Tito Rodríguez

Tito Rodríguez (born January 4, 1923 in Santurce , Puerto Rico as Pablo Rodríguez Lozada , † February 28, 1973 in Coral Gables , United States ) was an American- Puerto Rican singer and orchestra conductor of the 1950s and 1960s, who went by the stage name El Inolvidable ( Spanish : the unforgettable ) was famous.

Life

Rodríguez was interested in music from childhood. He was always surrounded by musical instruments, e.g. B. guitars , piano and trumpets . His older brother, Johnny Rodríguez , was a composer, singer and orchestra leader. This inspired him to become a professional musician. At the age of 13 (1936) he joined the group Industrias Nacionales von Ladislao ( El Maestro Ladis ) Martinez as a singer . When he was 16 years old, he took part in recordings with the Mayari Cuartet. In 1940, Rodríguez immigrated to the United States in New York City shortly after his parents, Jose and Severina, died. He lived with his brother Johnny, who had been there since 1935.

In New York City he was a singer and bongo player for the group of Eric Madriguera. In 1941 he took up the titles Amor Guajiro , Acercate Mas ( Spanish : Come closer ) and Se Fue la Comparsa . In 1942 Rodríguez joined Xavier Cugat's group and recorded Bin, Bam, Bum and Ensalada de Congas ( Spanish : Conga salad ).

For a year he was a member of the United States Army . After his release, he went back to New York City, where he joined José Curbelo's group. He once performed at the China Doll Cabaret , where he met a young Japanese choir singer named Tobi Kel, who later became his wife.

Act

In 1947 he made his solo debut and set up his first band, which he called Los Diablos del Mambo . In 1950 Rodríguez enrolled in the Juilliard School , where he studied playing with the vibraphone , xylophone and percussion . He first renamed his group Los Lobos del Mambo and then The Tito Rodríguez Orchestra . The first title he took up under the new name was Besame La Bemba ( Spanish : kiss my big lips ). In 1952 he was honored by the Century Conservatory of Music of New York for his self-developed and unique singing style. His group won the Gran Trofeo Award for two consecutive years.

Tito Rodríguez started singing boleros ; his first recording was the album entitled Inolvidable ( span : Unforgettable ), which is considered by many to be his greatest success. It has been sold over a million and a half.

Rodríguez returned to Santurce in 1970 , where he built a Japanese-style house and lived with his family. He produced a television show called El Show de Tito Rodríguez , which aired on Channel 7. Famous guests here included Sammy Davis Jr. , Tony Bennett and Shirley Bassey . Rodríguez also founded his own recording studio "TR Records". His last public appearance was with Machito and his band on February 2, 1973 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Rodríguez died of leukemia on February 28, 1973 at his Florida home , where he had recently moved with his wife. Cheo Feliciano recorded an album in his memory.

Discography (selection)

• "Tito Rodríguez Live at the Palladium" (1960)
• "Charanga, Pachanga" (1961)
• "Tito Returns to the Palladium - Live" (1961)
• "Latin Twist" (1962)
• "Tito's Hits" (1962)
• "Let's do the Bossanova" (1962)
• "Tito Rodríguez from Hollywood" (1963)
• "Tito Rodríguez Live at Birdland" (1963)
• "From Tito With Love" (1963)
• "Carnaval de las Americas" (1964)
• "En la Oscuridad" (1967)
• "Esta es mi Orquesta" (1968)
• "Inolvidable" (1969)
• "Tito Dice ... Sepárala También" con el Sexteto La Playa (1971)
• "Nostalgia con Tito Rodríguez" (1972)
• "Carnival of the Americas" CD (1989) PCD-143
• "Ardent Night" CD (1997)

Web links

• http://www.musicofpuertorico.com/en/tito_rodriguez.html (English)