Origins & Early Life

Ernest Anthony Puente Jr. (April 20, 1923 – May 31, 2000), commonly known as Tito Puente, was an American musician, songwriter, bandleader, timbalero, vibraphonist and record producer. He composed dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz music. He was also known as "El Rey de los Timbales," or "The King of the Timbales." Puente and his music have appeared in films including The Mambo Kings and Fernando Trueba's Calle 54.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He guest-starred on television shows, including Sesame Street and The Simpsons episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns?". Puente was born on April 20, 1923, at Harlem Hospital Center in the New York borough of Manhattan, the son of Ernesto and Felicia Puente, Puerto Ricans living in New York City's Spanish Harlem. His family moved frequently, but he spent the majority of his childhood in Spanish Harlem. Puente's father was the foreman at a razor blade factory.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

His family called him Ernestito (Spanish diminutive for 'Ernest'), which became shortened to "Tito". Puente was first introduced to music through the radio. Described as a hyperactive child, neighbors complained hearing seven-year-old Puente beating on pots and window frames, so his mother sent him to 25-cent...

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