It was nice to see "El Rey Del Timbal" being featured on Google today. His contribution to Latin music (salsa/Latin jazz) is immense!


[video:google]https://www.google.com/?safe=active&ssui=on[/video]

Always loved him (like practically everyone else). I didn't realize he wrote Oye Como Va or even that he was Puerto Rican (I don't know what I thought he was - not that it mattered). I think, depending on your generation, there's such a strong association (the song) with Carlos Santana. In any case, I'm glad to see him so honored. Some of the stuff he did with Celia Cruz is just 'world class', especially the percussion. Glad you posted this, Paul. Brings back great memories.

chas

Yeah, surprising a lot of folks don't know Tito Puente wrote Oye Como, and performed it for years before Carlos Santana recorded it.

Besides being a master of the timbales, be played great vibes, piano, was a prolific writer/arranger. I had read that at his house in New Jersey, all the spare rooms and garage were full of big binders of his compositions, and arrangements.

Anyways, I'm glad to see he is still remembered, and I hope his legacy will continue.

I grew up on Sergio and Brazil 66. Today, my sets are infused with lots of Latin rendered tunes. I keep a a set of congas on the bandstand. Full drum kits are a no-no in most restaurants around here, but a small set of percussion pieces makes most tunes "tasty". Lots of drummers stop by to see me, and will sit in on congas or percussion.

Great to see such a style "influencer" get the recognition he so fully deserved.

Daughter ain't bad, either.


Russ

I lived around the corner from Roseland Ballroom in 80-81. Never got to see him live, sadly. But Fania records were always a favorite!

I heard his daughter is a weather forecaster on a local NYC television station. His son, Tito Puente JR is a percussionist trying to keep his dad’s band together. He performs as a guest artists too.