Bum" and "Ensalada de Congas" (Conga Salad).
Rodríguez 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 José Curbelo. On one occasion, the band performed at the China Doll Cabaret. There he met a young Japanese chorus girl by the name of Tobi Kei (b. Takeko Kunimatsu, January 23, 1925, Bellingham, Washington, USA), who eventually became his wife.
In 1947, Rodríguez made his "solo" debut and finally organized his own band, which he named "Los Diablos del Mambo". He renamed his band "Los Lobos del Mambo" and later dropped the name altogether, deciding to go with the "The Tito Rodríguez Orchestra". The first song that he recorded under the band's new name which became a "hit" was "Bésame La Bembita" (Kiss My Big Lips). In 1952, he was honored for having developed his own unique singing style (early in his career he had been heavily influenced, as had so many other singers, by the Cuban vocalist Miguelito Valdés) by the "Century Conservatory of Music of New York". His orchestra won the "Gran Trofeo Award" for two consecutive years.
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Wikipedia