Tap! Tap! Tap!
Tito Puente’s sticks pounded on the drums. And tap! Tap! Tap! His feet beat on the stage. For Puente, each was a show. And 100 years after he was born, the world is still listening to — and learning from — his music.
Tito Puente was born in Harlem, New York, on April 20, 1923. His full name was Ernesto Antonio Puente. His parents were from Puerto Rico. The music of Puerto Rico and Cuba filled Puente’s young life. He listened to big band music on the radio. And he saw jazz musicians in Harlem.
Puente became a professional musician at age 13. In his 20s, he was a student in an Afro-Cuban group. He joined the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946. Puente served during World War II. When he returned, he went to music school. Then he created his own band.
Puente played the piano, saxophone, and vibraphone. But he is famous for the timbales. Timbales are shallow drums with open bottoms and metal casings. There is often a cowbell on the side. Timbales are important in Latin music.
Usually, a stands at the back or side of the stage during a show. Instead, Puente played his timbales front and center. And he danced while he played. He wore sparkly jackets and did tricks with his drumsticks. Puente wanted to entertain people.
The word puente means “bridge” in Spanish. True to his name, Puente became a bridge for people. Puente’s son, Tito Puente Jr., explained how. Puente Jr. said his father crossed “barriers, borders, and cultures to bring people together.” And he said that was for one purpose: “to dance.”
Puente died on May 31, 2000. But he left a lasting mark. He recorded about 120 albums. He also won five Grammy Awards.
Some people called Tito Puente the “King of Latin Jazz.” Others called him the “King of Mambo.” (That is a Cuban dance music.) His son explained how Puente got those nicknames. He was called a king “because of what he did for others,” said Puente Jr.
Tito Puente has been gone for years. But his impact is felt today. As Puente Jr. explained: “I’m still inspired by the great Tito Puente.”
Updated April 19, 2023, 5:01 P.M. (ET)
By Hannah Marcum
